7. 2011 CEN DIV CHAMP CHI BULLS v. 8. 1997 PAC DIV CHAMP SEA SONICS
Bulls: 62-20, 1st Cen Div, 11th Off, 1st Def
d. Pacers East 1st Rnd, 4-1
d. Hawks East Semis 4-2
Lost East Finals Heat 4-1
#99 overall seed
d. '04 Lakers (2-0, Boozer/Noah, PotG)
d. '72 Bucks (2-0 Noah/Rose PotG)
d. '06 Spurs (2-0 Rose PotG)
Coach: Tom Thibodeau
Starters
C Joakim Noah (25, Florida) 11.7 PPG 18.8 PER 6.7 Win Shares 1.9
F Carlos Boozer (29, Duke) 17.5 18.8 5.8 1.4
F Luol Deng (25, Duke) 17.4 15.5 9.9 3
G Derrick Rose (22, Memphis) 25 23.5 13.1 6.7 VORP
G Ronnie Brewer (25, Arkansas) 6.2 13.8 5.4 2
Rotation Reserves
C Omer Asik (24) 8.2 11.8 2.7 .1
F Taj Gibson (25, USC) 7.1 14.3 5.2 .5
F Kurt Thomas (38, TCU) 4.1 10 3.2 .4
G CJ Watson (26, Tennessee) 4.9 12.8 2.1 .5
G Kyle Korver (29, Creighton) 8.3 13 5.1 1.3
Leaders: Rose (4th Assists, 5th Win Shares, 3rd +/1, 2nd VORP, 1st Team All NBA
Noah (3rd Off Reb %, 3rd Def Rating)
Brewer (4th Steal % 1st Def +/-)
Gibson (5th Def Rating)
Deng (4th Def WS)
22 year old DRose is first team All NBA, 20+ PER and double digit WS. The Bulls had the best regular season record in 2011; DRose was MVP. Joakim Noah is 25, 2nd Team All Defense. Rose was named to the All Star Game. Thibodeau was Coach of the Year. An incredible run so far for the Bulls - undefeated in the tournament, the first time we've seen that occur in the Regional Finals. Rose in good shape to win Region 3 MVP with a Bulls win in this series.
Sonics: 57-25, 1st Pac Div, 3rd Off, 6th Def
d. Suns West First Rnd 3-2
Lost Rockets West Semis 4-3
#131 overall seed
d. '93 Suns (2-1, Payton 2 PotG)
d. '01 Jazz (2-0 Kemp 2 PotG)
d. '96 Spurs (2-0 Payton/Detlef PotG)
Coach: George Karl
Starters
C Sam Perkins (35, North Carolina) 11 PPG 17 PER 7.1 Win Shares 2.6
F Shawn Kemp (27, Trinity Valley) 18.7 20.7 10 2
F Detlef Schrempf (34, Washington) 16.8 18.3 8 2.9
G Gary Payton (28, Oregon St) 21.8 21.8 12.9 6.1 VORP
G Hersey Hawkins (30, Bradley) 13.9 17.6 10.9 4.4
Rotation Reserves
C Jim McIlvaine (24, Marquette) 3.8 11.1 3 .1
F Terry Cummings (35, Depaul) 8.2 15.2 2.1 0
F Larry Stewart (28, Coppin St) 4.3 10.8 1.6 -.3
G Nate McMillan (32, NC St) 4.6 14.1 2.6 1.2
G Eric Snow (23, Mich St) 3 12.5 1.9 .2
Leaders: Kemp (4th Off Reb)
Payton (3rd Steals, 5th Triple Doubles, 3rd Steals/Gm, 2nd Team All NBA
Hawkins (4th Off Rating)
The 8th seed in Region 3 is the '97 Sonics; 28 year old GP leads the way; he and 27 year old Shawn Kemp have 20 + PER with double digit WS. 30 year old Hersey Hawkins also hits double digit WS - Payton was PotG in both Sonics wins in Rnd 1. GP was All Defense first team. Payton/Kemp and 34 year old Detlef all named to the All Star Game. Payton was runner up in the Defensive Player of the Year. The Sonics have lost just once and they swept both rounds 2 and 3.
Matchup:
C Push
F Kemp (Sonics)
F Push
G Rose (Bulls)
G Hawkins (Sonics)
Bench: Bulls
The 7th seed just beat the 8th seed in the Region 2 Finals, we see that again in Region 3. It's the best 2011 defense against a top 6 offense/defense from '97.
Gm 1: United Center: Announcers: Neil Funk/Stacey King
1Qtr
9 Bulls 10 Sonics 9
Bulls Boozer, Noah, Boozer, Brewer, Brewer
Sonics Kemp(3) GP, Kemp, GP
6 Bulls 19 Sonics 14
Bulls Noah(3) Noah, Noah, Korver
Sonics GP(3) Kemp
Region 3 is underway.
3 Sonics 22 Bulls 21
Bulls Deng
Sonics GP, Kemp(3) Kemp
1 Score Sonics 27 Bulls 27
Bulls Gibson, Gibson, Korver
Sonics GP, Stewart(1) Stewart
A dozen for Kemp.
2Qtr
9 Sonics 37 Bulls 33
Bulls Korver, Deng(1) Korver(3)
Sonics Kemp, Perkins, Kemp, Snow, Detlef
6 Sonics 43 Bulls 42
Bulls Rose, Boozer(1) Boozer, Deng, Rose
Sonics Hawkins, Kemp, Kemp
Shawn Kemp has 20 points in the first 18 minutes of this series.
3 Sonics 54 Bulls 47
Bulls Noah(1) Gibson, Korver
Sonics Cummings, Snow(1) Cummings, Kemp, Cummings, Kemp
HScore Bulls 60 Sonics 56
Bulls Korver, Korver, Deng(3) Noah, Noah, Noah
Sonics Detlef
Joakim Noah scores the last 6 points of the half and gives the Bulls the lead.
3Qtr
9 Bulls 69 Sonics 63
Bulls Boozer, Deng, Rose(3) Gibson
Sonics Kemp, Detlef, Detlef(3)
6 Bulls 73 Sonics 65
Bulls Rose, Brewer
Sonics Kemp
DRose had a quiet first half, but 5 opens the second half and the Bulls have their biggest lead.
3 Bulls 76 Sonics 70
Bulls Deng, Brewer(1)
Sonics Detlef, kemp(3)
3Score Bulls 80 Sonics 70
Bulls Brewer, Boozer
Sonics
Unbeaten in the tournament and up 10 with 12 minutes left.
4Qtr
9 Bulls 85 Sonics 77
Bulls Korver, Deng(3)
Sonics GP(3) Detlef, Detlef
6 Bulls 92 Sonics 82
Bulls Boozer, deng, Watson, Deng(1)
Sonics Hawkins(3) GP
Luol Deng with a half dozen and it's a 10 pt game.
3 Bulls 98 Sonics 86
Bulls Noah, Rose, Rose
Sonics Perkins, Kemp
FScore Bulls 108 Sonics 91
Bulls Rose(3) Noah(3) Johnson, scalabrine
Sonics GP, Ehlo(3)
The 2011 Chicago Bulls are 7-0 in the tournament and a game away from winning the Region 3 Final. Just 35 second half points for the Sonics.
Noah: 21 pts/17 boards-Player of the Game(3)
Rose: 16 pts/12 assists
Boozer: 13 pts/14 boards
Deng: 18 pts/9 boards
Korver: 17 pts
Kemp: 33 pts/14 boards
GP: 19 pts/7 assists/5 boards
Detlef: 15 pts/4 steals
Gm 2: Key Arena. Announcers: Kevin Calabro
1Qtr
9 Bulls 9 Sonics 3
Sonics GP(3)
Bulls Deng, Deng(3) Boozer
6 Sonics 14 Bulls 12
Sonics Kemp, Kemp, Kemp, Detlef, Perkins(3)
Bulls Noah, Rose(3)
Kemp scored 33 in game 1, but Seattle needs more to stay alive.
3 Sonics 22 Bulls 20
Sonics Kemp(3) Hawkins(3) GP
Bulls Brewer, Gibson(3) Noah(3)
1Score Sonics 22 Bulls 22
Sonics
Bulls Watson
9 for Kemp - Seattle needs a win.
2Qtr
9 Bulls 30 Sonics 29
Sonics Cummings, Hawkins(3) Detlef
Bulls Asik, Gibson, Deng, Brewer
6 Bulls 38 Sonics 29
Sonics
Bulls Rose, Gibson, Brewer, Noah
The Bulls defense allows just 8 in the last 9 and Chicago can feel it.
3 Bulls 42 Sonics 33
Sonics Hawkins, Hawkins
Bulls Rose, Deng
HScore Bulls 51 Sonics 42
Sonics McMillan(3) Detlef, Perkins, GP
Bulls Boozer(1) Korver(3) Korver(1) Deng, Korver
What can you say about the Bulls? Not a Jordan team to be found - but this 2011 Bulls squad is 24 minutes away from being 8-0 and Region 3 Champs.
Qtr
9 Bulls 59 Sonics 48
Sonics GP, Detlef
Bulls Rose, Asik, Deng, Gibson
6 Bulls 65 Sonics 55
Sonics McMillan(3) Perkins(1) Kemp(3)
Bulls Boozer, Boozer, Rose
Noah has 5 fouls, but it's a 10 pt lead.
3 Bulls 74 Sonics 61
Sonics Schrempf, Kemp, Kemp
Bulls Boozer, Boozer, Deng, Brewer, Boozer(1)
3Score Bulls 80 Sonics 73
Sonics GP, Detlef(1) Kemp, Hawkins(1) Hawkins(3) Hawkins(3)
Bulls Watson, Rose(1) Korver(3)
Hersey Hawkins with 7 straight pts in the last 53 seconds just to get the Sonics this close, but Kemp has 5 fouls.
4Qtr
9 Bulls 85 Sonics 79
Sonics GP, GP, Kemp
Bulls Noah, Deng
6 Bulls 90 Sonics 87
Sonics GP, GP, GP, Kemp
Bulls Brewer, Rose, Boozer
Gary Payton with 10 to open the half - In the last 7 minutes the Sonics shave 11 points off the deficit.
5:47: SEA: Sam Perkins 14 footer.
5:37: SEA: Perkins intercepts a pass and streaks home for a dunk that gives Seattle the lead. 15 point swing for the Sonics.
3:49: SEA: 2 minutes later, Noah fouls out and Detlef hits FT. 93-90
3:10: SEA: Terry Cummings dunk. 5 point game
2:55: CHI: Rose misses a triple, Boozer putback.
2:39: SEA: 4th Boozer foul, Kemp 2 FT
1:39: SEA: The dagger - Detlef strokes a 3 from the wing - the Sonics have come back from the dead and we head to Chicago for the showdown.
Boozer cuts it to 6 at 1:31.
Rose cuts it to 4 at 1:04.
Rose cuts it to 2 at 24 seconds - so, maybe hold off on the flight plan just yet.
Detlef goes to the line, hits both. Sonics by 4.
That's all - GP hits 1, Perkins 2 and that's the final.
Score: Sonics 105 Bulls 98
With a minute left in the third the Bulls had a 14 point lead and Kemp had 4 fouls.
The Sonics outscore them by 21 the rest of the way and we head to Chicago for the showdown.
Kemp: 24 pts/16 boards-Player of the Game
GP: 19 pts/8 assists
Hawkins: 17 pts/6 boards
Detlef: 20 pts/7 assists/6 boards
Perkins: 15 pts/7 boards/5 assists
Rose: 18 pts/14 assists/7 boards
Deng: 17 pts/6 boards
Boozer: 18 pts/11 boards
Brewer: 10 pts
Gm 3 Chicago: United Center: Announcers: Neil Funk/Kevin Calabro
1Qtr
9 Bulls 7 Sonics 6
Bulls Brewer, Deng(3) Boozer
Sonics Kemp, Schrempf, Detlef
6 Bulls 14 Sonics 13
Bulls Boozer, Noah(3) Deng
Sonics Kemp, Detlef(1) Kemp, Hawkins
Regions 1 and 2 went down to the showdown game and we have the same thing in region 3. Winner of this one becomes the Region 3 Champion.
3 Bulls 22 Sonics 20
Bulls Rose(3) Korver, Noah(3)
Sonics Detlef(3) Hawkins, Stewart
1Score Bulls 26 Sonics 25
Bulls Thomas, Korver
Sonics Stewart(1) McIlvane
GP/Kemp v. Rose/Noah - all four men with a claim at Region 3 MVP.
2Qtr
9 Bulls 32 Sonics 27
Bulls Gibson, Rose, Rose
Sonics Perkins
6 Bulls 43 Sonics 35
Bulls Rose, Gibson(3) Gibson, Gibson, Noah
Sonics GP, GP, GP, Kemp
The Bulls stretch the lead, Taj Gibson scored 7 straight Bulls pts.
3 Bulls 50 Sonics 37
Bulls Noah(3) Rose, Gibson
Sonics GP
HScore Bulls 58 Sonics 45
Bulls Boozer, Boozer, Noah, Watson
Sonics Hawkins(3) Cummings, Kemp(3)
It's a 13 point lead for the Bulls - they feel it in Chicago - the Bulls are driving for that Region 3 Title.
3Qtr
9 Bulls 70 Sonics 55
Bulls Noah, Noah, Deng(3) Gibson(3) Deng
Sonics Cummings, Perkins, GP(3) Kemp(3)
6 Bulls 79 Sonics 63
Bulls Gibson, Boozer, Rose(3) Korver
Sonics Hawkins, Perkins, Payton, Perkins
It's the Bulls - 16 point lead and marching to a title - if you said the Bulls were Region 3 Champs that would not have surprised - if you said it was the 2011 Bulls, that's a startling result.
3 Bulls 85 Sonics 65
Bulls Noah, Boozer, Deng
Sonics Kemp
3Score Bulls 90 Sonics 69
Bulls Rose, Rose, Boozer(1)
Sonics Hawkins, Detlef
It's done - Bulls are going to march to the win.
4Qtr
9 Bulls 94 Sonics 73
Bulls Rose, Boozer
Sonics Kemp, Cummings
6 Bulls 98 Sonics 79
Bulls Noah(1) Korver(3)
Sonics Detlef, GP, Detlef
3 Bulls 104 Sonics 86
Bulls Korver, Boozer, Rose
Sonics Perskins, Detlef, Hawkins(3)
FScore Bulls 120 Sonics 94
Bulls Boozer(3) Boozer, Lucas(3) Butler(3) Bogans, Butler(3)
Sonics Graham(3) Wingate(3) Graham
Chicago just cruises here outscoring the Sonics in all 4 quarters and romp to a Region 3 Title.
Boozer: 22 pts/14 boards-Player of the Game
Rose: 22 pts/12 assists-Region 3 MVP
Noah: 20 pts/16 boards
Deng: 12 pts
Korver: 11 pts
Gibson: 16 pts/9 boards
All Region Team
C Robinson ('96 Spurs-4 PotG)
F Kemp ('97 Sonics-3 PotG)
F Boozer ('11 Bulls-2 PotG)
G Rose ('11 Bulls-3 PotG)
G Payton ('97 Sonics-3 PotG)
