Official playoffs thread. Bulls clinch. -MERGING

[Tenchi Ryu]

Haha, Hawks are not even trying to be subtle in their tanking.

Teams like that are teams I want to see lose in embarrassing fashion. You don't deserve to get far in the playoffs acting like scared bitches that openly show your fear for a certain team.

One thing that gained a lot of respect to me is last year, NY was put in the position to either fight hard and play Miami, or tank and face us. They decided to kneel for no one and took the Miami challenge. Stuff like that goes a long way on a team, and even the franchise.

[chifan1798]

People really scared of NJ? They are literally a perfect matchup for Chicago

- They can't guard the 4 spot
- They're not deep
- They're very basic offensively
- They're not good defensively

I mean seriously? Of all the teams in the playoffs, the team the Bulls matchup best with are Brooklyn, Boston, Milwaukee, New York in that order. Miami and Indiana are two terrible matchups for them.

Its clear as day to me, Dan.

People picking Indiana are thinking about the ECF, which if we're being realistic, is high unlikely given the injury issues we have floating around this team.

You should add poorly coached in there as well.

This team can be so hot and cold at times is ridiculous. What do they do offensively that is even hard to negate?

Joe Johnson has been bad this year, and aside from a couple moves here and there, Jimmy will smoke him.

Lopez will get his 20, but he won't give you anything else and Williams you never know with, though he has been on a tear of late.

If their is one team we've looked comfortable against all season long, its been the Nets.

You can't say the same thing about Indiana.

I think some of the things that you guys may be overlooking is:

-Brooklyn has been playing much better of late
-Deron has been playing a lot better this second half of the season
-Indiana has been playing poorly these last few weeks

I mean honestly, how much better are the Pacers than the bulls? I don't remember which thread I mentioned it in, but I don't really think the Pacers are much better than the bulls this season.....it's just that they've been much "healthier" this season. With so many guys going in and out of the lineup, the bulls couldn't be consistent at anything this season whether it be offense or defense. We became only the second team in history (first team in a full season) to not win or lose more than 3 games in a row. Had we been relatively healthy with our guys outside of Rose, do you doubt that couldn't have made a 5-6 game difference? The Pacers have barely beaten us, when we've been depleted. I think that says something.

That said, I've been back and forth on this issue. At this point, I'll take what we get. But Brooklyn is the hotter team right now, and they also have more potential consistent scorers than does the Pacers.

[kingkirk]

I think some of the things that you guys may be overlooking is:

-Brooklyn has been playing much better of late
-Deron has been playing a lot better this second half of the season
-Indiana has been playing poorly these last few weeks

I mean honestly, how much better are the Pacers than the bulls? I don't remember which thread I mentioned it in, but I don't really think the Pacers are much better than the bulls this season.....it's just that they've been much "healthier" this season. With so many guys going in and out of the lineup, the bulls couldn't be consistent at anything this season whether it be offense or defense. We became only the second team in history (first team in a full season) to not win or lose more than 3 games in a row. Had we been relatively healthy with our guys outside of Rose, do you doubt that couldn't have made a 5-6 game difference? The Pacers have barely beaten us, when we've been depleted. I think that says something.

That said, I've been back and forth on this issue. At this point, I'll take what we get. But Brooklyn is the hotter team right now, and they also have more potential consistent scorers than does the Pacers.

We played Brooklyn 2 weeks ago during their hot run and we beat them on their floor with no Noah, Taj, Beli or Rip.

[Tenchi Ryu]

Remember, we actually want to STAY as healthy as we can. No way that happens if we play against Indiana. Both teams play too tough for a injury not to happen. Compare that to Brooklyn who's soft as tissue paper.

[chifan1798]

I think some of the things that you guys may be overlooking is:

-Brooklyn has been playing much better of late
-Deron has been playing a lot better this second half of the season
-Indiana has been playing poorly these last few weeks

I mean honestly, how much better are the Pacers than the bulls? I don't remember which thread I mentioned it in, but I don't really think the Pacers are much better than the bulls this season.....it's just that they've been much "healthier" this season. With so many guys going in and out of the lineup, the bulls couldn't be consistent at anything this season whether it be offense or defense. We became only the second team in history (first team in a full season) to not win or lose more than 3 games in a row. Had we been relatively healthy with our guys outside of Rose, do you doubt that couldn't have made a 5-6 game difference? The Pacers have barely beaten us, when we've been depleted. I think that says something.

That said, I've been back and forth on this issue. At this point, I'll take what we get. But Brooklyn is the hotter team right now, and they also have more potential consistent scorers than does the Pacers.

We played Brooklyn 2 weeks ago during their hot run and we beat them on their floor with no Noah, Taj, Beli or Rip.

That's fine.....I'm sure we won't beat them that easily in a couple of days......if we go off that one game, then we should sweep them while we have the whole team

[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%