Playing To The Level of Our Competition

kodo · Post #1 » by **kodo** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:28 pm

I was curious if the oft used phrase "we play up or down to the level of our competition" was true.

Overall EC Winning Rates
1. Atlanta 82.6%
2. Toronto 67.4%
3. Washington 66.0%
4. Chicago 62.5%
5. Cleveland 57.4%

Vs .500+ Teams
1. Atlanta 82.6%
2. Chicago 62.5%
3. Cleveland 54.5%
4. Washington 52.0%
5. Toronto 45.0%

WC vs .500+ Teams
1. GS 76.1%
2. Memphis 69.2%
3. Houston: 57.1%
4. Portland 54.1%
5. SAS: 53.8%
6. Clippers: 50%
7. Phoenix: 50%

League-wide, Chicago is the #4 team in win rate vs winning teams, after ATL, GS, and Memphis.

Among all the Doom & Gloom lately, it may be a positive note that this team has another gear when playing good competition. And winning teams are exactly the type of teams we'll be facing in the Playoffs.

Mech Engineer · Post #2 » by **Mech Engineer** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:39 pm

And, even this is misleading for the Bulls. They don't even get up for teams like Milwaukee who are a decent team. I think it is just tiredness more than getting up or not for below 500 teams. I think they will be winning more of these games against the sub 500 teams after the all star break when they get some time off/rest.

Cliff Levingston · Post #3 » by **Cliff Levingston** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:39 pm

For where the Bulls are this year, it doesn't matter at all how we're playing right now. Short of losing night in and night out and costing yourself a playoff spot early, all that really matters is that you get it going and clicking, at most, 2 months before the playoffs come. Before that, you're sort of coasting since the season is so damn long. Every playoff team loses to bad teams and beats some good teams along the way.

Post #4 » by **fleet** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:01 pm

kodo wrote:I was curious if the oft used phrase "we play up or down to the level of our competition" was true.

Overall EC Winning Rates
1. Atlanta 82.6%
2. Toronto 67.4%
3. Washington 66.0%
4. Chicago 62.5%
5. Cleveland 57.4%

Vs .500+ Teams
1. Atlanta 82.6%
2. Chicago 62.5%
3. Cleveland 54.5%
4. Washington 52.0%
5. Toronto 45.0%

WC vs .500+ Teams
1. GS 76.1%
2. Memphis 69.2%
3. Houston: 57.1%
4. Portland 54.1%
5. SAS: 53.8%
6. Clippers: 50%
7. Phoenix: 50%

League-wide, Chicago is the #4 team in win rate vs winning teams, after ATL, GS, and Memphis.

Among all the Doom & Gloom lately, it may be a positive note that this team has another gear when playing good competition. And winning teams are exactly the type of teams we'll be facing in the Playoffs.

The biggest concern is how they play, not outcomes. They can't sustain defensive efforts over a series of games. Over a 7 game series, if they cant do that...big flaw. Until they show they can do that like the top teams will who will be in the final 4 and in the Finals, you should have concerns. The gloom does not say they aren't a good team. The gloom is concern about the ceiling of their post season. Unless consistent high quality D becomes part of their identity, they are going to drop some critical games when it counts. You cant expect them to have a different identity in the playoffs than what they established in the reg season.

[e] · Post #5 » by **[e]** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:03 pm

Last 4 games are a perfect example of what's going on this season.

2-2 in last 4 against Mavs, Heat, Warriors, Lakers. Tell me that we would be 2-2 in those games and I doubt anyone guesses we beat Warriors and Mavs but lose to the Lakers and Heat.

I'm not too concerned right now. There is always overreaction one way or the other during the season. Positioning in the Playoffs is important, but being healthy is more important. Just avoid playing Washington or Cleveland in the first round

Post #6 » by **Rerisen** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:06 pm

The only thing that gives me any solace in the playoffs, and its a small thing, isn't our record vs top teams, its that there is guaranteed time off between games.

This team is old and plays even older with Rose and Noah banged up. It will help a little for guys like Mike, Kirk, of course Derrick, to get that sure day off.

But if we are still losing to every other bum team by the playoffs, it probably won't matter anyway, will mean this team never learned how to put consistent stretches of dominant play together. Pretty rare you just suddenly can turn that on, esp if not already being a champion.

Ctownbulls · Post #7 » by **Ctownbulls** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:17 pm

I can't knock the approach until I see it fail in the playoffs. If we see a fresher Bulls team in April than we have the last 3 years than everyone will be happy.

Keller61 · Post #8 » by **Keller61** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:36 pm

A lot of people seem to think playoff seeding doesn't matter, but I disagree. I think our chances of winning the east would be much better with the 2 seed than with the 5 seed. Honestly, we could win or lose to any of the top 5 teams. Our chances are much better if we only have to beat two of them instead of three of them. It's like flipping a coin - you have a 1/4 chance of winning two coin flips, vs. 1/8 chance of winning three.

If the Bulls don't get their act together and start taking every game seriously, they are headed for a very disappointing season.

FriedRise · Post #9 » by **FriedRise** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 7:40 pm

Bad teams come out ready and energized when playing against us, given how much the Bulls are favored and talked about as the best team in the East. These sub .500 teams come in with something to prove... that they can still beat the best so they play harder and hustle more. Teams like the Heat and the Lakers shouldn't be out-rebounding us, but they did because they wanted the ball more. They wanted to win.

Unfortunately, we look at opponents' record and then mentally take them for granted. So you get these games where players 'take it easy' and start without an edge and terrible low energy. This has a horrible trickle-down effect since now you have to build momentum to even have a chance, and at the same time, you're fighting an uphill battle against a team who's now confident, inspired, and making every ridiculous shot. Effort and intensity on both sides of the court has to be there from the get-go.

If we come out and start every game like we did at Golden State, I bet we can put away scrub teams by the 3rd quarter or even halftime. Make them throw in the towel early. Make them feel like they have no chance. When the starters come out and play hard, it also inspires the bench. With a comfortable enough lead, you'll better develop your bench since they can play a little more freely and not too scared to make a costly mistake.