Chicago Bulls: Race To The Playoffs

The Miami Heat completed a stirring second half to the National Basketball Association regular season by setting a new milestone on Wednesday but their brilliance was not rewarded with a playoff berth as the growing trend of resting players took on extra significance. The Nets only had 56 points at that point and they really didn't play awful after the first quarter, but it simply was not happening.

Regarding sitting out, Lopez said "I completely understand they could be upset by it".

The Bulls now have a 40-41 record and can clinch a playoff spot with a win, while 41-40 IN and 40-41 Miami are also still IN the mix for the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds IN the East. The Nets, with nothing to play for and no initiative to tank with Boston owning its draft slot, sat six players including leading scorers Brook Lopez and Jeremy Lin.

"We have to look at it from the Brooklyn Nets franchise and what is best for us, and that's how we're looking into it in a vacuum", Atkinson explained as he and general manager Sean Marks quickly turned their attention to what should be a fascinating offseason. That's my responsibility as a coach to look at it in that vein.

"Listen", he said, "guys want to play 82 games, let's face it". The Nets were 3 of 33 from 3-point range in the blowout loss and Atkinson's odd decision just adds to the storyline of resting players that has permeated much of the season. "Again, it frustrates me".

However, the Nets were blown out by the Bulls at the United Center, 112-73. Point guard Cameron Payne came in and was hurt and sent to play in the D-league.

Teams have plenty of reasons to rest players, but the Nets have nothing to gain.

Rajon Rondo was back in the Chicago starting lineup after missing the past three games with a sprained right wrist. As much as I loved the way Thibodeau coached, his players quit on him and the franchise at the end of the Cavs series three years ago. "I don't know if I've ever wanted something more for a team", he said, pausing lengthily a number of times and sighing audibly to collect his thoughts. Still, George vs. LeBron James should be great, and maybe we'll get more Lance Stephenson silliness.

"I don't think when you win 20 games you can say [you're happy]".

It did, but the Heat were hoping for another Net win, and a spot against top-seeded Boston in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs later this week. "We're all right. We're not anxious about who we're playing, we have to focus in on ourselves and play the best Bulls basketball that we can", Butler said.

"Our young guys are trying to prove themselves".

The mood started dampening inside the AmericanAirlines Arena long before the Bulls and Pacers jumped to early leads.

CHICAGO | The media wasn't buying what Brooklyn Nets' coach Kenny Atkinson was selling before Wednesday night's regular-season finale with the Bulls.

"It means a lot for those fans who were supporting us through the whole season", Dragic said. "We didn't have the good start, but we stayed together". So, we get.500 teams making the playoffs, and some pretty boring first-round match-ups. We really got to know each other and through everything we've made each other better.

The end: The highlight of the night came with 66 seconds remaining in the season when Heat captain Udonis Haslem stepped onto the floor in a game for the first time since February 4. I think we all did our job to get us into the playoffs. We definitely need to shoot better. "Our perimeter shooting is not where it needs to be".

Chicago continued to put the nail in the coffin on the Nets' season as they extended their lead to 39 points.