Nets expecting charged-up Bulls
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah drives to the hoop against Brook Lopez during Game 1 of their first-round series at the Barclays Center. (April 20, 2013) Credit: Getty
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- After getting pounded by the Nets in their series opener Saturday, the Bulls will be primed and ready when the action tips off Monday night. P.J. Carlesimo is sure of it.
"Their guys are going to come in frothing at the mouth," the Nets' interim coach said Sunday. "We need to play like we are down 1-0, not up 1-0, and that's always the challenge, to me, of the even-numbered games."
Deron Williams suggested the Nets did nothing special, simply taking care of the main task at hand -- defending home court. But he knows there's a big difference between sending the Bulls back to Chicago trailing 2-0 and being tied at 1-1, making it important for the Nets to match Saturday's effort.
"The first one is easy," Williams said. "You are ready for it. You are excited, the fans are excited. So this one is going to be the one to get to see where we are at. We have to have that same energy and play with that same pace we did in Game 1 in Game 2."
The Nets have held a 2-0 lead in five playoff series in franchise history, winning all five.
Noah on track
Bulls center Joakim Noah apparently is going to give it a go again.
Noah, who is dealing with plantar fasciitis and said he has a tear in his right foot, didn't suffer any major setbacks after scoring four points and pulling down five rebounds in 13:27 Saturday.
"Relatively good for where he is," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau told reporters. "Not quite the same soreness that he had previously. So he feels like he can do something today, which is a good sign. We'll see where he is [Monday]."
