CHICAGO – For the first time in his NBA career, D.J. Augustin had received order to revive a season and a playoff series. No rhythm found, the postseason’s heightened defense elevating stress on the Chicago Bulls, and Tom Thibodeau yelled for Augustin’s name and placed him with the daunting task of leading a bench unit to resurrect them out of an embarrassing offensive display.
With three-pointers and floaters, mid-range jumpers and drive-and-kicks, Augustin fulfilled his meaning to the Bulls on Wednesday night and answered his own words about Game 2 against the Washington Wizards as a “must win.” He orchestrated a comeback and helped secured a six-point lead with less than three minutes to play, totaling a postseason career-high of 25 points and seven assists.
Suddenly, Washington was out to stop him. In a huddle in the fourth quarter, Randy Wittman had settled with Trevor Ariza his new defensive assignment: Augustin. Over eight inches taller, Ariza shadowed Augustin everywhere on the court, contested every shot and misplaced his comfort.
John Wall had thrown the basketball crosscourt at the buzzer to punctuate the Wizards’ 2-0 series lead in this first round, and Augustin was walking to the tunnel before jogging to corral the ball. His teammates were off the court now, but Augustin hoisted one more baseline jumper – cascading short on the rim, as if Ariza still hounded.
“[Ariza] is 6-8 and so lengthy, it’s hard to get free,” Augustin said at his locker. “We have to be ready and adjust for next game.”
Augustin missed his last six attempts from the field, a lone shot creator gone cold and sealed with the game in the balance. He put forth a brilliant performance for so long Wednesday, Thibodeau’s season-saver demanding the most out of his own offense. And like so many within these Bulls, Augustin noticed an offense lacking desired options, a rotation of players exhausting play sets to continue creating quality shots on broken possessions.
With Derrick Rose on the sideline in a suit and a pursuit of Carmelo Anthony months away, this has become the Bulls’ reality. Thibodeau will keep searching for solutions to bring the series back to Chicago, for wrinkles in his scheme to discombobulate the Wizards.
As Taj Gibson said, “D.J., the way he ends games, he always takes the big shots for us,” and Augustin knew the critical, judicious looks came his way in regulation. He’s thrived with Thibodeau’s structure and opportunity, and this ideal fit will be a significant factor in his unrestricted free agency, a source told RealGM.
For now, Chicago has observed the hunger in Bradley Beal and Wall and their Wizards, every facet coming together for a blend of young talents and veterans. The backcourt running mates had mightily struggled in Game 1, only to prove the coaching staff’s belief in the aberration.
Over and over, people presented the Bulls with chances to push the loss onto the charge of other reasons. Late officiating calls. Tiring bodies.
When asked about minute distribution as an impact on the shooting in overtime, Augustin sighed. “It could be, but we’re not going to use it as an excuse.”
When baited to blame the referees for late calls, Joakim Noah shook his head. “I’m not stupid. Come on.”
Long before the Bulls showered, dressed and went into the night, Dikembe Mutombo stepped into the locker room and spoke to them about their responsibilities as professionals. Most of all, Mutumbo laughed with them, calmed the tenor of the room and shared his handling with overcoming a 2-0 deficit in a series – a comeback on Seattle in the best of five in 1994.
Mutombo had watched a 6-feet guard yank his team from a disconcerting early deficit on their home court, a virtuoso performance toward which even Wizards players marveled later. D.J. Augustin kept shooting and hitting, slashing and cutting, and soon it had come to a weary halt for the Bulls. Ultimately, they all understand these playoffs fall upon their production, and the ranks of reliability are closing fast.
