ATLANTA HAWKS

We resolve to get to the bottom of why we gave Joe Johnson so much damn money. He does lead us in points, but will we make it deep in the playoffs….of course not. ( same as last years resolution)

BOSTON CELTICS

We the Boston Celtics resolve to let Rondo shoot nothing but threes for an entire game, just to see what happens….

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

I, Paul Silas resolve to survive the entire season.

CHICAGO BULLS

I, Derrick Rose resolve to continue dominating basketball, postgame interviews  and my acne.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

We resolve to continue to be a horrible team until Dan Gilbert can finally complete the cloning of LeBron James, let the clone grow to 18 years of age, then draft him with the #1 pick in the 2030 Draft.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

I, Lamar Odom will drive to Galveston Beach each off day so I can look at the ocean and remember what once was.

DETROIT PISTONS

We the Pistons resolve to find some food for Austin Daye, and to have Ben Gordons arms chopped off!

DENVER NUGGETS

We the Nuggets resolve to be extremely grateful that Coach Karl is back and healthy!

GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS

I, Coach Mark Jackson resolve to stop yelling “Hands down, man down” to everyone on the team, every possession.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

We the Houston Rockets resolve to continue pitting Chase Budinger, and Chandler Parsons against each other until they are forced to fight to the death.

INDIANA PACERS

We resolve to let Physcho T run into the stands at least once this season.

L.A. CLIPPERS

We resolve to keep our racist ass owner away from Chris Paul, and keep Chris thinking that Frankie Muniz is indeed the owner of the team.

L.A. LAKERS

We resolve to plant testosterone tablets in Pau Gasol’s drinks throughout the season.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

We resolve to get Tony Allen as far away from our team as possible.

MIAMI HEAT

We resolve to win the Finals, not for LeBron but for original man: Juwan Howard.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

We resolve to get to the bottom of signing of Mike Dunleavy Jr.!

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

I, Kevin Love resolve to rebound every ball, on every shot, from every basketball game in the world.

NEW JERSEY NETS

We resolve to play in Brooklyn until Brooklyn realizes that the Nets play in Brooklyn, then we haul ass to Russia! #NYETS

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

We the NBA speak for the Hornets, and the Hornets have nothing to say!

NEW YORK KNICKS

I, Carmelo Anthony resolve to remember that I, Carmelo am the only option, and I need to shoot every single time!

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

We resolve to do whatever we can to keep Russell Westbrook from becoming Stephon Marbury and eventually eating Vaseline on Twitter!

ORLANDO MAGIC

I, Dwight Howard resolve to ask, demand, then say pretty please for a trade.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

We resolve to hire Michael Vick as soon as the NFL season is over. He will suit up and be in the starting lineup, just for the player introductions, but he wont play any minutes.

PHOENIX SUNS

I, Steve Nash resolve to never leave the Suns, and continue playing until they can find a point guard better then I.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

We resolve to burn some Sage in the Rose Garden, because our team is definitely cursed!

SACRAMENTO KINGS

We resolve to remind all those fans that fought to keep the team in Sacramento that the team is still in Sacramento

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

We resolve to casually ignore the age of our Big 3, but encourage fans to purchase DeJuan Blair Bears from the gift shop

TORONTO RAPTORS

We resolve to call the NBA everyday, and send flowers so that they remember there is a team in Toronto.

UTAH JAZZ

We resolve to remind the Jazz players that the sign that said “Team of Misfit Players” was not funny.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

We resolve to let John Wall do whatever he wants to and to continue letting Glbert Arenas in the locker room so he can shit in Rashard Lewis’s shoes.

Full list of 50 point games or higher:
#1) April 20, 1986 Michael Jordan 63 points vs Boston Celtics
#1 rated NBA defense, 23 years old
#2) November 1, 1986 Michael Jordan 50 points vs New York Knicks
#20 rated NBA defense, 23 years old
#3) January 8, 1987 Michael Jordan 53 points vs Portland Trailblazers
#13 rated NBA defense, 23 years old
#4) February 6, 1987 Michael Jordan 58 points vs New Jersey Nets
#18 rated NBA defense, 23 years old
#5) March 4, 1987 Michael Jordan 61 points vs Detroit Pistons
#5 rated NBA defense, 24 years old
#6) March 24, 1987 Michael Jordan 56 points vs Philadelphia 76ers
#12 rated NBA defense, 24 years old
#7) April 12, 1987 Michael Jordan 53 points vs Indiana Pacers
#8 rated NBA defense, 24 years old
#8) April 13, 1987 Michael Jordan 50 points vs Milwaukee Bucks
#4 rated NBA defense, 24 years old
#9) April 16, 1987 Michael Jordan 61 points vs Atlanta Hawks
#2 rated NBA defense, 24 years old
#10) December 17, 1987 Michael Jordan 52 points vs Cleveland Cavs
#11 rated NBA defense, 24 years old
#11) February 26, 1988 Michael Jordan 52 points vs Portland Trailblazers
#10 rated NBA defense 25 years old
#12) March 3, 1988 Michael Jordan 59 points vs Detroit Pistons
#2 rated NBA defense 25 years old
#13) March 18, 1988 Michael Jordan 50 points vs Boston Celtics
#17 rated NBA defense 25 years old
#14) April 28, 1988 Michael Jordan 50 points vs Cleveland Cavs
#5 rated NBA defense 25 years old
#15) May 1, 1988 Michael Jordan 55 points vs Cleveland Cavs
#5 rated NBA defense 25 years old
#16) November 9, 1988 Michael Jordan 52 points vs Boston Celtics
#20 rated NBA defense 25 years old
#17) November 16, 1988 Michael Jordan 52 points vs Philadelphia 76ers
#24 rated NBA defense 25 years old
#18) November 26, 1988 Michael Jordan 52 points vs Denver Nuggets
#8 rated NBA defense 25 years old
#19) January 21, 1989 Michael Jordan 53 points vs Phoenix Suns
#5 rated NBA defense, 25 years old
#20) February 16, 1989 Michael Jordan 50 points vs Milwaukee Bucks
#6 rated NBA defense, 25 years old
#21) May 5, 1989 Michael Jordan 50 points vs Cleveland Cavs
#2 rated NBA defense, 26 years old
#22) November 3, 1989 Michael Jordan 54 points vs Cleveland Cavs
#10 rated NBA defense, 26 years old
#23) December 20, 1989 Michael Jordan 52 points vs Orlando Magic
#27 rated NBA defense, 26 years old
#24) March 28, 1990 Michael Jordan 69 points vs Cleveland Cavs
#10 rated NBA defense, 27 years old
#25) March 19, 1992 Michael Jordan 51 points vs Washington Bullets
#12 rated NBA defense, 29 years old
#26) March 24, 1992 Michael Jordan 50 points vs Denver Nuggets
#13 rated NBA defense, 29 years old
#27) April 29, 1992 Michael Jordan 56 points vs Miami Heat
#25 rated NBA defense, 29 years old
#28) November 20, 1992 Michael Jordan 54 points vs LA Lakers
#17 rated NBA defense, 29 years old
#29) December 23, 1992 Michael Jordan 57 points vs Washington Bullets
#25 rated NBA defense, 29 years old
#30) January 16, 1993 Michael Jordan 64 points vs Orlando Magic
#11 rated NBA defense, 29 years old
#31) March 12, 1993 Michael Jordan 52 points vs Charlotte Hornets
#19 rated NBA defense, 30 years old
#32) May 31, 1993 Michael Jordan 54 points vs New York Knicks
#1 rated NBA defense, 30 years old
#33) June 16, 1993 Michael Jordan 55 points vs Phoenix Suns
#9 rated NBA defense, 30 years old
#34) March 28, 1995 Michael Jordan 55 points vs New York Knicks
#1 rated NBA defense, 32 years old
#35) March 7, 1996 Michael Jordan 53 points vs Detroit Pistons
#7 rated NBA defense, 33 years old
#36) November 6, 1996 Michael Jordan 50 points vs Miami Heat
#1 rated NBA defense, 33 years old
#37) January 21, 1997 Michael Jordan 51 points vs New York Knicks
#2 rated NBA defense, 33 years old
#38) April 30, 1997 Michael Jordan 55 points vs Washington Bullets
#13 rated NBA defense, 34 years old
#39) December 29, 2001 Michael Jordan 51 points vs Charlotte Hornets
#10 rated NBA defense, 38 years old

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

With 3:53 to play in the 4th quarter of Game 5 of the Eastern Confernce Finals the Bulls lead 76-64.

Everyone in the room was convinced that the series would return to Miami and the Dallas Mavericks would get to rest a little longer. Dwyane Wade had an awful night up to this point and Lebron James wasn’t going to be able to pull out this victory, as he had done numerous times this postseason.

Boy were we wrong!

Just as the game appeared to be a done deal the Bulls found it impossible to score, meanwhile the Heat went on a 18-3 run, lead by Wade, and James who each had eight down the stretch. In the final 3:03, they made all six attempts from the field, half of which were from 3-point range. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James each scored eight points during the run and Chris Bosh added two free throws. The Bulls, in turn, had four field goal attempts with two turnovers during that span.

James finished with 28 points, 11 boards, 6 dimes, Wade added 21, and they led a furious rally in the final minutes as Miami eliminated Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls 83-80 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday.

Derrick “Mr. All By Himself” Rose led Chicago with 25 points but hit just 9 of 29 shots. He fouled Wade on a key four-point play and missed a tying free throw with 26.7 seconds left. After going 0-for-5 from the floor with a turnover when guarded by LeBron James in Game 4, Derrick Rose struggled against him once again Thursday, going 1-for-10 with two turnovers in Game 5. Rose shot 6.3 percent from the floor in the series when defended by James, lowest among any player that defended him on five or more plays.

“At the end, it’s all me,” Rose said. “Turnovers, missed shots, fouls. The series is over.”

Not since the Houston Rockets dropped Game 1 to Phoenix in the 1995 Western Conference semifinals had a team won a best-of-seven after dropping the opener by more than 20.

Headed back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2006, and in a fitting twist, they’ll be facing the Mavericks. Back then, with Wade leading the way, Miami beat Dallas to capture the championship. This time, it’ll be James and Dirk Nowitzki going at it for their first rings. Also we get to enjoy a Peja, Mike Bibby reunion, and DeShawn Stevenson gets to see his old friend LeBron again. Can’t Wait! *Bart Scott voice

The Heat will host Game 1 on Tuesday night.

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The Miami Heat dominated the Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference series in a way that was hard to watch if you have any respect for the elderly. On Wednesday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Confernence Finals, the Heat and most notably LeBron James, displayed the same sort of dominance leading to a 85-75 win.

James had 29 points, Dwyane Wade scored 24, both rebounding from a poor Game 1. Chris Bosh returned to normalcy after his 30 point effort, with 10 points on 4-8 shooting. Wade and Lebron combined for 33 points in Game 1, they had 32 at halftime in Game 2.

With the series headed to Miami, momentum  now rests in favor of the Heat, who appear to have figured out how to close games.(Not something anyone left in the Playoffs wants to hear.)

Udonis Haslem, whom Spoelstra called “an absolute championship warrior,”(huh?)provided a spark off the bench with 13 points.

The Bulls missed countless layups and got outshot 47.1 percent to 34.1 percent. They were just 3 of 20 on 3-pointers and 16 of 26 at the foul line while getting beat on the glass 45-41.

Derrick Rose led Chicago with 21 points but scored just two in the fourth quarter. Deng, the only other Bulls player in double figures, added 13 but had just four after the opening period.

Since the shot-clock was invoked in the 1954-55 season, there have been four instances in which teams combined to score 24 points or fewer in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. The Heat had 14 in the 4th, while the Bulls could only manage 10 points.

Game 3 is Sunday in Miami @8:30/ Series is tied 1-1

As told since the beginning of time, DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS! Derrick Rose scored 28 points. Luol Deng had 21 points. He hit four 3s, had four steals, seven boards, and did a great job defending LeBron James who showed signs of nervousness finishing with 15 points on 5 of 15 shooting.

Carlos Boozer added 14 points and nine borads. Joakim Noah had 14 boards and the Bulls pounded the Heat on the glass. The Bulls had 12 more boards, 12 more dimes, and 7 less turnovers.

Taj Gibson is by no means concerned with the Miami Heat or their defense.

Chris Bosh played a his second solid game in a row, finishing with a game-high 30 points. LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade combined for 12-32 shooting.

The Heat do not have the fortune of an ‘off night’ from Wade, or LeBron, while Bosh scores 30. The Bulls repeating the offensive play from Game 1 would be tremendous, but prepare for their defense intensity to remain as rigorous.

For good measure: This is the sixth time these teams have met in the playoffs, with the Bulls sweeping the Heat in the first round in 1992, 1996 and 2007 and beating them in five games in the 1997 conference finals. Miami beat Chicago in six games in the first round in 2006.

Game 2 is Wednesday in Chicago 7pm on TNT/ Bulls lead series 1-0

“Last but not least, I want to thank my mom. Brenda Rose, my heart, um.. the reason why I play the way I play.. just everything. Just knowing that days that I don’t feel like going to practice, when i’m having a hard time, I think about her when she had to wake me up, go to work, and just making sure that I’m alright and making sure the family is alright. Those are hard days. My days shouldn’t be hard because I love doing what I’m doing and that’s playing basketball. So you keep me going every day and I love you and I appreciate you better than my life.” – Derrick Rose.

TOLD YOU SO!

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The Atlanta Hawks hadn’t won a Eastern Conference Semifinals game since 1997, that changed on Monday night. Joe Johnson scored 34 points and Atlanta beat top-seeded Chicago 103-95 on Monday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Johnson scored on 12 of 18 shots and all five 3-point attempts.  In the last 20 postseasons, only three(Johnson, Daniel Gibson, Kirk Hinrich) players have scored 30 points while shooting 5 for 5 or better from 3-point range. Jamal Crawford scored 22 points, and Jeff Teague added 10 while starting at the point for the injured Kirk Hinrich and wound up getting the game ball from coach Larry Drew.

A day after receiving the Coach of the Year award the day before, Tom Thibodeau was out coahced in Game 1 by Hawks first year head coach Larry Drew.

“Nobody gave us a shot in this series,” Atlanta’s Josh Smith said. “We’re here now up 1-0.”

Another(soon-to-be) award winner Derrick Rose struggled throughout the game and ending it on a sprained ankle. Derrick finished with 24 points, but he was just 11 of 27 from the field and did not attempt a free throw. He entered Game 1 averaging 12 free throw attempts per game during the postseason, 2nd in the NBA this postseason behind Dwight Howard.

A source familiar with the situation told ESPNChicago.com on Monday night that Rose would be announced as the MVP, making him the youngest player to receive the award and only the second Bull along with Michael Jordan.

That announcement is expected Tuesday, with the presentation at Game 2 on Wednesday, which could end up being the Bulls last home game.

The Hawks won thanks in part to outscoring the Bulls by 17 points in the 1st and 4th quarters combined. Atlanta shot 59 percent from the field, out-rebounded the Bulls by seven and even outscored the Bulls in the paint. By contrast, Chicago shot just 38 percent in those same periods.

The Bulls will increase their defense of Johnson in Game 2, and play with more intensity, but the precious home court advantage now belongs to the Hawks.

Game 2 is Wednesday at 7ET on TNT/ Hawks lead series 1-0

hoto by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images

Derrick Rose scored 36 points( 3 points less than his 39 in the opener), Carlos Boozer finally made it to the United Center adding 17 points and 16 boards, and the top-seeded Bulls bested the Pacers 96-90 on Monday night in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.

The Bulls dominated the boards, outrebounding Indiana 57-33, and came away with the win even though they shot just 38.6 percent and had trouble hanging onto the ball finishing with 22 turnovers.

“It’s always good to win in this league,” Rose said. “It’s very hard to win. But the way that we’re winning, we’re just trying to sharpen up things especially on the defensive end so that we can control the game more instead of us having to play crazy at the end of the game.”

The Pacers hung in even though they lost Darren Collison to a sprained left ankle going for a layup late in the first half, and coach Frank Vogel is “very” concerned his point guard might miss the rest of the series. Vogel said he’s not sure that will happen; he had not talked to team medical personnel.

Danny Granger led Indiana with 19 points, but Tyler Hansbrough wasn’t so physco, finishing with just six points on 2-of-12 shooting after scoring 22 points in the opener.

The Pacers have not won a playoff game since Game 3 of their first-round series with New Jersey in 2006.

Game 3 is Thursday at Indiana, 7:00 p.m. ET, NBA TV/ Bulls lead series 2-0

Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

After a dismal first three and a half quarters the Bulls waited until the last three minutes of the game to go on a 16 – 1 run. They lead the first round series 1-0 after a 104-99 win.

Soon-to-be MVP Derrick Rose scored 39 points, had 6 boards, and 6 dimes. Rose shot 21 of the Bulls 32 free throws. If that isn’t the superstar treatment then I’m not sure what to call it.

Pacers forward Danny Granger led Indiana with 24 points, and Tyler Hansbrough shook off a mighty elbow from Kurt Thomas to finish with 22. The Pacers were concerned late in the third quarter when Hansbrough was elbowed by Thomas as he was trying to rebound a miss by Rose. Hansbrough stayed down for several minutes and, still woozy, had to take a seat in the tunnel. He eventually walked to the locker room on his own power. He returned with 5:33 remaining, and it looked as if he might lead the Pacers to a win. With the Pacers leading by 10, Deng hit two free throws with 3:28 remaining to start the comeback. Noah followed with a tip-in and dunk to make it a four-point game, and the Bulls were on their way

Luol Deng added 18 points and Korver finished with 13, no shot bigger then his dagger giving the Bulls the first lead of the game with 48 seconds left. Carlos Boozer, who played the majority of the game in foul trouble finished with 12 points, and was schooled continually by Hansbrough.

Derrick Rose made 19 free throws against the Pacers, the most in a playoff game since Allen Iverson made 19 in 2002.  The Bulls have won 19 consecutive games when opening a postseason series at home, the 2nd longest in postseason history. Only the Lakers, who won 20 from 1982-88 in their showtime days had a longer streak. The Bulls streak goes back to MJ’s days in 1992.

Game 2 is Monday in Chicago, 9:30 p.m. ET, TNT.