Bulls Had James Harden’s Number, Imaginary Playoffs, A Crazy Box Score, and Other Bulls Bullets

James Harden

I want to wish my beautiful fiancee (we got engaged this weekend!) a very happy birthday!

Now that I’ve officially put a ring on it and written about her two-straight days in bullets, I will not feel even a lick bad about making fun of her precious Milwaukee Bucks.

THEY LOST IN FIVE GAMES!? JIMMY G. BUCKETS IS THEIR DAD. GIANNIS WILL LEAVE FOR CHICAGO. MWUAHAHAHA!

  • The Boston Celtics were supposed to run the Philadelphia 76ers out of the building. The defending Eastern Conference champions got to kick off the semifinals in their home arena with Joel Embiid stuck on the sideline in street clothes. Still dealing with a knee injury he sustained in Game 3 of the first round, when precisely the MVP-favorite can return to the floor remains unclear. As good as Philly has been at times this year, the outcome of the game felt predictable. Well, to everyone except James Harden!
  • I got to give the guy credit. In a hostile environment with his co-star hurt, he returned to prime Houston form and tied his playoff career-high with 45 points on 17-30 shooting. He scored 15 of those points in the final quarter, knocking down the coldest shot of the night with 8.0 seconds left to give Philly the lead. At this stage in his career, I didn’t think Harden had that performance in him. Look at the ice in this man’s veins:
  • While I’ve never been a big Harden guy, I can’t deny that when he gets going, there aren’t many players quite like him. How he creates offense off the dribble is something else, and his signature step-back 3-pointer will go down in history. I’m now incredibly curious to see how Philly handles Game 2 of this series. Will they rush Embiid back into the mix or does stealing one make them feel at least a little better about giving him another game off? The two will battle again tomorrow night in Boston before returning to Philly on Friday.
  • I also can’t help and respect this leadership from Harden:
  • Alex Caruso didn’t see that one coming:
  • If I know one thing for sure, it’s that Harden would have never had that performance against the Bulls! I still can’t believe how poorly the 76ers’ point guard played in his three games against Chicago this season. He shot a combined 8-44 from the field and 3-20 from downtown. This 18.2 percent success rate was BY FAR his worst against any team this season. Overall, he averaged just 12.3 points and turned the ball over a combined nine times.
  • My mind was especially blown when the Bulls took Philly to 2OT back in late March. While Harden dished 12 assists, he scored a season-low 5 points in over 46 minutes of action. The Bulls didn’t even have Alex Caruso in that game! I know, what the heck!
  • Speaking of the Bulls bizarrely owning Harden, I still can’t believe they went .500 against the Celtics and 76ers this regular season. I really do think they could have given either a competitive series in the first round. Now, I’d still expect them to lose in six or something, but they showed an ability to match up decently well with both teams. A Boston series, in particular, would have been fascinating. The Bulls’ size with Vucevic and Drummond gave them some genuine issues. Caruso also did a miraculous job on Tatum this season. According to NBA Stats’ matchup data, Caruso held Boston’s leading man to just 30.8 percent shooting this season.
  • With that said, this shocking aptitude against two East semifinalists should not be something that sways the front office in any one direction this offseason. But I do fear that will happen. Arturas Karnisovas couldn’t help himself during his end-of-season press conference and mentioned the team’s newfound success against the league’s top teams. None of that matters, however, when you finish 40-42 and can’t even make the playoffs. If he allows that to dictate any of his decision-making, it’ll be a big mistake.
  • I totally get what PJ Tucker brings to the floor, but this is still SHOCKING to me:
  • I always see folks say that the Warriors would have cruised to a victory because of the change in style of play. But I really don’t think we should underestimate (1) the GOAT and (2) the defensive talent of that Bulls’ team.
  • That’s what you want to hear!
  • OH!
  • written by

    Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

    more bulls news

    Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese Officially Introduced, And She Sounds Motivated

    The new face of the Chicago Sky franchise officially arrived on Wednesday. Angel Reese met with media members at the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield. The former LSU standout and NCAA National Champion is only nine days removed from hearing...

    Chicago Bulls Contracts: Decisions That Have to Be Made This Offseason

    While the NBA offseason will not officially start until June, it still can't hurt to familiarize ourselves with the Chicago Bulls' summer outlook. The organization finds itself at quite the crossroads, and it's not only because they disappointed fans with...

    Alex Caruso Defends Coby White, Offseason Trade Candidates, and Other Bulls Bullets

    Good morning to everyone except those who voted Tyrese Maxey first for the NBA's Most Improved Player. https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2024/04/23/coby-white-snubbed-mip-23/ As I clarified in our Coby White snubbed post, I have absolutely nothing against Tyrese Maxey. He's an outstanding player with a...

    Coby White Snubbed of Most Improved Player Award

    Coby White will not be taking home any hardware after his breakout season. The Chicago Bulls guard was in the running for the NBA's Most Improved Player award this season, finishing as one of three finalists for the honor. However,...

    Two Bulls Assistants Are Out as Billy Donovan Makes Changes to His Staff

    Changes are already underway for the Chicago Bulls According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Bulls coaching staff is due for a shuffle. HOF player and long-time coach Maurice Cheeks is reportedly leaving his position as a full-time member of...

    2024 NBA Draft: Which Big Names Have Already Declared?

    The 2024 NBA Draft is fast approaching! We're just about two months away from the NBA's premier offseason event. While we don't quite know the order of the teams selecting yet, we're starting to get commitments on who will be...

    Nikola Jokic’s Brother Punched a Fan at the Lakers-Nuggets Game

    Nikola Jokic's brothers are in some hot water. During Game 2 of the first-round series between the Nuggets and Lakers, Jokic's brothers could be seen forcefully climbing down a row of seats to confront a fellow fan. A video posted...

    Playoff Envy, MIP Announced Tonight, Coby & Ayo’s Contracts, and Other Bulls Bullets

    After watching the Knicks hit back-to-back 3-pointers to steal the lead and Jamal Murray nail a nasty game-winning mid-range buzzer-beater, I was reminded of how special playoff basketball can be. Of course, I was also reminded of how we haven't...

    WATCH: Jamal Murray Epic Buzzer-Beater Completes 101-99 Comeback Win Over Lakers

    In case you were sleeping - which let's be honest a lot of us probably were - Jamal Murray hit an awesome buzzer-beater to give the Nuggets a 101-99 Game 2 win over the Lakers. Murray's game-winner was the icing...

    WATCH: The End of Knicks-76ers Game 2 Was Pure Chaos

    The New York Knicks just took a 2-0 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers in a sequence you'll just have to see to believe. With roughly 30 seconds left on the clock down 101-96, the Knicks looked destined to walk out...

    Latest News

    Guardians vs. Red Sox: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Triston McKenzie takes the mound for the Cleveland Guardians (17-7) when they host starter Chase Anderson and the Boston Red Sox (14-11) at 1:10 PM ET on Thursday.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Cleveland...

    Maple Leafs vs. Bruins NHL Playoffs First Round Game 4 Prediction: Picks, Live Odds and Moneyline – Saturday, April 27, 2024

    The bookmakers are expecting a close game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins when they meet on Saturday at 8:00 PM ET, with the Maple Leafs at -112 on the moneyline, and the Bruins at -108.Maple Leafs vs....

    Mariners vs. Rangers: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    On Thursday, looking for a series sweep, Caleb Raleigh and the Seattle Mariners (12-11) face Adolis Garcia and the Texas Rangers (12-12), with first pitch scheduled for 2:35 PM ET at Globe Life Field.If you're planning on watching this game,...

    How to Watch Padres vs. Rockies: Live Stream or on TV

    The San Diego Padres (13-13), with Randy Vasquez on the mound, visit the Colorado Rockies (6-18) who will counter with Dakota Hudson, at 3:10 PM ET on Thursday.If you're planning on watching this game, keep reading for TV and streaming...

    2024 Las Vegas Raiders Big Board: Potential First-Round Fits Including Tackle & Cornerback

    The desert heat is rising in Las Vegas, and so are the expectations for the Raiders. The 2024 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, and the Silver and Black hold the 13th overall pick. Will they prioritize shoring up the offensive...

    Twins vs. White Sox: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    The Minnesota Twins (9-13), led by Ryan Jeffers, host Gavin Sheets and the Chicago White Sox (3-20) at 1:10 PM ET on Thursday.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and TV options for the Minnesota-Chicago matchup.When...

    Astros vs. Cubs: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Justin Verlander takes the ball for the Houston Astros (7-17) when they visit starter Javier Assad and the Chicago Cubs (14-9) at 2:20 PM ET on Thursday.Keep reading to see how to watch the Houston-Chicago matchup below.When is Astros vs....

    Royals vs. Blue Jays: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Cole Ragans will take the mound for the Kansas City Royals (14-10) when they host starter Jose Berrios and the Toronto Blue Jays (13-11) in a rubber match on Thursday, with first pitch at 2:10 PM ET.If you're trying to...

    Yankees vs. Athletics: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Juan Soto and the New York Yankees (17-8) host Abraham Toro and the Oakland Athletics (9-16) on Thursday, with first pitch at 7:05 PM ET.If you're intending to watch this game, keep reading for TV and streaming options for the...

    Dansby Swanson with a First Inning Three-Run Homer

    For the second straight night, the Cubs are jumping all over the Astros in the first inning. After a couple hits from Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to get things going, Michael Busch hit a sac fly, Christopher Morel walked,...

    more bulls news