Derrick Rose vs. Deron Williams.
Three or four years ago, I would have been all about that marquee point guard match-up in the NBA playoffs.
Tonight, one won’t even play and the other is past his prime. Neither one of them comes even remotely close to earning their grossly exorbitant paycheck. That’s why the Chicago Bulls vs. the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Playoffs first round means very little to me.
Unless something really major happens, or something unique or weird occurs, I will struggle to even write about it. Heck, I may even struggle to DVR it. And this is a life-long Chicagoan and Bulls fan talking! This is an Illini talking too! And Deron Williams inspired man-crushes for a whole generation of Illini Nation.
Us in Illini Nation, we’ve never had “one shining moment.” So the Deron Williams 3 in the 2005 Elite Eight game in All State Arena, capping the comeback versus Arizona is all we have. That game, the “Easter Eve Resurrection,” the “Nail-biter for Nellyville” sent Illinois to the Final Four in St. Louis. We’ll always have that memory of Deron Williams.
Today, he’s more diva than superstar, and the entire NBA looks at him as a coach-killer. And no one thinks he deserves a max contract. His play doesn’t earn it.
NEXT!
I “DONNNNNNNNN’TTTTTT CARRRRRRRRREEEEEEEE” (credit Jay Cutler) when it comes to any Derrick Rose return/rehabilitation coverage. I’ve been nauseated by the story for over a month already.
Seriously, right now, I don’t want to even hear the name Derrick Rose until Bulls Media Day in late September/early October. Derrick Rose has his posh condo in Trump Tower, right next to the Blackhawks Patrick Kane, and he deserts the second city for L.A. in the off-season to whatever mansion he has out west. Go earn your money Derrick.
Go play.
Now that we’ve covered how I once loved Deron Williams and Derrick Rose, but both have lost their likability today, what’s left in this series?
Well, the Bulls aren’t getting past the Miami Heat even with a healthy Derrick Rose, no way, no how. And without Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, I don’t think the Bulls can get past Brooklyn. I’ve said since March, without Rose, this Bulls season just cannot end fast enough. Seriously, not fast enough.
I’m a Bulls fan, and I want a Brooklyn sweep here. And because of what I said before, this desire stems not from love for Deron Williams.
You may wonder, why am I writing a NBA playoffs series preview just 8 hours before the series tips off?
What COMPLETE MORON would do that?
In today’s 24/7 news cycle, a game/series preview should go on the internet at least 2-3 days before the event begins. Because it doesn’t have much shelf life. And a game recap?
That should be posted within an hour or two of the game ending. Because again- no shelf life.
If you don’t follow these rules, you need to be dismissed from the sports media industry, because you just don’t get it. But don’t worry, in the social media, instant information age, someone else will do the dismissing for you.
So why am I clearly breaking this rule right now?
Because this series has such low interest/priority for me. I just didn’t “get around to it” until now.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net. He’s also an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
Banks has appeared on Comcast SportsNet and the History Channel, as well as Clear Channel, ESPN and CBS radio all over the world. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@PaulMBanks)