What is it?
It’s an extremely contagious, rapidly spreading viral influenza soon to infect the masses in just a few weeks’ time. It attacks the mind, the body and the spirit. A sufferer can expect sudden spasms, wild jerking, and brief moments of cognitive dysfunction (talking to a television as if it were a person is one example).
Other symptoms include intense anxiety, usually followed by extreme elation.
What is it?
It’s Bulls Fever.
How do you treat it? You don’t. You tune into the Bulls and let them treat you to a thrilling game of basketball — team basketball. Sure, Derrick Rose may be the star, but he also leads the team in assists, and he’s all about getting the win and not padding his stats. He’s inching ever closer in comparisons with Michael Jordan early in his career. With his quickness and gravity defying moves, it makes you wonder if perhaps he could be (or is) the second coming of His Airness. It won’t be long before the comparisons start matching up. I mean how many times will we see the dizzying spin moves, or the way he seems to slip the ball through a pinhole for a layup, before we say, “OK, maybe”?
But this is about the Bulls as a team.
Who wouldn’t want to root for guys like Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Keith Bogans and Carlos Boozer — I mean even their last names are cool. There doesn’t seem to be a truant on the squad. They all like and respect one another and have one goal in mind: an NBA championship. Coach Tom Thibodeau is never satisfied, which is a good thing. His team finished the regular season with the best record in the league, but it was on to other business before he was ready to apply any sappy praise.
One sentence from Rose after Saturday afternoon’s wild win over Indiana in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference series illustrated the cohesiveness of this Bulls team. When asked about his darting pass to Kyle Korver, who hit the tie-breaking three-pointer with 48 seconds left in the game, Rose began his answer with: “Kyle Korver is a great guy …”
He’s a great guy?
This is a group of friends, pals, brothers. Deng wanted blood when he thought Tyler Hansbrough fouled Rose too hard in the final quarter. His exuberant loyalty cost him a technical foul.
With Rose (39 points) acting as the battering ram — he was karate-chopped and sent to the charity stripe 11 times — the rest of the Bulls are determined to honor the brave one by doing their part for a victory. Noah had two monster blocks to end Saturday’s game. Deng had 10 points in the fourth quarter. He finished with 18 points in the game.
The fever is potent and symptoms are sure to persist as the playoffs continue. I’m not a doctor, but I recommend you ride this one out. Chances are you’ll be glad you did.