What;s more important, finishing 2nd or being in the optimum shape for the POs?

[JerrySloan]

And by optimum shape I don't just mean healthy but with the best healthy rotation possible.

I believe that Thibs should play a 9 man rotation the rest of the regular season, the eight guys who played last night plus Gibson.
I also think that Rose, Gasol and Noah should be limited to 30 MPG in many games and 35 max in some and Butler should average no more than 35.

I also believe that rather than playing Brooks a lot of minutes to try to win games, he should not play more than 20 MPG, which is his average for the year but he has played 22 or more twenty three times and 28 -35 a few times.

This would leave an average of 95 MPG to be split between Dunleavy, Gibson, Snell and Mirotic, with all of them getting at least 20 MPG with the remaining 15 being doled out between them from game to game without a great imbalance.

As solid a veteran as Mike is, if Snell continues to get minutes and scores the ball, especially the 3, even close to his 4 productive games recently, I'd like to see him get more PT in the POs than him.

I think the same is true of Mirotic who already is a better offensive option all round than Taj and is already a better defensive rebounder than Taj and has a better RBPER48 average. Taj is obviously a better offensive rebounder but that is at least somewhat because he is an inside guy on offense and Niko is not. While Taj is still a better defender and shot blocker, I think that Mirotic is getting to be a solid defender and, at times against certain teams in the POs, would be a better choice as the 3rd big.

[Rerisen]

I think we somehow have to pull off both.

LeBron can win a road series on our court, but I don't like our chances trying to win on theirs.

Not least because of superstar calls in their home building.

[kodo]

I'd prefer healthy to high seed just for a change of pace.

[WIN]

Health always comes first and seeding second; but I don't see a reason why we can't get both.

[musiqsoulchild]

I dont want a second seed that is a result of blood, sweat and tears.

I want a second seed as a result of players finally playing in system, executing the defensive schemes flawlessly and relying on player and ball movement.

That is going to get us in optimal shape for the playoffs.

[Mech Engineer]

It is funny listening to Broussard the other day. He literally said what most people feel about the Bulls. Broussard picked Cleveland as favorites in the East and then he said...the always banged-up Bulls can if healthy.

It is almost a reality in the NBA that the Bulls will be hurting come playoff time although the primary culprits have been Noah and Derrick. And, those two are the ones who are probably responsible for every Bulls problem if you think about it...

1. Thibs/FO fight with Jen's intervention is solely due to Noah/Rose minutes/injuries rather than Taj/Jimmy or somebody else.
2. Noah getting hurt always at the wrong time of the season(during playoff time)
3. Rose's drama of injuries
4. The team kind of built around them and their talents.

[DRoseCantStop]

Being in optimum shape.

If we're really about it, we'll beat anyone who comes in our way.

[Shill]

Ideally, we get the 2/3 spot and play Milwaukee in the first round.

[The Goonibomber]

I don't think our ceiling for this year dropped more than a round of postseason play. Granted, I think we went from being in the Finals, to making the Conference Finals, so it stings a bit more. If Thibs can see this as a reason to try some funky rotations to see what groups click before the postseason--ala Pop--I see our offense possibly being more dangerous than it was with Derrick controlling a majority of the show.

That being said, I think we need to concentrate on optimum health from here on out. Any other guy in the 8 man rotation goes down for a while and it's gonna get ugly.

[SimonFish]

Jinx thread.

Nothing is important anymore.

[WindyCityBorn]

Tank

[Mech Engineer]

Most of us were right about health in this thread and our worst fears happened. It was nothing extraordinary to predict though. Most Bulls fans are always praying for health for the last 4 years.

[johnnyvann840]

It is funny listening to Broussard the other day. He literally said what most people feel about the Bulls. Broussard picked Cleveland as favorites in the East and then he said...the always banged-up Bulls can if healthy.

It is almost a reality in the NBA that the Bulls will be hurting come playoff time although the primary culprits have been Noah and Derrick. And, those two are the ones who are probably responsible for every Bulls problem if you think about it...

1. Thibs/FO fight with Jen's intervention is solely due to Noah/Rose minutes/injuries rather than Taj/Jimmy or somebody else.
2. Noah getting hurt always at the wrong time of the season(during playoff time)
3. Rose's drama of injuries
4. The team kind of built around them and their talents.

Sadly, this is the reality of it. Sucks, cause they are two of my favorite Chicago athletes, well any athletes, of all time. When they are healthy, who's more fun to watch? But, it's been half a decade and we cannot get break, or ever have them both healthy when it matters. I've always said that all this team needs is Derrick and Jo to be Derrick and Jo and we are right there with ANYBODY, no roster changes even needed. Just give us health. Never to be though.

Have we ever had them both healthy at the same time? In 2010-11, even then in the ECF, Rose was playing on a tweaked ankle and Noah was hobbled.

[CalilLove89]

Niko, doug, snell, butler 35mpg.

Noah gasol taj 30mpg

Whatever needs to be done should be done, there should be set rotations to ensure these minute totals. Thibs can go on auto pilot, who really cares.

Everything else is not important.

We still make the playoffs, we still get a shot at making some noise in the first round. We let the young guys get some burn and learn to play with each other. The future is not Rose and Noah, that ship has sailed, time to accelerate the rebuild.

[TimRobbins]

Are we really talking about the 2nd seed without Rose? Right now, I'm hoping this team doesn't break down mentally and fall off a cliff.

[Mobby]

I think we somehow have to pull off both.

LeBron can win a road series on our court, but I don't like our chances trying to win on theirs.

Not least because of superstar calls in their home building.

I think we can pull one out in Cleveland for sure. I don't know if he's going to absolutely light up the court against 48 mintues of Jimmy coming at 'im!

[samwana]

I think we somehow have to pull off both.

LeBron can win a road series on our court, but I don't like our chances trying to win on theirs.

Not least because of superstar calls in their home building.

I think we can pull one out in Cleveland for sure. I don't know if he's going to absolutely light up the court against 48 mintues of Jimmy coming at 'im!

And don't forget Snellycat here, they could cover LeBron for 48 minutes taking their turns

[BoocheeMan1117]

Are we really talking about the 2nd seed without Rose? Right now, I'm hoping this team doesn't break down mentally and fall off a cliff.

Hard to do that in the East