2011 Chicago Bulls Playoff Thread (5/26 7:30pm CST - TNT)

[Soul]

Yeah, the other weird argument I've been hearing is that this is how the Bulls played all year, we just never noticed. Which would make more sense if they didn't have the second highest scoring margin in the NBA.

 

The reality is, in game 1 the Bulls didn't play well defensively (and the Pacers hit a high percentage of generally low percentage shots). In game 2, the Bulls didn't play well offensively (couldn't shoot, couldn't protect the ball).

 

Maybe next game they can get more assists than turnovers. That'd be a good start.

 

It really seems like they're coasting, which I never thought I'd see from this team.

It also goes back a good 3-4 weeks, aside from the Atlanta and Boston games. And yet they're 16-1 in the stretch, so I'm not sure what to be upset about.

 

Maybe they know what they're doing, saving energy for later in the playoffs.

 

I can only hope that's the case.

[bukie]

Bulls' efficiency stats, through 2 playoff games:

 

Rose: 35.4 PER, .596 TS%

Korver: 15.3 PER, .787 TS%

Thomas: 18.7 PER, .625 TS%

Boozer: 11.3 PER, .497 TS%

Bogans: 1.8 PER, .188 TS%

[SouthSideRyan]

As long as your goons keep injuring 1 Indiana star per game, you guys should be fine.

 

You have got to be delusional if you think that Darren Collison injury was a "goon play". Rose even had his back turned on Collison has he went into the cameraman.

 

All I'm saying is that cameraman looked a lot like Eugene Amos.

[UMFan83]

Kelly Dwyer's theory is that with it being the playoffs, the other teams are finally matching the Bulls intensity that they've been bringing all season.

 

That was supposedly the same argument against the Skiles Bulls.

 

It's so weird and rather annoying to be angry at the play of a team that has won 11 games in a row and 16 of 17.

[Tyrant]

Asik (did he play yesterday?)

 

1:47 according to the box score.

I remember seeing him run up the floor once.

 

That would be the full 1:47

 

Asik actually runs the floor really well.

 

Oh, I get it. You were just trying to take another dig at a Bulls player.

[Guest]

Kelly Dwyer's theory is that with it being the playoffs, the other teams are finally matching the Bulls intensity that they've been bringing all season.

 

That was supposedly the same argument against the Skiles Bulls.

 

It's so weird and rather annoying to be angry at the play of a team that has won 11 games in a row and 16 of 17.

 

What an odd theory considering the Pacers are well known for their effort and intensity.

[Magnetic Curses]

Kelly Dwyer's theory is that with it being the playoffs, the other teams are finally matching the Bulls intensity that they've been bringing all season.

 

That was supposedly the same argument against the Skiles Bulls.

 

It's so weird and rather annoying to be angry at the play of a team that has won 11 games in a row and 16 of 17.

 

yeah, the bulls were the only ones trying in the regular season, that must be it.

[Soul]

Kelly Dwyer's theory is that with it being the playoffs, the other teams are finally matching the Bulls intensity that they've been bringing all season.

 

That was supposedly the same argument against the Skiles Bulls.

 

It's so weird and rather annoying to be angry at the play of a team that has won 11 games in a row and 16 of 17.

 

yeah, the bulls were the only ones trying in the regular season, that must be it.

 

Yeah, that argument is always an interesting one.

 

I'm also not sure what the argument against the Skiles Bulls is supposed to be. Those teams weren't all that good, and predictably only advanced marginally in the playoffs. They did pretty much exactly what they should have done.

[Flames24Rulz]

It was ugly but I'm not complaining with a playoff win. Don't forget that when we were a lower seed five years ago, we gave the Heat a pretty competitive six game series in the first round and they eventually wound up winning the championship. The name of the game is to survive and advance.

 

Not a horrible comparison, but at least that Bulls team got themselves to .500 that season.

 

The Pacers were 20-18 with Vogel as the coach. Not to mention the Bulls had a pretty good stretch at the end of the season to get themselves to .500. That's the comparison that I'm hoping for, at least.

[JimSorgi]

In reality, 22 turnovers goes a long way towards keeping the opponent in the game as long as possible.

 

In near the same way that 57 rebounds goes a long way towards keeping your team in the game.

 

Not to shortchange the Pacers, because they're giving the Bulls all they can handle, but I have to admit I was amused reading an article from Indystar.com this morning where it said the Pacers "forced 22 turnovers". I'm sure it was just a turn of a phrase, but the Pacers didn't "force" all/most of those TO's. The Bulls did a fine job of doing that on their own.

Thank God we cleared that up.

[DivineBovine]

I've heard the intensity theory a lot. But its all theory. No team with the best record in the league does it by not playing with more intensity than other NBA teams. In reality, nobody knows how the Bulls will do in the playoffs. I can see it going either way. But historically, teams with the best record in the league fare pretty well in the playoffs. They don't always win, but they tend to go pretty deep. And teams with the best record that don't win championships, ie the Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns, tend to be offensively oriented teams. The Bulls are defensively oriented.

[UMFan83]

I posted this on RealGM yesterday, but basically I put together some simple stats looking at the ten 1/8 series over the last 5 years.

 

-#1 teams are of course 9-1 in those series (Dal/GS being the exception)

-#1 teams are 38-14 in their series, which comes to an average series of 4-1 in favor of the top seeds

-The average differential of all games in all series is +7 points

 

-Going through each individual series, here are the point differentials for the series, from highest to lowest:

16 (CLE/DET)

13 (LAL/DEN)

12 (BOS/ATL)

9 (CLE/CHI)

9 (LAL/UTA)

9 (DET/ORL)

8 (DET/MIL)

4 (SA/SAC)

2 (LAL/OKC)

-7 (DAL/GS)

 

Of the 10 series:

-3 were sweeps

-3 were won in 5 games

-2 were won in 6 games

-1 was won in 7 games

-1 was lost in 6 games

 

Right now the Bulls differential for the series is 5.5 points, which would be amongst the closer series of the last 5 years, but so far we haven't lost. Based on the last 10 series, there is only a 30% chance to sweep the series, so it's nothing to be ashamed about if we drop one this weekend in Indy.

[Derwood]

NBATV? Seriously?

[Soul]

Yeah, they've had a few playoff games on that channel. I'm guessing most people aren't able to watch them, similar to what happens when the NFL airs a game on the NFL network.

[Exile on Waveland]

Got a ticket to tonight's game (a pretty good one, too). Should be able to watch and walk home in time to see the Hawks game.

[SouthSideRyan]

Ah [expletive], I just realized I'm going to be out for this game, and will have to listen to that honk King. Hopefully they're playing music instead.

[tfarks]

I've been to about 15 Pacer games this season and tonight is the worst seat I've had all year. Was broke after going on vacation, so I'm up in the balcony.

 

No matter. Pacers win tonight.

[Tyrant]

Pacers win tonight.

 

Bulls 98, Pacers 87.

[17 Seconds]

bulls win 99-85

[Banedon]

Derrick Rose admitted in an ESPN interview that his greatest fear is killer clowns.

 

Now there's internet buzz that people are going to come to the game as clowns, or with signs with clowns on them.

 

http://espn.go.com/espnw/blog/_/post/6335706/rainy-days-get-derrick-rose-down

[Exile on Waveland]

I've been to about 15 Pacer games this season and tonight is the worst seat I've had all year. Was broke after going on vacation, so I'm up in the balcony.

 

No matter. Pacers win tonight.

 

Ha, yeah. I'm in the 100's (middle level) which is the worst I've sat in years. Usually get lower level or suite seats for free from friends that work at the big firms here. Oh well, whatever. Never seen an NBA playoff game, so I'm excited. Way worse than my Colts playoff tickets this year --second row -- though I'm hoping for a better result.

[UMFan83]

1st half will be a lot like the first 2 games...Pacers come out with a ton of energy, hold a 3-10 point lead the entire first half until the end when the Bulls grab a 1 point lead at the half. Then in the 3rd, Bulls finally look dominant and take a 20 point lead at one point. In the 4th, a Pacers run gets them to within 7 but the Bulls hold on for an 11 point win. 101-90.

[SouthSideRyan]

Just put $65 on the Bulls -4.5

 

Go Bulls

[bukie]

Just put $65 on the Bulls -4.5

 

Go Bulls

Maybe today they'll play well for twice as long as the first two games. So, 10 minutes.

[Sosa21MVP]

Lower level, row 15. =D>