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IC Cold Links: Pacers Ready To Play, Joakim Noah Ready To Celebrate With Bulls

By Tom Lewis

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Feb 22, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) celebrates a three-point basket against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at the United Center. The Bulls won 110 - 91. . Mandatory Credit: David Banks-US PRESSWIRE
Feb 22, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) celebrates a three-point basket against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at the United Center. The Bulls won 110 - 91. . Mandatory Credit: David Banks-US PRESSWIRE

You gotta love the juice brewing for Monday night's rematch at the United Center between the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls.

After the Pacers beat the Bulls at the UC earlier in the season, Derrick Rose whined about the level of celebration the Pacers displayed after they downed their nemesis. Rose is in the mood to avenge earlier transgressions as he did Sunday night by carrying Chicago to a win over the Philadelphia 76ers.

After the game, Rose admitted he hasn't forgotten the loss to Indiana but downplayed the celebration angle. Of course, center Joakim Noah is ready to beat the Pacers and enjoy it.

"When people talk about celebration I just feel like, 'You're not going to out-celebrate me.' Roy Hibbert cannot out-celebrate me. So if they want to see some celebration when we win, I can show them some celebration ... I know how to celebrate."

Umm, we know Joakim. What made Rose's comments after the first game so funny was the big pink Noah standing in the corner. The guy celebrates taking a charge with more vigor than the Pacers showed after their win in Chicago.

The UC should be hyped up as both teams should be ready to pump up the intensity, and the Pacers look forward to a chance to compete with the top team in the East. As Mike Wells reports, Danny Granger isn't bothered by any comments from Rose or Noah and doesn't see it changing anything.

"I'm sure he remembers because we remember it," Granger said. "We never back down from anything. We're division rivals, so it's going to be a hard-fought game one way or another. We like the challenge. We've never backed down from a challenge."

Yep, it's on tonight. This should be fun. Check out the links after the jump.

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