MILWAUKEE -- The tenor for the Chicago Bulls' 120-66 demolition of the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series was set long before the Bulls hit the Bradley Center floor on Thursday night.
After looking lethargic at times during two potential closeout games over the past week, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau decided to change the intensity of Wednesday's practice to get his team ready.
How did he do that?
"He had [the starters] scrimmaging on us," Bulls forward Taj Gibson said. "He had [them] scrimmaging against the second unit, kicking our ass. They got their confidence up against us, I thought. It was like JV basketball vs. varsity the whole time. Thibs didn't let us get any offense. He just had the starters going at us. Our job was to beat them up, get them ready for today's game.
"I thought that may have helped out a lot because we were just challenging Pau [Gasol], beating him up on the post. Beating up Joakim [Noah] in the post. And you look at how they started the game off, they started the game off getting tough rebounds. Tough plays late. Thibs had a great practice lined up for us."
The difference in intensity was noticeable from the start in this game. After languishing at times during Games 4 and 5, the Bulls set the tone from the beginning of this game, getting out to a 8-0 lead in the first 68 seconds on their way to a 34-16 first-quarter lead and never looking back.
The Bulls played with more passion and fire in this game than they had at any other point in the series. When the players discussed Wednesday's practice, it's easy to see where the focus emanated from.
"The white team, the second unit really played us tough and played very similar to what Milwaukee would do," Noah said. "Just doubling Jimmy [Butler], doubling [Derrick Rose] off the pick-and-rolls and it was good for us to have a good practice and have that extra day, too, to just get a little time to mentally get away from the game for a day. I think that was big for us."
The focus Noah referred to was evident. The Bulls passed the ball better than at any other point in the series. They moved defensively much better -- and took care of the little things -- as evidenced by this nugget from ESPN Stats and Information: The Bucks missed 20 shots in the first half and registered just one offensive rebound.
"Today was probably our most vocal game defensively," Noah said. "I think that was big for us."
The biggest part for the Bulls is a renewed sense of confidence heading into a showdown against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round. They believe in themselves again and they believe they have the talent to knock off James in a playoff series for the first time. They have to take the positivity from Wednesday's practice and continue pushing it forward into the coming weeks.
"I think it was just us, the team," Rose said of his team's improved performance. "It was very quiet in here before the game. I think everybody was just focusing in on just doing their job. Just winning your matchup. And I think that was pretty much it."