CHICAGO -- A series that gave us buzzer-beaters from Derrick Rose and LeBron James, with three consecutive games coming down to the final possession, ended with a dud.
LeBron James and the Cavaliers got no resistance from the Bulls on Thursday night, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2009 with a 94-73 victory that clinched their second-round series in six games.
Despite a poor shooting night from James and another knee injury for Kyrie Irving, the Cavs move on to face either Atlanta or Washington in the conference finals. Aside from discovering that Matthew Dellavedova (19 points) could lead a LeBron-led team in scoring in a playoff game, here's what we learned:
1. If this was the last game for Tom Thibodeau in Chicago, it couldn't have been more demoralizing
The Bulls showed no life, no fight, and even less inclination to score. Despite Irving leaving in the second quarter with a knee injury and James shooting only 7 for 23 and getting into foul trouble, the Bulls were never competitive in the game and never led after an early seven-point advantage in the first quarter. Now, the process of determining if Thibodeau is gone, and how messy it will be, begins. The Bulls' coach has two years left on his contract, which both sides will no doubt try to use as leverage in their seemingly inevitable divorce.
2. Let's just forget the third quarter ever happened, OK?
The teams combined for only 31 points and 12-of-41 shooting (29 percent). Halfway through the quarter, both teams had combined for exactly one basket -- a layup by Mike Dunleavy -- until Dellavedova made a floater.
3. The Cavs get some much-needed rest
With Kevin Love gone for the rest of the postseason and Irving dealing with multiple injuries, the Cavs need every minute of the five-plus days they'll get before the start of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday. "Like everything else this season," coach David Blatt said, "whatever comes, we'll be ready."
