May 03--The Bulls will feature something unusual when they play Game 1 Monday in Cleveland-- their regular lineup.
Mike Dunleavy avoided suspension for his blow to the throat of Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams in Thursday's Game 6, a play that wasn't whistled but did get upgraded to a flagrant-1 foul by league review. That means Dunleavy will start with Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol, a lineup the Bulls didn't field in four regular-season meetings with the Cavaliers.
"I wasn't expecting anything to happen," Dunleavy said of not being suspended. "After seeing the replay, there's some contact above the neck. In those situations, (a flagrant foul) is what it mandates."
Dunleavy spoke with NBA security officials Friday, which is standard protocol. The league suspended Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo for taking a run at and bowling over Dunleavy in the second quarter, which prompted Antetokounmpo's ejection.
"I thought he was penalized during the game," Dunleavy said. "He got a flagrant foul and was ejected, (Bulls) free throws. Seems fair to me. I don't think it should be anything worse than that."
Nevertheless, Antetokounmpo, who hails from Greece, will sit the first game he is physically able to play in 2015-16.
"I got no issues with the guy," Dunleavy said. "Nice kid. Going to be a really good player. Doesn't change my feelings on wanting to try to get over to Mykonos."
Point, counterpoint: Rose, who tore his left ACL in the first game of the first round of the 2012 playoffs, is into the second round for the first time since the 2011 Eastern Conference finals. He also is featured in the series' premier matchup against Kyrie Irving.
But Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau isn't worried about Rose trying to do too much.
"The game tells you what you should do," Thibodeau said. "If they overhelp, then hit the open man, run the team. I thought Derrick played as well as he has all year in Game 6 (against the Bucks). It wasn't his scoring or shooting. It was his playmaking. That tells you how good he is. He had great impact on that game.
"You have to remember: This is his first time in the postseason in a long time for him. He feels real good, feels strong. He has to get ready for the next challenge."
Layups: Noah is "a little under the weather," according to Thibodeau, but participated in most of practice and will play Game 1. ... Nikola Mirotic barely played in the series-clinching victory over the Bucks, and Taj Gibson's defensive versatility points to Mirotic's role staying smaller. "We'll see how it unfolds," Thibodeau said. "A lot of it is matchups. He's fine."
