Good to see Deron and Dee move on to the Western Conference Finals, where, I believe, they will meet their end.

Here are a couple quick thoughts after watching Game 5.

I love to watch Deron play and I’m happy for the minutes Dee gets, but I don’t think I will ever be able to truly root for Utah, they still have too much of that 90s era Jazz mystique. I swear Jerry Sloan has it written in his contract that he will only coach goofy, unappealing players. Think about it: Greg Ostertag, John Crotty, Jeff Hornacek, Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, Gordon Giricek … this is ugly basketball.

How is Dee Brown such a fan favorite? This kid gets more respect for doing less than anyone I can remember. At halftime Charles Barkley (by the way, if Chuck has something to say I’m listening … its always worth it) made a point of giving Brown a shout-out. People go out of their way to praise this kid. He’s not even a role player.

Coming out of the first round the Bulls looked like a championship contender. Three games later they’re on the brink of elimination and humiliation. The Pistons have made fools of them. And I never saw it coming.

I expected a good series like everyone else, six or seven games of hard-nosed defensive basketball. The Bulls, though, being younger and more hungry, were supposed to prevail. The signs were everywhere. Here’s why I thought the Bulls would win.

Ben Wallace

The undersized (height, not arms) center was supposed to be the last piece of the puzzle. He was the Dennis Rodman of Jordan’s second three-peat team: while a little on the old side, an excellent low-post defender to compliment an already well-rounded defensive team, plus a lot less crazy. And even if Wallace didn’t live up to his billing (and he didn’t), the Bulls still succeeded in removing one of the Pistons’ crucial championship pieces. Maybe Detroit knew something Chicago did not. They look pretty good without Big Ben. Makes we wish Paxson would have pursued KG more.

Chris Webber

To replace Wallace Detroit picked up Webber, the quintessential washed up veteran. Chris Webber is not a winner. He’s in that category of players that are good, but will never win you a championship. Detroit picking up Webber is like the Lakers picking up Karl Malone. It looks good on paper, but it’s never going to work. I mean, five years ago could you imagine a front court of Rasheed Wallace and Chris Webber contending for a championship? Still, surprisingly, the Pistons look like the class of the East.

Regular season

Sure the Pistons finished with the better record, but the Bulls beat the Pistons 3-1 over the course of the season. Yes, the regular season means little to a good team, but you can’t tell me the Pistons couldn’t find motivation to play their best when they faced the Bulls. Chicago, with Wallace, was a legitimate threat to take the Central Division crown.

Playoffs

I was sure the Bulls would beat the Heat, but I was not expecting a sweep. After losing a crucial game to the Nets and backing into the fifth seed, I thought the Heat would give the fight. Instead the Bulls came together and played great team basketball, getting consistent contribution from Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng. It looked like the Bulls had the maturity to play at the next level, even against the Pistons.

Clearly the Pistons have this series, as possibly the Eastern Conference Championship, well in hand. The Bulls should pull out a win tomorrow in Chicago, but Game 5 in Detroit will be their last.

Let the off-season begin. If I know John Paxson, it should be interesting.

The Sports Blog comes back to life … albeit for sad reasons.

Former Illinois basketball star/current member of the Utah Jazz Dee Brown took a hard fall last night. The reserve point guard came into the game after Deron Williams (aka the guy who beat Arizona in ‘05) got into foul trouble. Back up 1-guard Derek Fisher was with his infant daughter who was having surgery to remove a cancerous tumor between her eyes and brain. Brown checked into the game and took a fall backward, forcing a teammate to trip over him and bend Brown’s neck very unnaturally. The collision left Brown in obvious pain on the floor. He was later carted off and immediately taken to the hospital. Fortunately, all tests came out negative for any spine or neck damage, and neurological signs are positive as well.

Brown was the heart of Illinois basketball for four seasons. While his pro career has been less than stellar compared to former and current teammate Williams, he is still the best player in the country in the eyes of many Illini fans.

Dee, you’re in our thoughts and prayers. Get well soon and, who knows, there might be a championship ring waiting for you when you get back. (Yes, the Jazz have looked that good.)

This is Tyler Hall writing on Dave Just’s Login:

The Bulls started off the playoffs very strongly. They managed to defeat the defending NBA Champions in only four games. They did everything well that a great basketball team does.

Some may have thought that the Bulls had returned to glory. Unfortunately, the Detroit Pistons thought otherwise. The Pistons completely dismantled the Bulls in game one of the seven game series. The Bulls’ Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon combined for a mere 22 points. Gordon was two-for-nine in his twenty-seven minutes of play. The Bulls were beaten in every aspect of the game. The only bright spot for the Bulls was Luol Deng. He managed to score eighteen points and was one of two Bulls in double figures. Hopefully the Bulls can pull themselves together for another series win. The 69 points they managed to score will not be enough to win though.

This is Tyler Hall writing on Dave Just’s Login:

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Washington Nationals to win their fifth straight game today. It was a hard fought game that went into extra innings. The Cubs were winning up until the seventh inning when Bob Howry relieved Will Ohman. Howry gave up two runs in the seventh. This gave the Nationals the lead three to two, but that is as many runs as the Nationals scored. Ryan Theriot hit a single in the ninth inning to tie the game. In the tenth inning Matt Murton was driven in by Daryle Ward. Ward’s RBI won the the game for the Cubs. So it was an all around good day for the Cubs. Alfonso Soriano and Derek Lee both continued their hit streaks. Next year could finally be here.

After a lengthy leave from the sports blog, I have returned for a little Kentucky Derby talk. I’m like the Kenny Mayne of DI Sports Wrap-Up.

A full field of 20 horses will once again grace the track at Churchill Downs for the 133rd running of the race. Since the 1984 rule that allowed 20 horses to run, a full field has only run twice: 2005 (Giacamo) and 2006 (Barbaro).

Exercise rider Carmen Rosas runs Kentucky Derby entry Curlin around the Churchill Downs track in Louisville, Ky., on Friday. The 133rd Kentucky Derby will be held today. (AP Photo)

Jockey Robby Albarado will be on Curlin in the No. 2 post position. Curlin is the early favorite at 7-2. Curlin didn’t run his first race until 13 weeks ago, but he won that race and the two since then by a combined 28 lengths.

“We don’t know how good this horse is, but he’s just been dominating,” Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia told the Associated Press in making the colt a slight 7-2 favorite over 4-1 Street Sense.

It’s been 125 years since a horse that skipped his 2-year-old season has won the Derby.

Here are the horses and their post positions:

Exercise rider Derek Sturniolo and Kentucky Derby hopeful Nobiz Like Shobiz are walked off the track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., on Thursday. (AP Photo)

1 Sedgefield 50-1
2 Curlin 7-2
3 Zanjero 30-1
4 Storm in May 30-1
5 Imawildandcrazyguy 50-1
6 Cowtown Cat 20-1
7 Street Sense 4-1
8 Hard Spun 15-1
9 Liquidity 30-1
10 Teuflesberg 30-1
11 Bwana Bull 50-1
12 Nobiz Like Shobiz 8-1
13 Sam P. 20-1
14 Scat Daddy 10-1
15 Tiago 15-1
16 Circular Quay 8-1
17 Stormello 30-1
18 Any Given Saturday 12-1
19 Dominican 20-1
20 Great Hunter 15-1

Weather forecasts look sloppy, and only seven of the 20 horses have raced on a muddy track. If conditions are wet, I like Street Sense as the favorite over Curlin.

My trifecta pick is No Biz like Showbiz, Curlin, and Any Given Saturday.

I’m also partial to Mark Guidry on Imawildandcrazyguy going off at 50-1. Guidry used to dominate Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill., winning two titles there.

According to the AP, Churchill Downs will honor Barbaro before the race in the winner’s circle.

Post time is 5:04 CDT with a $2,210,000 purse. The winner will earn $1,450,000.