Around The NBA : 21-22 Edition

[Ice Man]

The East is wide open.* No team will win 55 games, and not many will win 50. At least 2 and maybe 3 teams in the West will have a better record than than any team in the East. The 2022 Bulls are a good rather than great team, but so are the other Eastern contenders. So I figure, why not us?

* Assuming, that is, that the Nets don't sort out their health and chemistry, thereby becoming a very different and better team when the playoffs start.

[MGB8]

The East is wide open.* No team will win 55 games, and not many will win 50. At least 2 and maybe 3 teams in the West will have a better record than than any team in the East. The 2022 Bulls are a good rather than great team, but so are the other Eastern contenders. So I figure, why not us?

* Assuming, that is, that the Nets don't sort out their health and chemistry, thereby becoming a very different and better team when the playoffs start.

A team that collapses the way the Bulls did against Orlando and the Spurs (and the Pacers and the Rockets) is probably not ready for prime time in the playoffs... as an answer to "why not us?"

I'm not saying that there's no chance... but there are some serious warning signs about the team. But a hot run with everyone healthy at the same time while the Nets and Bucks, etc., deal with x/y/z issues? Stranger thing have happened.

[jc23]

i hope the stars align and we get to see an Embid vs Joker nba finals some year.

[MrSparkle]

The East is wide open.* No team will win 55 games, and not many will win 50. At least 2 and maybe 3 teams in the West will have a better record than than any team in the East. The 2022 Bulls are a good rather than great team, but so are the other Eastern contenders. So I figure, why not us?

* Assuming, that is, that the Nets don't sort out their health and chemistry, thereby becoming a very different and better team when the playoffs start.

A team that collapses the way the Bulls did against Orlando and the Spurs (and the Pacers and the Rockets) is probably not ready for prime time in the playoffs... as an answer to "why not us?"

I'm not saying that there's no chance... but there are some serious warning signs about the team. But a hot run with everyone healthy at the same time while the Nets and Bucks, etc., deal with x/y/z issues? Stranger thing have happened.

I think with the full armada and other teams hurting we're a lucky run ECF-ceiling squad. With a lucky waiver pickup and good trade(s), we could win a chip in a dream fashion.

But with the hits the ship's taken, warning sign is right. Can you imagine playing the play-in Hawks? I imagine they'd decimate this team in a 1st rd. series.

So we're a mystery box. Yay - there's a reason to stay tuned!

[Ice Man]

A team that collapses the way the Bulls did against Orlando and the Spurs (and the Pacers and the Rockets) is probably not ready for prime time in the playoffs...

The Bucks are allegedly the Conference favorites, or at least co-favorites, and they took a 36-point beatdown last night, en route to winning maybe 50 games this season. Nobody in this Conference can really play this game. It's a bit like the '02 season, when the 52-win Nets made the Finals, because even though they weren't all that great, nobody else in the East was better.

[TheSuzerain]

We messed up not taking Okongwu.

[jordanwilliams6]

We messed up not taking Okongwu.

I wouldn’t say we messed up. AK took a gamble on a high potential guy in Pat and he showed plenty in his first season that suggests that is still a possibility. The injury was just seriously unlucky but we still don’t know how the future will play out.

In saying that, Okongwu looks to be an outstanding young player and would be absolutely perfect for what we need right now.

[HomoSapien]

The East is wide open.* No team will win 55 games, and not many will win 50. At least 2 and maybe 3 teams in the West will have a better record than than any team in the East. The 2022 Bulls are a good rather than great team, but so are the other Eastern contenders. So I figure, why not us?

* Assuming, that is, that the Nets don't sort out their health and chemistry, thereby becoming a very different and better team when the playoffs start.

A team that collapses the way the Bulls did against Orlando and the Spurs (and the Pacers and the Rockets) is probably not ready for prime time in the playoffs... as an answer to "why not us?"

I'm not saying that there's no chance... but there are some serious warning signs about the team. But a hot run with everyone healthy at the same time while the Nets and Bucks, etc., deal with x/y/z issues? Stranger thing have happened.

I mean, why would you view that as a red flag? We’re missing 4 of our 5 best defenders, our depth is depleted causing us to lean on guys who aren’t NBA caliber, and we were also missing Zach and JaVonte for the Orlando game. I’ve seen a bunch of people use this stretch as an example of us not being ready or a reason for why we shouldn’t go in on a big trade and frankly I don’t follow the logic. We’re losing because our defensive infrastructure has been essentially removed. That doesn’t indicate any information about this team other than what it would indicate about any other team — if you get hit by tons of injuries, you’ll suffer.

Here’s why we should be optimistic - Brooklyn looks shaky and we project to be fully healthy (including possibly Patrick Williams) by the start of the playoffs.

[cool007]

The East is wide open.* No team will win 55 games, and not many will win 50. At least 2 and maybe 3 teams in the West will have a better record than than any team in the East. The 2022 Bulls are a good rather than great team, but so are the other Eastern contenders. So I figure, why not us?

* Assuming, that is, that the Nets don't sort out their health and chemistry, thereby becoming a very different and better team when the playoffs start.

A team that collapses the way the Bulls did against Orlando and the Spurs (and the Pacers and the Rockets) is probably not ready for prime time in the playoffs... as an answer to "why not us?"

I'm not saying that there's no chance... but there are some serious warning signs about the team. But a hot run with everyone healthy at the same time while the Nets and Bucks, etc., deal with x/y/z issues? Stranger thing have happened.

I don't get it. Why are we just diminishing Bulls team by saying we are not ready to contend etc because we lost to Orlando, Pacers, Rockets etc in an 82-game season with many guys being out in those games or just chalk it up as one of those???

Well newsflash, each and every team pretty much goes through that in a long season - especially if they have key guys out in that/those games. Just look at Cavs, losing to Pistons last night, Magic beating Mavs, Bucks losing to Pistons earlier, Philly losing to clippers team (withou PG13 and Kawhi), Or Heat losing to Kings, Pistons etc, or Nets losing to Thunder, Magic, Blazers etc.

So all of these so called "Contending" teams also have lost to similar type of teams that we have lost to. But we have to single out Bulls team???

I will say this again. If we have Lonzo, Caruso, DJJ/PWill, Javonte, Lavine, Demar, Ayo, Vuc healthy for the playoffs and they are able to play few games before the playoffs to get that chemistry going again, I think we are as good a team and have as good a chance at beating any team in the East as anyone else.

We may not be favorites but I will give us a chance. Let's see how we play, let's check our weakness during the playoffs when healthy and I am pretty sure AKME will improve on those during the offseason and we will come back stronger next year.

[BullChit]

i hope the stars align and we get to see an Embid vs Joker nba finals some year.

Wow That would be something special.

Can I ammend it and say it's the ECF and Joker is a Chicago Bulls...

[MAQ]

i hope the stars align and we get to see an Embid vs Joker nba finals some year.

Wow That would be something special.

Can I ammend it and say it's the ECF and Joker is a Chicago Bulls...

Yeah, was wondering how the Bulls were gonna pull off that deal for Embid.

**** all other star alignments that dont involve the Bulls getting that 'ship.

[TheSuzerain]

We messed up not taking Okongwu.

I wouldn’t say we messed up. AK took a gamble on a high potential guy in Pat and he showed plenty in his first season that suggests that is still a possibility. The injury was just seriously unlucky but we still don’t know how the future will play out.

In saying that, Okongwu looks to be an outstanding young player and would be absolutely perfect for what we need right now.

Yeah but Okongwu was seemingly safer (as he actually dominated in college unlike Pat) with just as high an upside if not more so with his explosiveness/length.

That was always my gripe with the Williams pick. I'm fine with going for upside, but the player you take better be an outlier physically in the NBA. PWill really isn't.

[FriedRise]

I think we can be #1 again tonight if Boston wins. Heat without Jimmy, Lowry, and Tucker.

[Clocian]

Boston up 9 at half. Imagine being #1 again after all the doom on this board lol.

[cool007]

I think we can be #1 again tonight if Boston wins. Heat without Jimmy, Lowry, and Tucker.

I never trust this Boston team.

Memphis playing Philly without Embiid and still can''t take the lead with 4th qtr coming up.
Cavs playing without Garland tonight but Pelicans are also without Ingram so I don't see Pels beating Cavs.

I love to see Celtics, Pelicans and Grizzlies win tonight.

Question: If Heat lose tonight and Bulls win tomorrow - will they pick Billy Donovan as the Team Durant coach in the All-star game???

[dice]

The East is wide open.* No team will win 55 games, and not many will win 50. At least 2 and maybe 3 teams in the West will have a better record than than any team in the East. The 2022 Bulls are a good rather than great team, but so are the other Eastern contenders. So I figure, why not us?

* Assuming, that is, that the Nets don't sort out their health and chemistry, thereby becoming a very different and better team when the playoffs start.

A team that collapses the way the Bulls did against Orlando and the Spurs (and the Pacers and the Rockets) is probably not ready for prime time in the playoffs... as an answer to "why not us?"

I'm not saying that there's no chance... but there are some serious warning signs about the team. But a hot run with everyone healthy at the same time while the Nets and Bucks, etc., deal with x/y/z issues? Stranger thing have happened.

I mean, why would you view that as a red flag? We’re missing 4 of our 5 best defenders, our depth is depleted causing us to lean on guys who aren’t NBA caliber, and we were also missing Zach and JaVonte for the Orlando game. I’ve seen a bunch of people use this stretch as an example of us not being ready or a reason for why we shouldn’t go in on a big trade and frankly I don’t follow the logic. We’re losing because our defensive infrastructure has been essentially removed. That doesn’t indicate any information about this team other than what it would indicate about any other team — if you get hit by tons of injuries, you’ll suffer.

Here’s why we should be optimistic - Brooklyn looks shaky and we project to be fully healthy (including possibly Patrick Williams) by the start of the playoffs.

if the bengals can make the super bowl, the celtics and hawks can make the finals

the east is wide open

[jordanwilliams6]

I think we can be #1 again tonight if Boston wins. Heat without Jimmy, Lowry, and Tucker.

I never trust this Boston team.

Memphis playing Philly without Embiid and still can''t take the lead with 4th qtr coming up.
Cavs playing without Garland tonight but Pelicans are also without Ingram so I don't see Pels beating Cavs.

I love to see Celtics, Pelicans and Grizzlies win tonight.

Question: If Heat lose tonight and Bulls win tomorrow - will they pick Billy Donovan as the Team Durant coach in the All-star game???

It looks like whoever has the best record until Feb 6. They announced Monty Williams as the Suns have clinched the best record until then. I'd say that Billy has a decent shot because it looks like the Heat will lose and we have a couple of winnable games coming up.

[jordanwilliams6]

I honestly think Ja is better than what Rose ever was. Absolutely incredible player.

[HomoSapien]

I honestly think Ja is better than what Rose ever was. Absolutely incredible player.

Statistically speaking, he’s probably having a better overall season than MVP Rose. Mordant is just a jaw dropping talent. I really wish we had tanked better for his draft.

[CROBulls]

I honestly think Ja is better than what Rose ever was. Absolutely incredible player.

this is most blasphemous thing i read on this board