All growed up

April 29th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

Sorry, GP, but it’s not 1994 anymore.

Among the numerous taunting things that came out of my roommate and I’s mouths as the Bulls wore down - and swept - the Miami Heat today, that (my roommate’s comment) was perhaps the most poignant. Right when Tirico was introducing Payton as “The Glove,” an incredible defender with limitless tack, Ben Gordon zipped right past him and got to the hoop. Gordon scored on a floater, and Payton, who turned and screamed at himself, was obviously frustrated.

But who was he mad at? It’s not his fault he is getting older, just as it isn’t Alonzo Mourning’s fault that his knees don’t let him dominate defensively as he once used to, just as it isn’t Shaq’s fault that he can’t get any lift in the second half of games anymore, just as it isn’t Payton’s fault he can’t guard quicker perimeter defenders anymore. Like roommate No. 1 said - it ain’t 1994 anymore, and Shaq and Zo and GP and Toine and just learned: it’s 2007, and reputation is no match for well-drilled athleticism.

That’s really what the Bulls are all about, and why the team is so much fun to watch. They’re free-wheeling but execute in an incredibly defined manner. They have an air of nonchalance, but seem to hustle more than any other team in the NBA for offensive rebounds and second-chance points. They’re the type of team that makes you proud to be a fan, both for the way they play and for the way they try to play.

That style exposed the Heat. Veteran moxie isn’t enough to make up for an inability to guard off the dribble, and the Bulls worked the Heat in four straight games. How many open jumpers did they get? How many offensive tips led to second-attempt three pointers? If Dan Majerle taught us anything last week, it’s that you can’t give NBA players too many practice-quality shots, or they’re going to go down.

What the Bulls taught us this week is that they’re no longer babies. Don’t get me wrong; the Heat were bad. But a sweep, against the defending champions, who contain so many of yesterday’s stars (and one of today’s) … well, that’s nothing short of a coming of age. Not just for the Bulls, but for the New NBA.

Wanna make it a coronation? Bring on the Pistons.