Bernstein: Deng's The Truth
By Dan Bernstein--
The guy who hit the biggest shot also made the most important statement.
Luol Deng's left-side three-pointer vanquished the visiting Heat, and his words in the locker room cut to the essence of basketball, even at the highest, most star-studded, talent-laden level.
"There are 12 men that dress, and five guys on the floor," Deng told NBA.com. "It takes more than three guys to make a team."
Take that, Miami. And that.
Deng played 40 minutes of the Bulls' 93-89 win, scoring 20 points, grabbing ten rebounds, and guarding LeBron James.
He is not considered one of the Bulls' "Big Three," a term some now feel obligated to apply. Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer fill those roles, even though Deng is actually the offense's third option. But the seventh-year forward is as important as ever to a team trying to fulfill expectations that rise by the day.
The furious third quarter – the only individual quarter in which the Bulls outscored the Heat – was an example of what Deng meant.
Trailing by eleven points, Deng and Rose combined to score 22 of the Bulls' 27 points while they retook the lead. Omer Asik deftly challenged interior shots, set screens, and singlehandedly cleared the defensive glass. Ronnie Brewer played key minutes -- he finished the night with eight points and four steals.
And it came down to the kind of delicious, heavyweight stuff that electric NBA nights bring. Rose isolated at the top of the key with the game tied at 89, the floor spread, MVP-race rival James looming in front of him. Rose makes his move, Dwyane Wade slides off Deng to help, and Rose finds the open man.
Five guys on the floor.
It was one regular-season game, yes. But it clinched the head-to-head tiebreaker for playoff seeding, in a year where it really matters. Rose's uncharacteristic exuberance after hitting a late jumper was all you needed to see to know the players felt it, too.
The Eastern Conference was in focus all day, after the Celtics' stunning decision to trade center Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. Perkins is not one of Boston's stars, but the team reacted to the deal as if he were, because they believe as Deng does about what it takes to win, and know how important an unselfish, physical, defensive center is, especially in the playoffs.
Reports say the Bulls were close to dealing for Memphis guard O.J. Mayo, but the trade deadline passed with their overachieving roster intact.
There are 12 men that dress. Looks like they will be familiar faces from here on in.
Miami's starting lineup contains more talent than that of the Bulls. The "wow" factor of their promotional billboard is unrivaled.
But after 56 games, the Bulls believe they are more than just three guys, and that they are the better team.
Dan Bernstein has been the co-host of "Boers and Bernstein" since 1999. He joined the station as a reporter/anchor in 1995. The Boers and Bernstein Show airs every weekday from 1PM to 6PM on The Score, 670AM. Read more of Bernstein's blogs here.
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