Lets talk seeding

[TimRobbins]

With the playoff picture getting a little more clear, I think it's time to talk about seeding and playoff matchups.

So here's the picture:
1. Atlanta - locked into #1 since February.
2. Cavs - Not locked in yet, but they have a two game lead and an easy schedule to finish the season.
3-5 - That's anybody's game between the Bulls, Raps and Wizards. Raps have the tie-breaker over the Wizards, we have it over the Raps and the Wizards have it on us. All three teams are inconsistent and this will likely go to the wire.
6. Miami - They have been playing well lately with Wade back and effective. Still two games behind the Bucks, but that could disappear quickly.
7 - 8 - Bucks/Celtics/Pacers/Hornets - Anybody's game, but I'll go with the Bucks and Celtics who are the most healthy out of the group.

Projected matchups:
Hawks-Celtics
Cavs - Bucks
Raptors - Miami
Bulls - Wizards

If the Cavs do manage to finish #6, the optimal seed would be #3, but if they don't I think we're better off at #4, going through the Wizards and the Hawks.

[CalilLove89]

Cleveland and Atlanta are on opposite sides of the bracket, so we have to go through both unless they get upset.

So seeding really does not matter at all, lets just get healthy and see what happens.

[johnnyvann840]

Cleveland and Atlanta are on opposite sides of the bracket, so we have to go through both unless they get upset.

So seeding really does not matter at all, lets just get healthy and see what happens.

+1

I subscribe to the theory of "To be the best you have to beat the best".. so worrying about seeding is counterproductive for a team that has Championship aspirations. Bottom line is we have to beat the best in the EC and the best of the WC. Whether we beat the Cavs or Hawks in in round one, two or three, it doesn't matter. In fact, sometimes catching the best teams early is better.

Look at last year. We got the seemingly perfect draw. Everything fell into place but we couldn;t get out of the 1st round because Jimmy was hurting, Jo was on one leg again, DJ shat the bed and Derrick was in sweats in a suite upstairs.

[TimRobbins]

Cleveland and Atlanta are on opposite sides of the bracket, so we have to go through both unless they get upset.

So seeding really does not matter at all, lets just get healthy and see what happens.

It matters both for the first and second round matchups. Saying we're either championship or bust is inconsistent with the reality that we haven't played championship level basketball at any stretch during the season.

[maynardo]

I want the bulls to get the bucks in the 1st round of the playoffs, so Jimmy and DRose can ease back after the injuries.

Also I would LOVE to get a series of Miami-Cleveland. The Bitch Lebron against the bitch Wade in a 7 game series would be awesome to watch.

[TyrusRose2425]

Surely it's the optimist in me, but I have not ruled out the 2 seed yet. Bulls must win against Cleveland and all of their division opponents to get the tiebreaker over the Cavs, but if they do that I don't deem it impossible.

Cavs tough remaining games:

@ Grizzlies
vs. Chicago
vs. Wizards

Bulls tough remaining games:

vs. Raptors
@ Raptors
@ Cavs
vs. Hawks(granted I think they sit everyone this game)

I figure with Jimmy returning at the end of the week and Rose being close, we can still make a run at it.

[TimRobbins]

I want the bulls to get the bucks in the 1st round of the playoffs, so Jimmy and DRose can ease back after the injuries.

Also I would LOVE to get a series of Miami-Cleveland. The Bitch Lebron against the bitch Wade in a 7 game series would be awesome to watch.

The Bucks are clearly the best 1st round matchup, but they are on a huge losing streak after dumping Knight, that they may be out of the playoffs altogether.

[TimRobbins]

Surely it's the optimist in me, but I have not ruled out the 2 seed yet. Bulls must win against Cleveland and all of their division opponents to get the tiebreaker over the Cavs, but if they do that I don't deem it impossible.

Second seed is still possible, though unlikely. We'll need to beat the Cavs in Cleveland, and they haven't lost a single game there since the trades (14-0). Our most likely slot is 3-5.

[chifan1798]

We've been through so much these last few playoffs, that at this point, I don't know if I care anymore where we land. There would be an ideal scenario for match ups, but it's unlikely to get it. The only thing I want is for the bulls to get healthy, and remain healthy for the rest of the season and post season. The icing on the cake would be for the bulls to personally send the wizards and cavs fishing for the summer. It won't be as fun seeing any other team do it.

[ATRAIN53]

Wow, Boston in there now after we swatted Indy down.

http://www.nbaplayoffsbracket.com/2015/index.php

I want that #3 seed still. Not interested in WAS, ATL and then CLE to get to the Finals....

Those are all higher seeds and we could end up #5 and not even have HCA vs The Wizards!

[dice]

this is probably the 6th variation of this discussion in recent weeks and not much has changed. 4th seed looks like the realistic sweet spot right now, although obviously bulls 2, raps 3, cavs 4 would be ideal

[Mech Engineer]

More than the seed, it is more about health and match-ups which will decide how far they go. Cleveland might be playing well, have a lot of talent but they might not be a bad match-up for the Bulls. The Bulls are a bad match-up for them compared to other teams. The Bulls have the equivalent antidote for almost everyone in Cleveland.

In the same way, Washington can be a bad match-up if they are playing well especially their bigs/guards and the Bulls play them in the 1st round. I am not sure Derrick/Jimmy will have their full rhythm in the 1st round even if they play a few regular season games. The Bulls need an easy match-up in the 1st round and they still might struggle because of their chemistry/rhythm.

They might play any team better in the 2nd round. Atlanta has lost its intensity/rhythm of winning. It is tough for them to get it back especially considering they might not be as talented as the Cavs or the Bulls.

[vvgotgame19]

Normally I would say it doesn't matter, you go for the highest seeding and let the cards fall where they fall. With the timing of the injuries, however, it may be in our best interest to avoid WSH in the 1st round. Not that they scare me, but they always seem to play 110% against us. I'd like to give Rose a little extra time to get back into the swing of things.

[dice]

Normally I would say it doesn't matter, you go for the highest seeding and let the cards fall where they fall. With the timing of the injuries, however, it may be in our best interest to avoid WSH in the 1st round. Not that they scare me, but they always seem to play 110% against us. I'd like to give Rose a little extra time to get back into the swing of things.

much more important to avoid cleveland in round 2 than washington in round 1

[johnnyvann840]

More than the seed, it is more about health and match-ups which will decide how far they go.

This. I really don't give a F what seed we are or who we play. Last year we got exactly what we wanted for seeding and lost 4-1 in round 1 really because of health issues..

Just be healthy and in rhythm and bring on whatever team.

[sco]

More than the seed, it is more about health and match-ups which will decide how far they go.

This. I really don't give a F what seed we are or who we play. Last year we got exactly what we wanted for seeding and lost 4-1 in round 1 really because of health issues..

Just be healthy and in rhythm and bring on whatever team.

+1
I take a healthy rotation & 8th seed over any one of Rose, Jimmy, Noah, Pau injured and #1 seed.

[MrSparkle]

I agree. Health first. Don't care about the seeding. IF we make round 2, it's either Cleveland or possibly Atlanta (less likely scenario, where we drop to 4/5), so the Great Wall is there either way.

I honestly expected Detroit to make a push, but I guess SVG is content just developing for next year. Now the 6-8 seeding is pretty interesting. If I had to guess, Miami climbs past Bucks, and Indiana probably claims 7 or 8.

For the sake of entertainment, here's my ideal 1st round:

Hawks vs Bucks
Cavs vs Heat
Bulls vs Pacers
Raptors vs Wizards

Wade vs Lebron would be too good, and I bet the NBA really hopes it happens. I could see it being a decent series.

I wouldn't mind revenge against DC, but honestly could very well see them beating us if Rose isn't back and playing well against Wall. On that note, I'd like seeing Toronto's athletic guards face off against the Wizards.

Should be a fun playoff month.

[Drellberg]

Seeding truly and clearly matters. Dice has it exactly right in both posts.

Moreover, I think the bulls are well-positioned to end up at #4. I am pumped. I project that Las Vegas oddsmakers will make a healthy Bulls team moderate favorites v. Wiz, slight underdogs v. Hawks, and significant underdogs v. Cavs. But I think they will give the Bulls a real shot at winning all three series. For as long as the Bulls hang on, watching in the post season will be sublime.

[dice]

Seeding truly and clearly matters. Dice has it exactly right in both posts.

Moreover, I think the bulls are well-positioned to end up at #4. I am pumped. I project that Las Vegas oddsmakers will make a healthy Bulls team moderate favorites v. Wiz, slight underdogs v. Hawks, and significant underdogs v. Cavs. But I think they will give the Bulls a real shot at winning all three series. For as long as the Bulls hang on, watching in the post season will be sublime.

sounds about right. might be too optimistic on the "sublime" part, but i hope it proves to be the case

the elephant in the room is that derrick hasn't played playoff basketball in 4 years, essentially. and he won't even be at 100%

we do have a glimmer of hope, though, which is about all you can ask for given how the season has gone, particularly regarding injuries. the fantasy is that our only extended run of good health happens to arrive for the playoffs and, moreover, everything finally "clicks" chemistry-wise

[JordansBulls]

I want Cleveland first. Jimmy will put fear into Lebron James and shut him down again this year.