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

[tfarks]

LOL @ Pacers coach (who even knows his name?) press conference. Said it should be at least 2-1. "Or 2-1 us, or 3-0 us."

 

the bulls have played some of their worst basketball of the seaosn in this series, and they still haven't been able to win a single game.

 

bulls have basically given them the gift of playing terribly and they still can't beat us. scrub team.

 

Hahahaha. Yeah they're playing terribly. All of a sudden. Just coincidence.

 

So idiotic.

[SpongeWorthy]

Pacers fans getting uppity

[17 Seconds]

LOL @ Pacers coach (who even knows his name?) press conference. Said it should be at least 2-1. "Or 2-1 us, or 3-0 us."

 

the bulls have played some of their worst basketball of the seaosn in this series, and they still haven't been able to win a single game.

 

bulls have basically given them the gift of playing terribly and they still can't beat us. scrub team.

 

Hahahaha. Yeah they're playing terribly. All of a sudden. Just coincidence.

 

So idiotic.

 

indiana is great at forcing unforced turnovers.

[UMFan83]

Bulls shoot 38%, get outrebounded, lose the turnover battle, Rose shoots 4-18, Boozer 2-10, equalled fouls.

 

How in the world did they win?

 

Rose and Boozer combined for 6-28 shooting

The rest of the team shot 22-44

 

That's a start. The rest of it of course is above average defense, Making over 9-20 from 3, and Rose getting to the line 15 times.

 

PS I know it was a rhetorical question

[Andy]

That 2nd quarter was an officiating apocalypse.

 

I'm not going to start hating Indiana like I inevitably end up hating every other Bulls playoff opponent, but they certainly have been a nuisance. Which, frankly, is a credit to them, because if an 8 or 7 seed can be a nuisance, they're doing about all they can do. Tyler Hansbrough certainly is reminding me why I [expletive] hated him in college though with his limbs all flailing wildly in desperate efforts to draw a foul just about every time he touches the ball. And it seems like Josh McRoberts and Roy Hibbert are playing that game too.

 

Anyway, Indiana's been more than up to the task. Pacer fans should be excited for the next season that is played in the NBA.

[Soul]

That 2nd quarter was an officiating apocalypse.

 

I'm not going to start hating Indiana like I inevitably end up hating every other Bulls playoff opponent, but they certainly have been a nuisance. Which, frankly, is a credit to them, because if an 8 or 7 seed can be a nuisance, they're doing about all they can do. Tyler Hansbrough certainly is reminding me why I [expletive] hated him in college though with his limbs all flailing wildly in desperate efforts to draw a foul just about every time he touches the ball. And it seems like Josh McRoberts and Roy Hibbert are playing that game too.

 

Anyway, Indiana's been more than up to the task. Pacer fans should be excited for the next season that is played in the NBA.

 

They remind me of the Skiles Bulls teams. Just good enough to be a royal pain, and they eek out every last drop of their potential. But until they get their Derek Rose type blessing, this is about where they'll be.

[CubColtPacer]

LOL @ Pacers coach (who even knows his name?) press conference. Said it should be at least 2-1. "Or 2-1 us, or 3-0 us."

 

the bulls have played some of their worst basketball of the seaosn in this series, and they still haven't been able to win a single game.

 

bulls have basically given them the gift of playing terribly and they still can't beat us. scrub team.

 

Hahahaha. Yeah they're playing terribly. All of a sudden. Just coincidence.

 

So idiotic.

 

indiana is great at forcing unforced turnovers.

 

I didn't see many if any unforced turnovers last night by the Bulls (as opposed to game 2 where there were some). The Pacers are long and playing a trapping style defense. Last night was a good example of what all can happen with that defense. They gave up some open 3 pointers but they also forced turnovers. In particular, Dahntay Jones is known for being that kind of a defensive specialist and Paul George is playing incredible defense in this series.

 

IMO, the only significant Bull who has had a terrible series is Boozer. He's taken some foolish shots and gotten into foul trouble twice because of his need to constantly throw elbows around. Other than that, Rose has been pretty good, Deng was great last night and fine in the other two games, Noah's been huge on the boards, Korver has had a great series (7-8 on 3 pointers so far in the playoffs!), Bogans had 2 terrible nights but played very well last night, Gibson and Watson have been fine for what time they've gotten on the court, and Thomas gave them some good minutes in game 1.

 

As for who was wondering if the Bulls have led by double digits in this series, apparently they haven't. Their biggest lead has been 7 in the series.

[Banedon]

I didn't see many if any unforced turnovers last night by the Bulls (as opposed to game 2 where there were some). The Pacers are long and playing a trapping style defense. Last night was a good example of what all can happen with that defense. They gave up some open 3 pointers but they also forced turnovers. In particular, Dahntay Jones is known for being that kind of a defensive specialist and Paul George is playing incredible defense in this series.

 

Were you watching the same game I was? The Bulls had a ton of unforced turnovers. Dribbling the ball off their feet. Failing to catch passes that proceeded to bounce into the hands of Pacers. The Pacers defense forced TO's, no doubt. But all series the Bulls have just been sloppy with the ball. And it's not like that's something new...it's been something that they've done before, just never for a stretch of 3 games like this.

 

I swear, we could probably reduce or turnovers by half if we could teach our bigs to catch a pass.

[tfarks]

Bulls scored 16 in the paint. Regular season low was 26.

 

Love the D. The Pacers players should thank the Bulls for not trying to score in the paint so as to not blow them out too bad.

[CubColtPacer]

I didn't see many if any unforced turnovers last night by the Bulls (as opposed to game 2 where there were some). The Pacers are long and playing a trapping style defense. Last night was a good example of what all can happen with that defense. They gave up some open 3 pointers but they also forced turnovers. In particular, Dahntay Jones is known for being that kind of a defensive specialist and Paul George is playing incredible defense in this series.

 

Were you watching the same game I was? The Bulls had a ton of unforced turnovers. Dribbling the ball off their feet. Failing to catch passes that proceeded to bounce into the hands of Pacers. The Pacers defense forced TO's, no doubt. But all series the Bulls have just been sloppy with the ball. And it's not like that's something new...it's been something that they've done before, just never for a stretch of 3 games like this.

 

I swear, we could probably reduce or turnovers by half if we could teach our bigs to catch a pass.

 

The Bulls only had 15 turnovers last night (.8 over their season average). 3 of those were charging fouls and another one was a 3 second violation. The Pacers had several steals that just came from stepping into the passing lanes or overplaying guys so I don't think there could have that many left that were unforced.

 

I do remember one stretch during the game where there was some sloppy handling of the ball by the Bulls (near the end of the first beginning of the second if I remember correctly) but it didn't really lead to turnovers. It kept squirting out right back to another Bull.

[Guest]

At the end of the day, the Bulls have Rose and the Pacers don't.

 

I don't think so. The Bulls have a better bench, a better coach, and two other players in Deng and Boozer that are slightly better than Indiana's second and third scorers.

 

Indiana is just a bad matchup for the Bulls. This is the playoffs where you rarely blow out teams unless you are the 90s Bulls.

 

 

Even the 90's Bulls struggled with first round teams (that they still swept) at times.

 

 

The Bullets series in 97 comes to mind as way closer than it should've been. Nets gave us 2/3 close games in 98, including one that went to OT. Those are the ones I remember off the top of my head.

[UMFan83]

So...based on the hope that we close out these bozos on Saturday, we are looking at an extended break coming up.

 

Game 5 - Tuesday

Game 6 - Thursday

Game 7 - Saturday

 

I'm assuming if one of them closes the series in game 5 or 6, the first game of the second round will be on Sunday, and if it finishes in game 7, it would be Monday or Tuesday.

 

that means by winning game 4, we would have at least an 8 day rest between games.

[ChiCubsFan]

Bulls scored 16 in the paint. Regular season low was 26.

 

Love the D. The Pacers players should thank the Bulls for not trying to score in the paint so as to not blow them out too bad.

 

It's hard to get points in the paint when you're getting hammered everytime you go in there. If you count the FTs we made after getting fouled in the paint the numbers won't look so bad.

[CubColtPacer]

Bulls scored 16 in the paint. Regular season low was 26.

 

Love the D. The Pacers players should thank the Bulls for not trying to score in the paint so as to not blow them out too bad.

 

It's hard to get points in the paint when you're getting hammered everytime you go in there. If you count the FTs we made after getting fouled in the paint the numbers won't look so bad.

 

And neither team has been real successful at posting up. The Pacers have tried to focus on it at times but Hibbert is in one of his play poorly stretches. I don't know if post ups are regularly a part of the Bulls game but they've pretty much been ignoring it in this series.

[Flames24Rulz]

At the end of the day, the Bulls have Rose and the Pacers don't.

 

I don't think so. The Bulls have a better bench, a better coach, and two other players in Deng and Boozer that are slightly better than Indiana's second and third scorers.

 

Indiana is just a bad matchup for the Bulls. This is the playoffs where you rarely blow out teams unless you are the 90s Bulls.

 

 

Even the 90's Bulls struggled with first round teams (that they still swept) at times.

 

 

The Bullets series in 97 comes to mind as way closer than it should've been. Nets gave us 2/3 close games in 98, including one that went to OT. Those are the ones I remember off the top of my head.

 

Yep, those are the ones I remember too.

 

Win tomorrow so we can get that eight day layoff. I think that's more important than anything right now.

[Banedon]

Bulls scored 16 in the paint. Regular season low was 26.

 

Love the D. The Pacers players should thank the Bulls for not trying to score in the paint so as to not blow them out too bad.

 

It's hard to get points in the paint when you're getting hammered everytime you go in there. If you count the FTs we made after getting fouled in the paint the numbers won't look so bad.

 

And neither team has been real successful at posting up. The Pacers have tried to focus on it at times but Hibbert is in one of his play poorly stretches. I don't know if post ups are regularly a part of the Bulls game but they've pretty much been ignoring it in this series.

 

Most of our points in the paint usually come from Rose driving to the basket, not from post ups. And Rose just wasn't getting shots to fall on the rare occasion he got in there last night. When your primary "paint scorer" goes 4-18, and your primary "post up" guy goes 2-10 or whatever Boozer was....yeah, the points in the paint aren't gonna look good.

 

Noah is starting to look better. I wish he'd make the decision to go to the basket a little quicker sometimes, but he quietly had a double-double last night.

[Guest]

 

Yep, those are the ones I remember too.

 

Win tomorrow so we can get that eight day layoff. I think that's more important than anything right now.

 

 

Absolutely. I know people talk about rust, but right now this team needs rest. We can only hope Thibs doesn't go hog wild with practices during the time off. Just praying that a week off could make Brewer's thumb (who knows, though... those things linger forever), Boozer's ankle or whatever the hell is limiting his explosiveness, Noah's ankle, and Rose's bumps and bruises that much better.

[Tyrant]

We can only hope Thibs doesn't go hog wild with practices during the time off.

 

Yeah right. He'll have them practicing every day for three hours and probably ask Luol to run half-marathon or two during the layoff.

[Magnetic Curses]

I didn't see many if any unforced turnovers last night by the Bulls (as opposed to game 2 where there were some). The Pacers are long and playing a trapping style defense. Last night was a good example of what all can happen with that defense. They gave up some open 3 pointers but they also forced turnovers. In particular, Dahntay Jones is known for being that kind of a defensive specialist and Paul George is playing incredible defense in this series.

 

Were you watching the same game I was? The Bulls had a ton of unforced turnovers. Dribbling the ball off their feet. Failing to catch passes that proceeded to bounce into the hands of Pacers. The Pacers defense forced TO's, no doubt. But all series the Bulls have just been sloppy with the ball. And it's not like that's something new...it's been something that they've done before, just never for a stretch of 3 games like this.

 

I swear, we could probably reduce or turnovers by half if we could teach our bigs to catch a pass.

 

The Bulls only had 15 turnovers last night (.8 over their season average). 3 of those were charging fouls and another one was a 3 second violation. The Pacers had several steals that just came from stepping into the passing lanes or overplaying guys so I don't think there could have that many left that were unforced.

 

I do remember one stretch during the game where there was some sloppy handling of the ball by the Bulls (near the end of the first beginning of the second if I remember correctly) but it didn't really lead to turnovers. It kept squirting out right back to another Bull.

 

so, that leaves 11 turnovers essentially to split between forced and unforced. you said that you didn't see any unforced errors so you're asserting that all 11 were stolen straight-up.

[CubColtPacer]

I didn't see many if any unforced turnovers last night by the Bulls (as opposed to game 2 where there were some). The Pacers are long and playing a trapping style defense. Last night was a good example of what all can happen with that defense. They gave up some open 3 pointers but they also forced turnovers. In particular, Dahntay Jones is known for being that kind of a defensive specialist and Paul George is playing incredible defense in this series.

 

Were you watching the same game I was? The Bulls had a ton of unforced turnovers. Dribbling the ball off their feet. Failing to catch passes that proceeded to bounce into the hands of Pacers. The Pacers defense forced TO's, no doubt. But all series the Bulls have just been sloppy with the ball. And it's not like that's something new...it's been something that they've done before, just never for a stretch of 3 games like this.

 

I swear, we could probably reduce or turnovers by half if we could teach our bigs to catch a pass.

 

The Bulls only had 15 turnovers last night (.8 over their season average). 3 of those were charging fouls and another one was a 3 second violation. The Pacers had several steals that just came from stepping into the passing lanes or overplaying guys so I don't think there could have that many left that were unforced.

 

I do remember one stretch during the game where there was some sloppy handling of the ball by the Bulls (near the end of the first beginning of the second if I remember correctly) but it didn't really lead to turnovers. It kept squirting out right back to another Bull.

 

so, that leaves 11 turnovers essentially to split between forced and unforced. you said that you didn't see any unforced errors so you're asserting that all 11 were stolen straight-up.

 

No, I said that I specifically remember several were caused by the Pacers. There almost certainly were a few that were relatively unforced in the game. I'd have to see each play individually again to know for sure.

 

It could be the definition of forced/unforced is different too. For example, there was a play where Rose was doubleteamed up top. Deng was open in the corner and started to cut baseline so that there would be a good passing angle for an open layup. Rose threw a good pass but a Pacer rotated over quickly from the other side, cut in front of Deng, and the pass went right to him instead. Is that a forced or an unforced turnover? I guess it might depend on which side you're on.

[Banedon]

Analyzing the Pacers poor screens on their last two possessions....

 

http://nbaplaybook.com/2011/04/22/poor-screens-and-the-use-of-them-cost-indiana-late/#more-13733

[Exile on Waveland]

I didn't see many if any unforced turnovers last night by the Bulls (as opposed to game 2 where there were some). The Pacers are long and playing a trapping style defense. Last night was a good example of what all can happen with that defense. They gave up some open 3 pointers but they also forced turnovers. In particular, Dahntay Jones is known for being that kind of a defensive specialist and Paul George is playing incredible defense in this series.

 

Were you watching the same game I was? The Bulls had a ton of unforced turnovers. Dribbling the ball off their feet. Failing to catch passes that proceeded to bounce into the hands of Pacers. The Pacers defense forced TO's, no doubt. But all series the Bulls have just been sloppy with the ball. And it's not like that's something new...it's been something that they've done before, just never for a stretch of 3 games like this.

 

I swear, we could probably reduce or turnovers by half if we could teach our bigs to catch a pass.

 

The Bulls only had 15 turnovers last night (.8 over their season average). 3 of those were charging fouls and another one was a 3 second violation. The Pacers had several steals that just came from stepping into the passing lanes or overplaying guys so I don't think there could have that many left that were unforced.

 

I do remember one stretch during the game where there was some sloppy handling of the ball by the Bulls (near the end of the first beginning of the second if I remember correctly) but it didn't really lead to turnovers. It kept squirting out right back to another Bull.

 

so, that leaves 11 turnovers essentially to split between forced and unforced. you said that you didn't see any unforced errors so you're asserting that all 11 were stolen straight-up.

 

No, I said that I specifically remember several were caused by the Pacers. There almost certainly were a few that were relatively unforced in the game. I'd have to see each play individually again to know for sure.

 

It could be the definition of forced/unforced is different too. For example, there was a play where Rose was doubleteamed up top. Deng was open in the corner and started to cut baseline so that there would be a good passing angle for an open layup. Rose threw a good pass but a Pacer rotated over quickly from the other side, cut in front of Deng, and the pass went right to him instead. Is that a forced or an unforced turnover? I guess it might depend on which side you're on.

 

If you're on one side, it was a good defensive play by the Pacers. If you're on the other side, the refs are biased because the Pacer player fouled when intercepting the pass and should be suspended, if not expelled from the NBA.

[Sosa21MVP]

It was fun to be back at a playoff game again. The result sucked but at least it was another close game down to the wire. :? The Pacers last two possessions were awful and really that is the difference in the series. When the Pacers try to close out a game down the stretch they just have bad possessions on offense (and look the Bulls do play some D too of course) and when the Bulls get into those final 2-3 minutes they have either Rose driving the basket to do his thing or they have Korver/Deng hitting huge jumpers. Korver has just killed the Pacers and Deng has hit some big jumpers too. The one thing I did not expect last night was to see Bogans actually making shots. When he starting hitting 3's I knew it was a bad sign.

[UMFan83]

Lost in all the fuss of the Bulls struggles, the Bulls have now won 12 in a row, which is tied for the 2nd longest winning streak in the NBA this year. Boston won 14 in a row earlier in the year, so while it won't be official, 2 more wins would put us there.

[imb]

lol 49 free throws for rose through 3 games. imagine if there wasn't a stern-mandated conspiracy against him? Jesus he would have shot 90 free throws by now.