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

[UMFan83]

I dunno. The Hawks definitely have my attention. I have no doubt the Bulls have the ability to win even the next 4 games and win in 5, but I can't dismiss the fact that we gave an already confident team a lot more confidence. For whatever reason, what the Bulls are doing out there isn't working. Maybe it was a really great shooting game that can't be duplicated, but that's what we said about the Pacers in Game 1. Then they found another way to compete against us, and then a 3rd way. One thing that stood out to be is that the Hawks basically admitted that they took what the Pacers did in their series against us, and added some wrinkles to match their personnel. This makes me seem like teams are convinced there is a strategy to beat the Bulls, and to this point there doesn't seem to be a big enough adjustment to get teams to go back to the drawing board.

 

Anyways, I still think the Bulls will win this series in 6, but I've gone from googling when ECF tickets go on sale, to thinking about how we can slow down this Hawks team. And I don't think I'm being overly pessimistic when I say the Hawks can definitely win this series if we don't A) make the right adjustments and B) play better overall. Thibs is a good coach, but he looks a little over his head in the playoffs as he can't seem to stay ahead of the game. He seems to be on the defensive with his players adjusting to what other teams are doing rather than the other way around. Part of it is because we are the favorites, and should let other teams prove they can beat our system that gave us so much success in the regular season.

 

So who knows....this should be an interesting series to say the least. It's so crappy to see that 4th quarter collapse. The thing that irks me is that the Hawks run came immediately after the flagrant foul on the Hawks. The Bulls were up 3, had 2 shots coming up and the ball. I felt the Bulls were just about in control of the game despite the close score. Brewer made 1 out of 2 FTs, and the Bulls turned the ball over with their extra possession, so instead of a 5-7 point lead, the lead was only 4. A Hawks 2 then a 3 later, adn the Hawks were leading, never to completely relinquish the lead again a minute or two later.

Edited May 3, 2011 by UMFan83

[Sammy Sofa]

tl;dr

[Banedon]

I think UM was just doing the whole "stream of consciousness" thing there. :)

[UMFan83]

tl;dr

 

What is this 2005?

[Sammy Sofa]

Still relevant and necessary.

 

Join me, o timid ones. Cease your trembling and take my hand. I will lead you to a better place.

[Soul]

Just come out of the locker room and play well, for once.

 

It's not the first couple games of the playoffs anymore. There's no reason to wait until the 2nd half to come back.

 

Make them come back from a huge deficit. Put that 10-2 run up front and see how they respond.

 

They should be the ones that need to respond.

[wolf stansson]

Thibs is a good coach, but he looks a little over his head in the playoffs as he can't seem to stay ahead of the game.

I'd love to hear some specific examples of Thibs being overmatched or over his head or whatever.

He seems to be on the defensive with his players adjusting to what other teams are doing rather than the other way around.

That's kind of what the word defense means. I'm very confused trying to discern what exactly your issue with Thibs strategy is. His greatest strength as a coach is scouting opposing offenses and getting his player to implement the game plan and then making necessary in-game tweaks.

 

let other teams prove they can beat our system that gave us so much success in the regular season.

So play tough defense, close out fast and have Derrick drive to the hoop more?

Well one of those things isn't happening and that's because Derrick has been significantly more tentative since the ankle injury. Unless Thibs is a faith healer, I'm not so sure there's much else he can do.

 

 

This has been a very flawed team all year. An unlikely 1 seed and a roster that delivered one season quicker than everyone expected. Hopefully Derrick starts penetrating the interior and getting to the line soon or we will not win a title this season.

[Banedon]

The Bulls say that X-rays on Rose's ankle were negative, and that they wouldn't do an MRI. @thekapman thinks differently.

 

Sources told me that Rose suffered a Grade 2 sprain of one of the main ligaments on the outside of his ankle and it could affect his mobility for Game 2 on Wednesday evening. He will be treated with several different methods and is expected to start when the Bulls try to even the series.

 

http://www.csnchicago.com/05/03/11/Kaplan-Rose-undergoes-MRI-has-Grade-2-sp/kapman_article.html?blockID=515797&feedID=8487

[SouthSideRyan]

Rose claiming his ankle his fine and he's not worried.

 

He also claimed he could shoot 3s.

[SpongeWorthy]

I'd love to hear some specific examples of Thibs being overmatched or over his head or whatever.

 

Not getting Korver enough minutes/giving Bogans too many.

[wolf stansson]

I'd love to hear some specific examples of Thibs being overmatched or over his head or whatever.

 

Not getting Korver enough minutes/giving Bogans too many.

Kyle Korver got WORKED by Crawford and Johnson during his minutes.

[SpongeWorthy]

I'd love to hear some specific examples of Thibs being overmatched or over his head or whatever.

 

Not getting Korver enough minutes/giving Bogans too many.

Kyle Korver got WORKED by Crawford and Johnson during his minutes.

 

Crawford and Johnson hit a bunch of bs.

 

Korver needs to play more in general and more with Rose in particular.

[Derwood]

Rose officially named MVP

[ChiCubsFan]

I'd love to hear some specific examples of Thibs being overmatched or over his head or whatever.

 

Not getting Korver enough minutes/giving Bogans too many.

Kyle Korver got WORKED by Crawford and Johnson during his minutes.

 

Crawford and Johnson hit a bunch of bs.

 

Korver needs to play more in general and more with Rose in particular.

 

Completely agree. Korver's defense wasn't bad. They made a lot of highly contested shots. That won't happen again. ATL is a pretty good team when either Crawford or Johnson are on fire. The fact that both of them were, and we still had opportunities to win the game makes me not worry too much.

 

Back to Korver. You're right he needs to play more with Rose. The offense of Rose, Korver, Deng, Boozer, Noah was one of the most efficient scoring offenses in the league and is what won us a lot of games in the 4th quarter. However, that being said, Derrick needs to go back to driving more. Too many times he would try to force the ball to Kyle coming off a screen resulting in a turnover or a contested elbow jumper for Korver. Hit him if he comes free, but if not, he needs to drive to the basket. Besides his shooting, Korver's greatest asset to this team is his ability to spread the defense as a decoy.

[UMFan83]

I'd love to hear some specific examples of Thibs being overmatched or over his head or whatever.

 

Not getting Korver enough minutes/giving Bogans too many.

Kyle Korver got WORKED by Crawford and Johnson during his minutes.

 

Crawford and Johnson hit a bunch of bs.

 

Korver needs to play more in general and more with Rose in particular.

 

Korver was a +17 in 16 minutes last night, and Crawford and Johnson hit jumpers over every defender going against them all night.

 

I'll work on a longer response to your reply when I get a chance.

[Soul]

The Bulls say that X-rays on Rose's ankle were negative, and that they wouldn't do an MRI. @thekapman thinks differently.

 

Sources told me that Rose suffered a Grade 2 sprain of one of the main ligaments on the outside of his ankle and it could affect his mobility for Game 2 on Wednesday evening. He will be treated with several different methods and is expected to start when the Bulls try to even the series.

 

http://www.csnchicago.com/05/03/11/Kaplan-Rose-undergoes-MRI-has-Grade-2-sp/kapman_article.html?blockID=515797&feedID=8487

 

God Kaplan is a nightmare.

[SpongeWorthy]

Wow Rose won in a complete landslide.

[ELCABALLO45]

Rose claiming his ankle his fine and he's not worried.

 

He also claimed he could shoot 3s.

 

Hahahahahahahaha

[Andy]

I actually think Korver needs to be out there basically whenever CJ is out there. He should obviously also be out there late in close games. But I think CJ is a lot better off with Korver out there as something of a security blanket.

[17 Seconds]

Wow Rose won in a complete landslide.

 

where do you see the voting results? i cant find them.

[Wilson A2000]

Wow Rose won in a complete landslide.

 

where do you see the voting results? i cant find them.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=6471174

[imb]

I really wanted it to go to howard, but the magic lost to the hawks, so how could he deserve it .......................................................................

[Banedon]

I really wanted it to go to howard, but the magic lost to the hawks, so how could he deserve it .......................................................................

 

They voted before the playoffs started, right?

[Banedon]

Wow Rose won in a complete landslide.

 

where do you see the voting results? i cant find them.

 

010-11 KIA NBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD RESULTS

 

Player, Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Total Points

Derrick Rose, Chicago 113 6 2 -- -- 1182

Dwight Howard, Orlando 3 57 31 16 11 643

LeBron James, Miami 4 26 39 31 12 522

Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 1 18 32 40 12 428

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City -- 6 10 20 38 190

Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas -- 5 3 11 30 113

Dwyane Wade, Miami -- 1 1 2 6 24

Manu Ginobili, San Antonio -- 2 -- -- 6 20

Amar'e Stoudemire, New York -- -- 1 -- 4 9

Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers -- -- 1 -- -- 5

Rajon Rondo, Boston -- -- 1 -- -- 5

Tony Parker, San Antonio -- -- -- 1 -- 3

Chris Paul, New Orleans -- -- -- -- 2 2

[SouthSideRyan]

Embarrassing vote. Arguing that Rose deserves it is reasonable, deserving it in that manner is outrageous.