Bulls vs Cavaliers

[FArting]

Who wins this series

Kevin Love is out for Cleveland.

 

[Errntknght]

I think Love's absence is just what the Bulls need to win this series.

 

[sunsfan88]

Everyone is predicting the Bulls to win this but I think CLE has a chance even without Love.

The Cavs still have the best player by far in the series.

 

[SirStefan32]

My hatred for LeBron makes it difficult for me to be objective. With that disclosure out of the way, I think Chicago wins it.

Their big men will be way too much for Mozgov and Thompson to handle, they are much deeper, much tougher, and much better defensively. My prediction is that Chicago takes this in six games.

 

[Phrazbit]

This is the de facto ECF.

 

[95pro]

Hard to be objective when it comes to LeBrat. Just don't like the guy.
Bulls in 6.

Irving will have huge games and James will be passive again.

 

[Phrazbit]

Hard to be objective when it comes to LeBrat. Just don't like the guy.
Bulls in 6.

Irving will have huge games and James will be passive again.

I get not liking LeBron, but he is immeasurably better than Irving.

 

[elindholm]

The Bulls have been "almost good" for so long that it seems like people are giving them too much credit for being ready to take the next step. I think they're overrated, and too many of their players are perpetually injured. Love's injury will make it easier for James to take over with a clear conscience, so I'm going with Cleveland.

I didn't realize that these teams were in the same half of the Eastern Conference bracket; I had them meeting each other in the next round. Obviously I'm not paying much attention.

Edit: Incidentally, the betting lines have the Cavaliers as roughly 2:1 favorites.

 

[Rivercard]

I'll take Cleveland in 6

 

[PDXChris]

The Bulls have been "almost good" for so long that it seems like people are giving them too much credit for being ready to take the next step. I think they're overrated, and too many of their players are perpetually injured. Love's injury will make it easier for James to take over with a clear conscience, so I'm going with Cleveland.

I didn't realize that these teams were in the same half of the Eastern Conference bracket; I had them meeting each other in the next round. Obviously I'm not paying much attention.

Edit: Incidentally, the betting lines have the Cavaliers as roughly 2:1 favorites.

I have been staying away from the Bulls threads so I don't jinx it, but screw it. I have to correct your way off assessment of this years team since it is way different than all other year.

First, Gasol, who led the league in double doubles, replaced Boozer.

Second, Nikola Mirotic was not on this team last year and played very well the second half of the season.

Third, Bulter had a break out year and is now the best player on the team. He is also a great defender and will be on James.

Fourth, Rose has not been on this team come playoffs since the Bulls pushed the Heat a few years back. He is looking better every game and is finally playing defense again, so Rose vs. Irving will be great.

Fifth, because of the depth at the 4/5 spots, Noah is not being over played and has finally settled great into his role now of not having to score.

Lastly, this team is the heatliest it has been in years with not one player at risk of missing a game in the series, barring any freak injuries.

Now, I am not saying they will beat the Cavs. I don't want to jinx anything, but this is far a away the best Bulls team Thibs has had and they are jelling at the right time.

My perdiction? This is going to be the best series in the East and is the defacto Eastern Conference Finals. I am not naming a winner, but this picture is what will be the deciding factor.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[elindholm]

I have to correct your way off assessment of this years team since it is way different than all other year.

It can't be that different, since you predict Bulls greatness every season.

Third, Bulter had a break out year and is now the best player on the team. He is also a great defender and will be on James.

I've been very impressed with what I've seen from Butler, but he isn't at James's level and is (basically) untested in playoff intensity.

Fourth, Rose ... is looking better every game

Sure, until he gets hurt again. The Bulls can't count on Rose.

Lastly, this team is the heatliest it has been in years with not one player at risk of missing a game in the series

No team in the league can make that claim, least of all the Bulls.

This is going to be the best series in the East and is the defacto Eastern Conference Finals.

No argument there.

 

[PDXChris]

It can't be that different, since you predict Bulls greatness every season.

Awesome rebuttal, considering I did not say they would beat the Cavs. I said they are vastly different team, which is failed to even try to prove wrong

I've been very impressed with what I've seen from Butler, but he isn't at James's level and is (basically) untested in playoff intensity.

One of the best players thus far this year in the playoffs and a great defender the last three playoffs. Untested? ok I guess

Sure, until he gets hurt again. The Bulls can't count on Rose.

Again, awesome rebuttal. The fact that he is playing and playing well speaks for itself.

No team in the league can make that claim, least of all the Bulls.

And yet again, awesome rebuttal. But not one player on the injury report and all 13 plays in the blow out aginst the Bucks. OK, I guess I am wrong.

No argument there.

.

 

[PDXChris]

Back in 2011, James helped lock up the smaller Rose, the newly-minted Most Valuable Player, late in games during that Eastern Conference finals series, and Miami won in five en route to losing to Dallas in the Finals.

With James in his face in the last four games, a beleaguered Rose shot 35 percent in that series, hitting just 23.3 percent of his 3-pointers (he took six per game) while averaging 23.3 points and 6.6 assists. He had to take 24 shots per game, because who else could create their own shot on that team?

Now, in their hotly-awaited second-round playoff series, Rose has All-Star Jimmy Butler by his side.

Butler will likely have to deal with James on both ends for about 43 minutes a game. Can he do that and still score?

“He’s got to do his job,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said of Butler’s key role this series. “That’s what we’ve asked him to do. He’s always guarded the primary guy. He’s got to go out there and do it.”

If Butler is locked up, then it’s imperative Rose attacks the rim and yes, makes his 3-pointers. If Rose is doubled, then he has to make sure Butler leads the team in shots.

It's not just them, of course.

Pau Gasol has to continue racking up double-doubles, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson have to be able to move and bring energy on both ends, Nikola Mirotic has to matter, and the Bulls have to move the ball to find Mike Dunleavy and Tony Snell.

Great article that was just published a few mintues ago echoing what I just said.


http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/jon...845/can-rose-butler-combo-topple-lebrons-cavs

 

[Cheesebeef]

I have been staying away from the Bulls threads so I don't jinx it, but screw it. I have to correct your way off assessment of this years team since it is way different than all other year.

First, Gasol, who led the league in double doubles, replaced Boozer.

Second, Nikola Mirotic was not on this team last year and played very well the second half of the season.

Third, Bulter had a break out year and is now the best player on the team. He is also a great defender and will be on James.

Fourth, Rose has not been on this team come playoffs since the Bulls pushed the Heat a few years back. He is looking better every game and is finally playing defense again, so Rose vs. Irving will be great.

Fifth, because of the depth at the 4/5 spots, Noah is not being over played and has finally settled great into his role now of not having to score.

Lastly, this team is the heatliest it has been in years with not one player at risk of missing a game in the series, barring any freak injuries.

Now, I am not saying they will beat the Cavs. I don't want to jinx anything, but this is far a away the best Bulls team Thibs has had and they are jelling at the right time.

My perdiction? This is going to be the best series in the East and is the defacto Eastern Conference Finals. I am not naming a winner, but this picture is what will be the deciding factor.

You must be registered for see images attach

dude, if that picture is the defining the factor, this series is over before it starts. Butler is a very good young player. LeBron is one of the best of all time. That's no contest.

that said, I think the Bulls depth and the lack of Love push this series to six or possibly 7 and if it gets that far, it's anyone's ball game.

 

[Rivercard]

the lack of Love push

We all go through a drought from time to time.

 

[PDXChris]

dude, if that picture is the defining the factor, this series is over before it starts. Butler is a very good young player. LeBron is one of the best of all time. That's no contest.

that said, I think the Bulls depth and the lack of Love push this series to six or possibly 7 and if it gets that far, it's anyone's ball game.

That is my point. If Butler is ready to be a star and can hold his own with James, we win. If Butler is not ready, then Cleveland wins. As much as I hate to say it, James is too good, so Butler has to take the next step in this series.

 

[Phrazbit]

Butler is not going to play up to LeBron's level, Bulter is good, LeBron is waaaaaaay better. The Bulls key to winning the series is going to be their bigs. If Noah and Gasol control the paint and the glass then the Bulls can win this.

 

[SirStefan32]

I love defensive-minded teams with toughness and size in the paint. Noah may be my favorite big in the NBA, I think guys like Kirk and Mike are excellent high-IQ role-players, Rose is one of the last non-douche bags Superstars in the league, Taj is the best bench player in the league, Butler is one of the best two-way players in the league, and Mirotic is turning into a very good player. I love the Bulls!

Having said all that, the Bulls will not win this series by Butler being a hero against James. They will win by being the tougher team, by being the smarter team, and by being a deeper team. They have to destroy the Cavs in the paint, they have to outrebound them, they have to have a balanced offense, and they have to beat up the Cavs and wear them out.

 

[elindholm]

Having said all that, the Bulls will not win this series by Butler being a hero against James. They will win by being the tougher team, by being the smarter team, and by being a deeper team. They have to destroy the Cavs in the paint, they have to outrebound them, they have to have a balanced offense, and they have to beat up the Cavs and wear them out.

It's really all up to James. If he's aggressive, no one can stop him. But he has never managed to shake the insecurities that cause him to shrink up more often than not. He allowed Kawhi Leonard to outplay him in last year's Finals, and that's not the first time he's wilted under the brightest lights. I thought that Love's absence would make it easier for him to take over, but maybe it just increases the pressure beyond what he's capable of handling.

 

[sunsfan88]

Man, the Bulls have such a toxic FO. Seriously, it's gotten this bad?

When a visiting scout visited the Bulls practice facility in the past year or so, he had the opportunity to watch the awkward, strange interplay between Bulls general manager Gar Forman and Thibodeau.

Eventually, the man walked into the office of an assistant coach and asked: "What the hell is the deal here?"

Before answering, the coach turned his fan on full blast. For the visitor, everything was becoming even stranger. He gave the assistant a befuddled look, as though to say, 'What are you doing?"

"I'm not taking any chances," the coach said, refusing to risk the possibility of those walls being bugged.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tom-thibodeau-makes-his-last-stand-with-the-bulls-072125079.html

 

[PDXChris]

Man, the Bulls have such a toxic FO. Seriously, it's gotten this bad?

Welcome to 1990.....It has always been that bad. Reinsdorf likes his GM's a certain way. Paxson was somewhat better, but got promoted and hired Forman. Forman is a complete weirdo.

 

[Ronin]

James Jones is a flame thrower!

 

[PDXChris]

Ugly, ugly, ugly game tonight.

 

[sunsfan88]

You can tell by his reaction afterwards that he did not call bank

 

[Errntknght]

What clinched it for me was when he said, "I didn't call glass."