Still hope for the Bulls in this series

Game 3 at the United Center was like the worst imaginable final installment to a trilogy. There may not even be a proper analogy in the movie world, since “Godfather Part 3” came about 20 years after No. 2. Maybe if Star Wars jumped straight from “Empire Strikes Back” to Jar Jar Binks, that would capture the essence of what the Bulls accomplished.

After a pair of incredibly dramatic and entertaining games to start the series in Boston, the Bulls were never competitive in Thursday's 107-86 trouncing.

Credit the Celtics and star Paul Pierce, who claimed his team had only payed its 'C' game, then gave a thorough demonstration by scoring 13 of his 24 points in the opening seven minutes.

But the Bulls shouldn't give up hope in the series. While Boston cranked up the defensive pressure a couple of notches, the Bulls were still their own worst enemy in Game 3.

How can they avoid a repeat in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon? First of all, by making free throws. The Celtics are going to keep giving plenty of fouls and the Bulls can't afford another 10-for-19 first half at the foul line.

Also, the defensive scheme is pretty simple. Boston is bringing one of the big guys up to help block either Derrick Rose or Ben Gordon and cut off their penetration. The solution is also simple – just move the ball. As long as they keep passing it, things will open up; the more passes the better. It doesn't have to be just one toss to the open man in the post. Send it inside, swing it around and the Bulls will get plenty of open shots.

Rose and Gordon both played the entire first quarter and combined to hit 2 of 8 shots. The Bulls had some luck with John Salmons going back at Pierce one-on-one, but that didn't create any ball movement.

There was a point in the second quarter when it looked as though the Bulls would weather the early storm and get back into it like they did in Game 2. They were down by 7 midway through the second, then Boston stretched the lead to 13, which was still within striking range.

But the back-breaker was 3 straight 3-point baskets to end the first half – the first by Stephon Marbury and the next two by Ray Allen. On three consecutive possessions, the Celtics stretched the lead from 13 to 22 and the Bulls were essentially defeated. Boston finished the night hitting 12 of 21 shots from 3-point range.

“We got picked apart tonight,” coach Vinny Del Negro said after the game. “I thought we lost a lot of confidence, especially our younger guys.”

Well, with two minutes left in the first half the Bulls trailed by 13 after missing 9 free throws and coughing up 14 turnovers. All they had to do was shoot their usual percentage at the foul line and stop trying to dribble through the double teams and they would have been in the game.

The Bulls have been pretty good at responding to desperate situations and this series might be over if they lose on Sunday and fall behind 3-1. It's time for the younger Bulls to learn and respond.