PG: Phil Jackson Continues To Lead Bulls To Win

[Stratmaster]

You have to account for Pau not being as effective against big guys like Mosgov, and also a man called, Lebron.

And even when you focus solely on Lebron, he can still go off, leaving Kyrie to be more open with all the attention Lebron will get.

There's so many things we have to do right, whereas, the Cavs have more margin for error.

I do agree with your assessment though, I just don't believe that's what's going to determine the series.

The whole Cavs fear seems to be based upon them having 3 scorers. LBJ, Kyrie and Love. Meanwhile the Bulls have 3 guys who average 18 ppg or more (I am, of course, discounting the period before Mirotic was seeing any minutes) and a 4th one about to come back from injury who is also averaging 18+. The Cavs have 2, with Love coming in 3rd at 16 ppg. 2 players score 45% of their points and if you add in Love they make up 60%. The Bulls actually have more scoring and more diverse scoring.

The Cavs do not have more margin for error. I'm not saying the Bulls are a lock or even favored. But this thought that LBJ's team has more firepower than the Bulls is so last year; or last few years.

Mozgov can make an impact in his 25 minutes just like Taj can . But the Bulls aren't reliant on Pau for all their scoring like they appeared they were going to be early in the season. I think the edge goes to the Cavs based on home court. Nothing more or less. If not for Butler's injury the Bulls would be two seed and favorites...at least in my mind

You call it fear, I call it a healthy fear. I'm not pissing my pants. I simply said they have the edge on us, and would be the favorites, without a doubt.

The Cavs do have more margin for error. We have to hope Mirotic can still be a beast in the playoffs. We have to hope Rose doesn't mess up the chemistry, and puts up decent numbers after coming back from surgery, and missing a whole bunch of games. As we know, Rose isn't a plug n play type of guy after injuries. He takes a bit to get his game going.

Pau is out starter, and only real threat that differs from the Cavs, which is his low post game. Pau also isn't that effective against him. I could be wrong, and he's posted some good numbers, but I remember him having a stinker in a game or 2 against him.

You're sitting here, making a mountain out of a molehill. I said I wouldn't be surprised if we beat them, but I give the Cavs the clear edge. You're the one being a rah rah Bulls fan that can easily just say some BS, and have no conaequences for it, since it's a Bulls board, and if we lose, eh, whatever, if we win, "OMG, I told you guys we'd beat them!!! I'm so smart!"

Like I said before. We can beat them, but if I were a betting man, I'd put money on the Cavs for this year. I think next year is when we have a much better chance.

P.S. I bet you're one of those fans that's so sure that the Bulls are going to beat the Cavs, and if they don't, something drastic went wrong. You'd probably want everyone off the team afterwards. Whereas, I'm more level headed, and realize we aren't the favorites in the East, and if we lose, it wasn't our year, because of the lack of chemistry for out starting unit, and our breakout player (x factor) is still a rookie. He's still going to go through some hurdles, and will need to adjust. Next year is when we have the best shot. Again, if we win the East this year, color me not surprised at all.

Edit: I was mixing your post with the poster that posted right after you, so some of the responses might not pertain to your entire post. I was responding to both of you, I guess.

Yeah, I'm one of those fans. I wasn't insulting you personally, and if it came off that way my apologies. I'm glad you think you are more level headed. Your post doesn't reflect that though. I wasn't building any mountains. I said I think the Cavs have a slight advantage. some of the opinions seem to insinuate the Bulls are big longshots. I just don't see it that way.

[Fastbrk4brkfast]

With Taj, all I am concerned about is how he will fare against the likes of Love on the perimeter and Tristan on the inside when fighting for rebounds.

If he can come out of those 2 situations, while winning one and not losing the other...then we'll beat the Cavs.

I wish it were that easy, but I can't back this logic, at all.

Love and Tristan will play heavy minutes.

1) If Love is on the perimeter, then Taj can hang with him there.

OR

2) If Tristan is fighting for boards, Taj is stronger than Noah or Gasol in fighting back.

Taj can effectively play without Noah having to match large minutes to keep us in the game. Essentially, I am saying that Taj gives relief to Noah without losing the effectiveness of Noah on defense and rebounding.

If he can do that, we win.

You know this might have been true in 2014 when Taj was really putting it all together on both sides of the ball and Noah was the DPOY. Don't get me wrong they're both still good options. But right now our team's best defensive rebounder - and the one most likely to be able to handle Tristan on the glass - is probably Niko. Welcome to 2015.

[musiqsoulchild]

I wish it were that easy, but I can't back this logic, at all.

Love and Tristan will play heavy minutes.

1) If Love is on the perimeter, then Taj can hang with him there.

OR

2) If Tristan is fighting for boards, Taj is stronger than Noah or Gasol in fighting back.

Taj can effectively play without Noah having to match large minutes to keep us in the game. Essentially, I am saying that Taj gives relief to Noah without losing the effectiveness of Noah on defense and rebounding.

If he can do that, we win.

You know this might have been true in 2014 when Taj was really putting it all together on both sides of the ball and Noah was the DPOY. Don't get me wrong they're both still good options. But right now our team's best defensive rebounder - and the one most likely to be able to handle Tristan on the glass - is probably Niko. Welcome to 2015.

I dont disagree with you.

However, I think Niko will end up being cross matched a lot on the perimeter.

[Droseisthe1]

Watch them do exactly that.

Let's not get carried away, lol

Anything can happen.

Damn, came close.

[chifan1798]

Let's not get carried away, lol

Anything can happen.

Damn, came close.

Almost doesn't count

[drbg43]

Definitely trade Taj if anyone. I like him in the role he's playing now though. He gives our front court a nice balance.

[Rerisen]

I love that reporters and even Thibs are using the term 'The Jumbo' to describe our big lineups.

http://www.csnchicago.com/video_content ... nst-knicks

2nd time Rerisen has had this shameless plug.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins

You're tempting fate.

^Just mad because Thibs reads my posts.

Read your own link down to envy sir.

[Rerisen]

Yeah, I'm one of those fans. I wasn't insulting you personally, and if it came off that way my apologies. I'm glad you think you are more level headed. Your post doesn't reflect that though. I wasn't building any mountains. I said I think the Cavs have a slight advantage. some of the opinions seem to insinuate the Bulls are big longshots. I just don't see it that way.

I don't agree with your analysis of why the Cavs are viewed as so good, but I'm glad you at least made an argument.

Most of the counters against them around here actually has made me worry more. It seems the best many can come up with is, 'ha ha they lost a game''.

[bentheredengthat]

^^^ Musgov scares the @#$% out of me if/ when we end up playing the Cavs. Wish they wouldn't have signed him. He kicked our asses earlier in the season before the trade.

Not scared of the Cavs, but that guy makes me nervous. Besides his rebounding & spot up shooting, Lebron is throwing him lobs & stuff on occasion.

But Lebron appears to me to be looking heavier on his feet lately & maybe easier to wear down during the course of a game. Hopefully we can make him work his butt off on D & wear him down for 4th quarters.

[fleet]

I wish it were that easy, but I can't back this logic, at all.

Love and Tristan will play heavy minutes.

1) If Love is on the perimeter, then Taj can hang with him there.

OR

2) If Tristan is fighting for boards, Taj is stronger than Noah or Gasol in fighting back.

Taj can effectively play without Noah having to match large minutes to keep us in the game. Essentially, I am saying that Taj gives relief to Noah without losing the effectiveness of Noah on defense and rebounding.

If he can do that, we win.

You know this might have been true in 2014 when Taj was really putting it all together on both sides of the ball and Noah was the DPOY. Don't get me wrong they're both still good options. But right now our team's best defensive rebounder - and the one most likely to be able to handle Tristan on the glass - is probably Niko. Welcome to 2015.

I don't disagree necessarily. I'll only say that while Niko will likely play a critical role in the series at times, depending on a rookie to actually win a tough series strikes me as asking too much. Rookies usually make catastrophic mistakes under the brightest lights. think when it really gets physical, contested, and chaotic, (and it will) veterans like Taj are more likely to come through in games 6 and 7. And Taj will be out there most often I think in crunch time. If he is healthy. What you could be looking forward to is 2016.

[Fastbrk4brkfast]

Love and Tristan will play heavy minutes.

1) If Love is on the perimeter, then Taj can hang with him there.

OR

2) If Tristan is fighting for boards, Taj is stronger than Noah or Gasol in fighting back.

Taj can effectively play without Noah having to match large minutes to keep us in the game. Essentially, I am saying that Taj gives relief to Noah without losing the effectiveness of Noah on defense and rebounding.

If he can do that, we win.

You know this might have been true in 2014 when Taj was really putting it all together on both sides of the ball and Noah was the DPOY. Don't get me wrong they're both still good options. But right now our team's best defensive rebounder - and the one most likely to be able to handle Tristan on the glass - is probably Niko. Welcome to 2015.

I don't disagree necessarily. I'll only say that while Niko will likely play a critical role in the series at times, depending on a rookie to actually win a tough series strikes me as asking too much. Rookies usually make catastrophic mistakes under the brightest lights. think when it really gets physical, contested, and chaotic, (and it will) veterans like Taj are more likely to come through in games 6 and 7. And Taj will be out there most often I think in crunch time. If he is healthy. What you could be looking forward to is 2016.

Niko's not exactly your average rookie. He's not even your average above average rookie. He's won championships at the pro-level. He's at his best under the brightest lights.

And even if you don't buy that yet he's still our best defensive rebounder.

[MC3]

Love and Tristan will play heavy minutes.

1) If Love is on the perimeter, then Taj can hang with him there.

OR

2) If Tristan is fighting for boards, Taj is stronger than Noah or Gasol in fighting back.

Taj can effectively play without Noah having to match large minutes to keep us in the game. Essentially, I am saying that Taj gives relief to Noah without losing the effectiveness of Noah on defense and rebounding.

If he can do that, we win.

You know this might have been true in 2014 when Taj was really putting it all together on both sides of the ball and Noah was the DPOY. Don't get me wrong they're both still good options. But right now our team's best defensive rebounder - and the one most likely to be able to handle Tristan on the glass - is probably Niko. Welcome to 2015.

I don't disagree necessarily. I'll only say that while Niko will likely play a critical role in the series at times, depending on a rookie to actually win a tough series strikes me as asking too much. Rookies usually make catastrophic mistakes under the brightest lights. think when it really gets physical, contested, and chaotic, (and it will) veterans like Taj are more likely to come through in games 6 and 7. And Taj will be out there most often I think in crunch time. If he is healthy. What you could be looking forward to is 2016.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yjeBPPIp_8[/youtube]

[Ice Man]

And even if you don't buy that yet he's still our best defensive rebounder.

Well, not really. He's fourth per 36 among our 6 bigs, behind Pau, Jo, and Nazr, and only modestly ahead of Taj. How about, "He's a very good defensive rebounder for a Euro rookie who came to the NBA as being soft inside." Can we do that?

[mj234eva]

And even if you don't buy that yet he's still our best defensive rebounder.

Well, not really. He's fourth per 36 among our 6 bigs, behind Pau, Jo, and Nazr, and only modestly ahead of Taj. How about, "He's a very good defensive rebounder for a Euro rookie who came to the NBA as being soft inside." Can we do that?

He's 3rd in defensive rebounds per 36, among Bulls players.

In defensive rebound %:

Pau 28%
Jo 22.6%
Niko 22.5%
Nazr 21.6%
Taj 14.5%

[frosty23]

And even if you don't buy that yet he's still our best defensive rebounder.

Well, not really. He's fourth per 36 among our 6 bigs, behind Pau, Jo, and Nazr, and only modestly ahead of Taj. How about, "He's a very good defensive rebounder for a Euro rookie who came to the NBA as being soft inside." Can we do that?

He's 3rd in defensive rebounds per 36, among Bulls players.

In defensive rebound %:

Pau 28%
Jo 22.6%
Niko 22.5%
Nazr 21.6%
Taj 14.5%

I think Noah is much more healthy now than he was at the beginning of the year, and is probably the best rebounder.

I worry about the Cavs girth (Love/Thompson) pushing Mirotic/Taj out of rebounding position.

[mj234eva]

I worry about the Cavs girth (Love/Thompson) pushing Mirotic/Taj out of rebounding position.

Even Noah can be pushed around. It's a legit concern. If that series happens, I'm sure Thibs will be drilling into guys heads that that they need to focus in on that area.

[Fastbrk4brkfast]

And even if you don't buy that yet he's still our best defensive rebounder.

Well, not really. He's fourth per 36 among our 6 bigs, behind Pau, Jo, and Nazr, and only modestly ahead of Taj. How about, "He's a very good defensive rebounder for a Euro rookie who came to the NBA as being soft inside." Can we do that?

[Fastbrk4brkfast]

And even if you don't buy that yet he's still our best defensive rebounder.

Well, not really. He's fourth per 36 among our 6 bigs, behind Pau, Jo, and Nazr, and only modestly ahead of Taj. How about, "He's a very good defensive rebounder for a Euro rookie who came to the NBA as being soft inside." Can we do that?

[Fastbrk4brkfast]

And even if you don't buy that yet he's still our best defensive rebounder.

Well, not really. He's fourth per 36 among our 6 bigs, behind Pau, Jo, and Nazr, and only modestly ahead of Taj. How about, "He's a very good defensive rebounder for a Euro rookie who came to the NBA as being soft inside." Can we do that?

This conversation began with the question of what will the Bulls do in the playoffs if they need to keep Tristan Thompson off the glass. That speaks more generally to the Bulls troubles this year with young athletic bigs who kill us on the boards. I'm suggesting Niko may be the best answer to that particular problem. He's an outstanding defensive rebounder and, yes I think the best on the team. But even if you don't agree with me that he's generally the best we have on the def boards in the scenario where both Pau and Jo are getting beat Niko is the guy I'd throw out there to handle it.