Official playoffs thread. Bulls clinch. -MERGING

[r1terrell23]

If the Bulls were the 6 seed I think we take Indy in 7 and NY in 7. Then lose to Miami.

Being the 5 seed we beat the Nets in 7 and lose to the Heat. Should have tried for the 6 seed.

[umfan83]

Charlotte beating Cleveland while Orlando losing to Miami....came into the day tied with the worst record. I guess Charlotte doesn't want the best odds at #1

[Former Roy]

If the Bulls were the 6 seed I think we take Indy in 7 and NY in 7. Then lose to Miami.

Being the 5 seed we beat the Nets in 7 and lose to the Heat. Should have tried for the 6 seed.

I think you're being too kind to this Bulls team.

I actually would of preferred that path due to past fueds but they wouldn't make it out of both those series with Nate Robinson as the only closer.

[Saphir]

Game 1 is on Saturday. Here we go.

David Aldridge ‏@daldridgetnt 1m
Saturday is B-Ball Day in NYC: Celtics-Knicks at 3; Bulls-Nets TBA, would think it'll be Sat night opener.

At least we don't have to worried about that whole afternoon suckage thing.

[aaqubed]

Game 1 is on Saturday. Here we go.

David Aldridge ‏@daldridgetnt 1m
Saturday is B-Ball Day in NYC: Celtics-Knicks at 3; Bulls-Nets TBA, would think it'll be Sat night opener.

At least we don't have to worried about that whole afternoon suckage thing.

Unless it's before that game -- ie at 1 PM.

[Tenchi Ryu]

I'm getting a TNT 7pm vibe for our game.

[Saphir]

Game 1 is on Saturday. Here we go.

David Aldridge ‏@daldridgetnt 1m
Saturday is B-Ball Day in NYC: Celtics-Knicks at 3; Bulls-Nets TBA, would think it'll be Sat night opener.

At least we don't have to worried about that whole afternoon suckage thing.

Unless it's before that game -- ie at 1 PM.

I believe it's already been confirmed by NY media that Celtics/Knicks will be the first game of the day for the area. Speculation has it at either 4 or 7:30 CT.

Looks like it'll be on ESPN too. I'd assume they have Breen/JVG on the Celtics/Knicks game and then have Tirico/Brown for Bulls/Nets.

[TheFix]

I'm excited about this series.

Even with Noah injured, I think we win in 6. Nets are soft.

[kdapiton]

I'm excited about this series.

Even with Noah injured, I think we win in 6. Nets are soft.

I admire yours and everyone else's optimism here. I wish I shared the same views.

[gf2020hotmail]

I am stunned the Bulls are playing Saturday. Sorry for my confidence in that regard. I assume that Boston-New York got elevated to ABC by recent events/interest ahead of one of Lakers and Heat.

ESPN says their coverage will start at 4:30 central, so the Bulls will be then or at 7.

[ZippinPippen]

[ForLoveofGame]

I'm excited about this series.

Even with Noah injured, I think we win in 6. Nets are soft.

I admire yours and everyone else's optimism here. I wish I shared the same views.

x2

I am surprised most fans are taking the Nets lightly and that is a recipe for disaster.
If the Bulls were healthy then I would have more confidence but with this current team and all the ups and downs they go through it wouldn't surprise me if we loose this series.

Also Nets have big guys that can matchup with our injured bigs.
And they have guards who can create and be playmakers in Deron and Joe Johnson.
Not a good matchup for our team in my opinion.

[aaqubed]

I'm excited about this series.

Even with Noah injured, I think we win in 6. Nets are soft.

I admire yours and everyone else's optimism here. I wish I shared the same views.

x2

I am surprised most fans are taking the Nets lightly and that is a recipe for disaster.
If the Bulls were healthy then I would have more confidence but with this current team and all the ups and downs they go through it wouldn't surprise me if we loose this series.

Also Nets have big guys that can matchup with our injured bigs.
And they have guards who can create and be playmakers in Deron and Joe Johnson.
Not a good matchup for our team in my opinion.

We have Jimmy to throw a wet blanket on whichever of their perimeter players is feeling it. Just like he shut down Deron at the end of the last game we played them.

We'll need a big series from Boozer, but this is the type of team that Boozer can have a good series against. He can shoot over Reggie Evans and can outmuscle their other bigs for position down low.

[ForLoveofGame]

^^ Boozer alone will not be enough. Boozer has shown in the past to disappear in big games and in the playoffs.

Last two season in the postseason Boozer has averaged only 13 PPG and shot a measly 42% from the field as a member of the Chicago Bulls.

Last year Philly also had two ball handlers and attackers in Holiday and Iguodala who drove to the rim at will.
Who could forget Iggy's coast to coast layup to end our season.
76ers had a weak frontline and their bigs sucked and yet they still beat us last year.

[chifan1798]

I'm excited about this series.

Even with Noah injured, I think we win in 6. Nets are soft.

I admire yours and everyone else's optimism here. I wish I shared the same views.

x2

I am surprised most fans are taking the Nets lightly and that is a recipe for disaster.
If the Bulls were healthy then I would have more confidence but with this current team and all the ups and downs they go through it wouldn't surprise me if we loose this series.

Also Nets have big guys that can matchup with our injured bigs.
And they have guards who can create and be playmakers in Deron and Joe Johnson.
Not a good matchup for our team in my opinion.

The thing that concerns me the most, is that the Nets have been playing better in the second half of the season as opposed to the first half. The other thing that concerns me is the health of our bigs. Noah just didn't look like himself out there tonight, and I don't know if 2 days is enough for him to be back to the active Noah that we know and love. We probably need Noah at about 85% minimum to win.....right now, he's looking like 65%

[ForLoveofGame]

Yeah we need a healthy Noah and Gibson to patrol the paint and cut off any drives and penetration to the basket. We also need Noah to lock up Lopez and slow him down.

A healthy Bulls team can beat anybody, but that's the concern we aren't really healthy right now.

[GoBlue72391]

I see 43-49 wins and finishing anywhere from 4th-6th in the East. It all depends on how healthy we stay throughout the course of the season. If we avoid any major and/or lingering injuries, I can see us playing above .500 until Derrick's return. We may struggle to score at times, but as long as we play defense and rebound like we have under Thibs we'll have the opportunity to win on any given night.

When Derrick does return we'll have to see how long it takes for him to adjust and how long it takes the team to adjust to him. Hopefully he'll get his legs under him by the playoffs and the team will have meshed by the playoffs. One silver lining in Derrick's injury is that he has the potential to be healthy and have fresh legs heading into the playoffs, depending on when he returns. The past two years he's seemed a little run down by the time the playoffs rolled around. If he's healthy, fresh, and up to speed on his injury and the NBA game by the playoffs, I think that works in our favor.

I think we can still win the championship this season. It will take a lot of luck and all the cards going in our favor, but I really think a fresh, healthy Rose in the playoffs can be a blessing in disguise. At the very least, I don't agree with those who think this will be a "wasted" or "lost" season for the Bulls.

Now for my actual predictions: 46 wins, 5th in the Eastern Conference, lose in the ECF.

Rose: 21 pts, 3 rbds, 7 assts, 43% (plays 28 games, rounds into form by the playoffs)

Hamilton: 13 pts, 2 rbds, 3 assts, 45% (plays 70 games)

Deng: 18 pts, 7 rbds, 3 assts, 47% (all-star, 1st-team all defense)

Boozer: 17 pts, 9 rbds, 1 stls, 51%

Noah: 11 pts, 11 rbds, 2 blks, 53% (2nd-team all defense)

Gibson: 9 pts, 7 rbds, 1.5 blks, 49%

Hinrich: 9 pts, 3 rbds, 7 assts, 44%

Mohammed: 6 pts, 5 rbds, 1 blk, 51%

Bellinelli: 8 pts, 2 rbds, 2 assts, 41%

Butler: 5 pts, 3 rbds, 1 stls, 45%

Robinson: 10 pts, 2 rbds, 4 assts, 43%

Radmanovic: 6 pts, 3 rbds 45% (not in the rotation)

Teague: 3 pts, 1 rbds, 1 assts, 37% (barely plays at all)

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1206170&start=15

[th4d]

Hey does anyone know how many players are allowed to play in each playoff roster? And do you think the question if Rose should get a spot will force Rose to make a decision on coming back in the playoffs or not?

[pylb]

Hey does anyone know how many players are allowed to play in each playoff roster? And do you think the question if Rose should get a spot will force Rose to make a decision on coming back in the playoffs or not?

http://www.nba.com/analysis/00421026.html#2

Each team that qualifies for the NBA Playoffs must submit a list of its players eligible to compete in playoff games on the day following the end of the regular season.

Because there is no Injured List for the NBA Playoffs, each playoff team must designate the 12 players eligible for the playoffs from all of its regular season lists (Active, Injured and Suspended).

A player who is on the Injured, Active or Suspended List at the end of the regular season, but who is not designated for playoff eligibility, need not be waived. He remains on the appropriate regular season list through the NBA Playoffs.

Teams must have at least nine eligible players dressed and able to play in a playoff game. Teams failing to comply are subject to fines.

[Evil_Headband]

^ That link is from 2001. I assume it's 13 players now, right?