Winning the Central Division

chube · Post #1 » by **chube** » Wed Aug 1, 2012 6:43 pm

According to the wiretap, Jeff Van Gundy doesn't seem to think the Bulls will be a 50-win team, let alone make any noise in the playoffs. I think the Bulls will be better than that. I doubt they lock in the #1 seed like the past two years, but still...I doubt they miss the playoffs considering how weak seeds 7 and 8 tend to be in the East.

So, assuming JVG doesn't think Cleveland, Milwaukee or Detroit will catapult to the top of the division, my guess he think we take the Central (unless he thinks the Central will be the AFC West of the NBA and the Bulls still win it.)

Thoughts? With Rose out likely until March-ish, think we take the division?

granger05 · Post #2 » by **granger05** » Wed Aug 1, 2012 7:18 pm

Bulls are still a good team even without Rose and Cleveland and Milwaukee could also compete for playoff spots next year. But, I would be disappointed if we didn't win the Central next season.

SmashMouthRod · Post #3 » by **SmashMouthRod** » Wed Aug 1, 2012 7:41 pm

I expect for Indy to win the central; and to claim the number 2 seed if not the 1. This team is too talented; and with the expected growth of George; Hill; and Hibbert; this team should be one of the toughest teams to play next year. Im hoping for more than a push against the Heat. But its going to take a mentality change. They have to play with an edge; some emotion; and hunger. Im hoping they remembered how it feels to lose against Miami.

jowglenn · Post #4 » by **jowglenn** » Fri Aug 3, 2012 9:16 am

I think we should be the clear favorite.

MNPacersfan · Post #5 » by **MNPacersfan** » Fri Aug 3, 2012 7:19 pm

Hoopsworld still has the Bulls on top:
http://www.hoopsworld.com/nba2-nba-east ... ive-teams/
3) The Indiana Pacers
As tempting as it is to slip the Boston Celtics into the third slot, the Indiana Pacers have put themselves in a position to hold down the spot they owned when the dust settled on 2011-12. Bringing back center Roy Hibbert was a must, but even more intriguing than Hibbert’s return are the additions of forward Gerald Green and guard DJ Augustin. The one thing Indiana lacked in the playoffs was a player who could put the ball on the floor and make unpredictable things happen, and Green might have finally evolved into that kind of player. He was stunningly good after joining the Nets midway through last season and the Pacers are banking on him picking up where he left off. It’s also reasonable to expect that forwards Paul George and Tyler Hansbrough will come back as better players after another summer of working on their games, and Augustin should feel like he needs to George Hill for the starting point guard role. The Pacers likely have another tweak or two to make, but they’re going to be even tougher this year than they were last, and they were no easy out last year.

MNPacersfan · Post #6 » by **MNPacersfan** » Fri Aug 3, 2012 7:20 pm

MNPacersfan wrote:Hoopsworld still has the Bulls on top:

I, however, think that it's reasonable to assume that the Pacers are the team to beat in the central.

Post #7 » by **Jake0890** » Fri Aug 3, 2012 10:54 pm

Bulls won't even be close to first. That's not even remotely possible with Rose out for most of the year. Deng and Noah aren't good enough to carry the team. Bulls will be 3rd, with the Pacers and Celts fighting it out for the top spot in the division.

Pacersike · Post #8 » by **Pacersike** » Sat Aug 4, 2012 8:16 am

The Bulls also lost an important (defensive) piece in Asik so I'd say the division is definitely ours to grab.

tocooks · Post #9 » by **tocooks** » Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:51 pm

Jake0890 wrote:Bulls won't even be close to first. That's not even remotely possible with Rose out for most of the year. Deng and Noah aren't good enough to carry the team. Bulls will be 3rd, with the Pacers and Celts fighting it out for the top spot in the division.

The Celtics are actually in the Atlantic division.

The Bulls have shown they can play without Rose but with our additions we should be able to surpass them, which seemed impossible two short years ago.

Post #10 » by **Jake0890** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:25 pm

tocooks wrote:
Jake0890 wrote:Bulls won't even be close to first. That's not even remotely possible with Rose out for most of the year. Deng and Noah aren't good enough to carry the team. Bulls will be 3rd, with the Pacers and Celts fighting it out for the top spot in the division.

The Celtics are actually in the Atlantic division.

The Bulls have shown they can play without Rose but with our additions we should be able to surpass them, which seemed impossible two short years ago.

Lol, my bad. It'll be more likely to have the Bucks in the 2 spot.