Bulls 10-11

[Dan Michler]

With Miami's loss last night to the Bucks, a win tonight for the Bulls virtually clinches the 1 seed.

[pdga#7648]

This is a DAMN good team fellas!
get ready for a long playoff run. I will be suprised if they are not in the East Finals.

[DaBus85]

That second half d was amazing!!  That was the best I have seen them play d in a while.  Only gave up two field goals in 11 minutes. That was awesome!!

[Dan Michler]

Last night was impressive, but the Bulls' shouldn't get too cocky right now.  First of all, I think Boston is dead in the water without Kendrick Perkins.  They are 8-9 in their last 17 games.  They aren't the same team.  Paul Pierce looks older every day.  I'm predicting a 1st round exit at the hands of the Sixers.

Orlando had that stretch where they lost 8 of 9 after the Vince Carter trade.  Since, they have been a pretty solid club and look to be peaking at the right time.  They won't have a problem getting by the Hawks in Rd 1 (remember those 30+ point blowouts in their series last year?), and the Bulls will have their hands full in Rd 2.  D.Howard took them to the Finals just a couple years ago.  They've been through a few more battles than this Bulls team.  I'm actually more worried about Orlando in Rd 2 than Miami in the East Finals.  The Bulls get back on defense and the Heat have shown they can't win in a half-court game.

Wouldn't it be cool if its Bulls/Lakers in the Finals just like 20 years ago when Jordan won his first title and Magic's run with the Lakers was coming to an end?  Now it could be Rose winning his 1st of multiple titles at the end of Kobe's run.  That would be a dream scenario for the NBA.  Of course, they'll probably have a lockout this offseason and throw away all the momentum the league is building.

[pdga#7648]

I really wasn't sure what to think about Thibbs as the head coach at the start of the year. But I really like how he gets so mad when the team doesn't get back, or doesn't play fundamental defense. his post game conferences, he explains in detail what they did right, and what they still did wrong, and then he works at fixing the problem. The Bulls fans should be excited for alot of years to come.
And D Rose will win multiple MVP'S in the next 5 years, after of course he gets his 1st this year. Hell, even LeBron said hands down Rose is the MVP this year. 

[Mike Clark]

Great game played by the Bulls.The Bulls defense is amazing at times. They contest almost every shot. They run down jump shooters constantly(except Channing Frye). Last night playing under the pick and roll was awesome. Everyone has been playing Rondo over the screen. That is when he can be dangerous.

The only way Orlando can beat the Bulls is with some real hot outside shooting. I just do not see that standing up in a 7 game series. I do not understand how a team built around a player who can not play the last 5min of the game can win a Championship(Orlando and Howard to be exact). Howard is a liability to his team at the end of games cause he can not make a foul shot. I do not care how good his defense is. The Bulls have at least 24-30 fouls to use on him. Gotta love the Bulls depth at the 4 and 5 spots.

I do not see a team in the East that can beat the Bulls in a 7 game series. The Bulls just play to good of a defense and have the best regular season closer atm. D.Rose leads the league in scoring with 3min left in a game.

Time to stop drooling over the Bulls and get some work done.

D.Rose blocking a Garnett layup/dunk was my favorite highlight of many. Maybe it was Gibson's roundhouse kick to Deng's head. As long as Deng is okay that is.

My only real concern in the playoffs is how the Bulls will adjust to teams being more physical and tougher defenses.

[pdga#7648]

the Knicks are a scary 1st round opponent with Amare, Melo, and Billups.  hope the bulls don't look ahead to soon.

[Dan Michler]

the Knicks are a scary 1st round opponent with Amare, Melo, and Billups.  hope the bulls don't look ahead to soon.

Doug, the Celtics will be worrying about the Knicks in Round 1.  The Bulls will be cruising by the well-below-.500 Indiana Pacers.  It would be hard for the Bulls to look ahead too soon in that matchup.

[pdga#7648]

okay. the guy on the radio this morning on my way to work said the Bulls hosting the Knicks.  Your right, this will be an easy series against the Pacers. Contain Granger and they will be lucky to score 70 against the Bulls D!

[Dan Michler]

okay. the guy on the radio this morning on my way to work said the Bulls hosting the Knicks.  Your right, this will be an easy series against the Pacers. Contain Granger and they will be lucky to score 70 against the Bulls D!

Perhaps because the Bulls are @Knicks tonight.  I wonder if Thibodeau plans any rest for Rose and company.  Sunday @Orlando was a meaningless game, and yet Rose played 36 min and Deng 39 min.  Rose took a number of hard fouls on drives to the rim.  That is the only way he knows how to play.  In my opinion Thibs needs to greatly limit starter's minutes tonight and tomorrow so they can spend the next 4 days reenergizing physically and mentally.

Did you see Thibodeau lay a verbal assault in Rose's face after some lazy defense before the half Sunday?  The guy is intense!  No team plays as hard as the Bulls....for 2 reasons

1.  Derrick Rose is an animal.  His mind is on 1 thing only.  Winning.  He cares about nothing else.  It doesn't matter if that means taking 3 shots or 30 shots.  If LeBron had Rose's mindset, he'd already have 2 titles in Cleveland.

Rose is the unquestioned leader of the team and his attitude and work ethic trickle down to every other player.

2.  Tom Thibodeau doesn't just teach intensity on defense, he demands it.  The reason his intense style is successful is again because of Derrick Rose.  If the best player on the team allows the coach to rip him for a poor defensive effort, then how can the other player's complain?  There are a number of superstars who would not put up with a coach getting on them like that.  They'd undermine the coach, get the lockerroom on their side, and eventually he'd be gone.  This is the reality of the NBA.  Tom Thibodeau is a great coach because Derrick Rose allows him to be.  He's a special player. 

The Bulls were EXTREMELY lucky to win that lottery and get him (1.7% chance of winning the 1st pick that year).  Just think, Miami had the worst record that year and had the best chance to win that 1st pick.  How different would the NBA look if Rose ended up in Miami?

[pdga#7648]

your very last sentence??
let's just be glad we don't have to think what the league would have looked like. let's just be glad that 1.7% fell in the Bulls favor.

[Mike Clark]

I really do not think that these guys know how to do it any differently. The coach is intense. D.Rose is intense. Thibs wants to win every game they can. That is just the way they appear to be. I think they only know how to do things 1 way and that is hardcore. It may come back to bite them eventually. Maybe Thibs will learn when to let up and when to go all out.

Dan you are so right about D.Rose believing in Thibs and the rest of the team following along. You described it perfectly. It is pretty amazing that someone as young and talented as D.Rose acts the way he does. Hard to believe he is only 22yo.

I do not think the NBA Lottery is legit. I think it is rigged when the NBA wants it to be. Why else is it done behind closed doors? It was not always done that way. I really do not need to look any further back than LeBron. Does anyone really think it is luck that the Cavs got the home town LeBron or The Bulls got the home town D.Rose? Maybe it was luck but I am sure a little more research would find a few similar situations from past drafts. Not complaining just pointing out an observation. Love D.Rose being a Bull.

On the playoffs. I am really worried about Noah's play lately. If he does not step up his game I do not see this team making the finals. He has not looked good rebounding or on defense since coming back form the ankle injury.

[Tom McManus]

I don't always block shots, but when I do I block yours.

[Dan Michler]

Playoff predictions:

Chicago over Indy 4-0
Orlando over ATL 4-1
Boston over NY  4-3
Miami over Philly 4-0

Memphis over Spurs 4-2
OKC over Denver 4-3
Blazers over Mavs 4-3
Lakers over Hornets 4-0


Chicago over Orlando  4-3
Miami over Boston  4-1

OKC over Memphis  4-3
Lakers over Blazers  4-3

Chicago over Miami 4-3      Things get testy, setting up a heated rivalry for the next 5 years as the 2 dominant teams in the East.
Lakers over OKC  4-3

Chicago over Lakers  4-1     We lose the 1st game at home and then win 4 straight just like 1991.

[Dan Michler]

Crazy first 2 days of the NBA playoffs.  Every single underdog either had a big lead in the game or ended up winning the game.  Hoping the Bulls bring an end to that run tonight with a blowout that sends me to bed early.

I almost punched the TV watching Boozer get dominated by Tyler Hansbrough.  Seriously, how many open jumpers does he have to knock down before you step out on him?  He's put up 51 combined points the last 2 times we've played them.  Meanwhile, Boozer with his max contract put up 12 pts 6 reb 4 turnovers and 5 fouls.  Why even show up to the game Carlos?  I expect a LOT more tonight.

[Dan Michler]

I'm tired as hell after that late game (why did they schedule it this way?  hard for kids to stay up and watch until 11:30pm)

Game 2 with a very similar flow to Game 1.  The Bulls made some defensive adjustments and prevented Hansbrough from getting wide open 15 footers.  I thought the Bulls played very well defensively all game.  Offensively, its like everybody is gun-shy except for Rose.  Our 2nd unit was essential to winning 62 games this year.  They looked completely lost and without confidence in the first 2 games of this series.  Thibs has switched up the rotations from what he used during the regular season and I wonder if that is part of it.  Just not getting that energy off the bench.

Not a great performance, but a win is a win.  Get one in Indy and this series is all but over.

[philvb85]

Many similarities from Saturday, including us getting screwed schedule wise so that Miami can get the prime time spot. 

Dan is right when he says we looked lost.  It reminded me of playing pickup basketball at the local rec center.  I don't know if the rest of the team is afraid to try and take over for fear that Rose won't get going, but they need to realize everyone has to step up to win big games (see:  Artest in the finals last year for the Lakers). 

I liked how we were trying to establish Boozer early, but did you see some of those forced passes that led to those early turnovers?  I'm sorry, but you can't try to force a pass in to the lane when Booz is surrounded by 2 or more defenders.  Use his offense to help establish the rest of the team by finding the open man when the double team comes.

On a side note, I had to watch the first game on ESPN since I was at a bar so I didn't get to hear Scottie during the broadcast.  He really works well with Neil and Stacey and he provides some good insight as to what the players are thinking.  I especially loved his comments about Hansbrough flopping.

[Dan Michler]

I'll give the Pacers a lot of credit.  They have played a great series and executed an effective gameplan.  They clearly have aimed to make it a physical series, keep it low scoring, and don't let the Bulls get comfortable.  Its worked.  The Bulls could not have looked less comfortable in these 3 games.  The only problem for the Pacers is we have Derrick Rose and they don't.  I think the Bulls will get better from having gone through these battles.  This won't be the last team that tries to play them this way and they need to learn how to deal with it.  The bench HAS to find a way to contribute more in the playoffs.

[damonshort]

I really think the Bulls need to lose one of these games in Indy. Something to shake them up; they'll get killed in the next round if they keep playing like this.

[Dan Michler]

I really think the Bulls need to lose one of these games in Indy. Something to shake them up; they'll get killed in the next round if they keep playing like this.

I think people are underestimating how well the Pacers have played.

Rose's ankle sprain prevented the sweep, but nothing will stop the Bulls from winning tomorrow in the United Center to close this thing out and get a few days of much needed rest. 

Looks like it'll be the Hawks up next.  I doubt the Hawks will play us any tougher than the Pacers have.  We took an easy 2 of 3 (94-76, 114-81, 80-83) from the Hawks in the regular season and the 1 loss was absolutely a gift from the Bulls as they blew a 20 point 2nd half lead.  Its taken some of the worst shooting I've ever seen by Orlando to give them a 3-1 series lead.

Boston/Miami next round should be really fun to watch.  I still think Miami takes it, maybe in 6.  The Bulls will take the Hawks in 5 and then we'll have the East showdown people have been waiting for.