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

[Sammy Sofa]

Superstar fouls exist because stars will get the benefit of the doubt from an official. The ref knows Player A is good, so when player A starts telling him he's getting hacked, they're inclined to believe it. When Player Z starts saying it, it's shut up you're a 2nd year scrub that scores 3 points per game, you're trying to tell me that Player A can't stop you without cheating?

 

Plus the better plays know how to work that with the refs. Wade is an absolutely [expletive] master at working the refs (and I'm not slamming him for it), and that's going to be something that Rose needs to figure out if he expects to get the same kind of treatment as a star outside of the cursory "there was a flurry of action so he gets the benefit of the doubt...usually" call.

[wolf stansson]

It's also helped that Wade has been heavily sagging off his man, daring Bogans or Brewer to beat him. He's been able to get towards the paint quickly when Rose starts to drive to slow him down. They've done a fantastic job of minimizing Rose's drives to the lane, and as such his impact offensively is dwarfed.

What's most interesting is that, you're right, Wade has been huge helping contain Derrick and it's shown up in his offense. He's really sacrificing his energy on offense to go so hard on defense. The only way they've gotten away with not relying on his scoring is Chris Bosh showing up like I never anticipated.

 

 

The only thing is, people marvel at Rose's strength for a little guy, so I was hoping that would compensate for his size issues and allow him to get into the paint on anyone.

I really think he should able to compensate by either hitting pull up jumpers or maybe having the bigs do something differently to create more space for him to work with. They're really funneling him to bad spots, but since it's the only spot they're giving him he has to work with it and it hasn't gone well.

 

This is really, gasp, fantastic coaching from Spo.

[SouthSideRyan]

This is really, gasp, fantastic coaching from Spo.

 

Not as alarming as what I viewed to be a pretty decent coaching job from the Hawks guy.

[scarey]

Superstar fouls exist because stars will get the benefit of the doubt from an official. The ref knows Player A is good, so when player A starts telling him he's getting hacked, they're inclined to believe it. When Player Z starts saying it, it's shut up you're a 2nd year scrub that scores 3 points per game, you're trying to tell me that Player A can't stop you without cheating?

 

I think he's just not a great 3 point shooter having only added it to his arsenal this year. While it sucks to watch him miss so many threes, it's important he keeps trying to work on it so that it forces defenders to come out to him on the perimeter and thus opening up the key for him to drive into. Also, the efficiency isn't good, but he scores about .997 points per 3 point field goal attempt compared to .962 points per 2 point field goal attempt. In the scope of the whole season, that's not terrible. I the context of one game, it understandably is significant he misses those shots though of course.

[Tyrant]

This Miami perimeter defense is an absolute bitch. The way they force Derrick to the outside allows their bigs an extra second to get in position not to contest the shot so much as they are filling the spaces that Derrick prefers to take off from. His timing on those attacks at the rim are so precise and practiced that by altering where he takes off from, it throws his timing off just enough that he's missing bunnies and runners that are usually his money shots.

 

It's obviously good video scouting but it highlights two huge things for me, 1)LeBron and Wade can do a good impression of Jordan and Pippen guarding the perimeter and 2) this is why size matters in the NBA and it's unheard of for someone Derrick's height to lead a team to a championship as it's only star. They can force Derrick to the outside. The book on LeBron has always been force him left. Luol Deng is as good a perimeter defender in the league as you'll find. Just watch him and see how little success even he has forcing LeBron left.

 

Good post.

 

Along those lines, Bulls aren't helping themselves by setting a ball screen for Rose on most possessions. All it does is bring an extra big man up near Rose and get him momentarily trapped and he has a hard time seeing over them to make a good quick pass for an open shot . He really doesnt need a ball screen to beat Bibby off the dribble, so all the screens do is destroy floor spacing.

[Tyrant]

Also, the efficiency isn't good, but he scores about .997 points per 3 point field goal attempt compared to .962 points per 2 point field goal attempt.

 

That's not factoring in free throws, right?

[scarey]

Also, the efficiency isn't good, but he scores about .997 points per 3 point field goal attempt compared to .962 points per 2 point field goal attempt.

 

That's not factoring in free throws, right?

 

It is not. I'm not on the up-and-up with basketball metrics, so I'm not even sure if that's something you can easily look up. I would think there wouldn't be a huge variance as the successful basket AND made foul shot probably brings it back pretty close when you figure in missed buckets and missed free throws in those cases.

[SouthSideRyan]

Also, the efficiency isn't good, but he scores about .997 points per 3 point field goal attempt compared to .962 points per 2 point field goal attempt.

 

That's not factoring in free throws, right?

 

It is not. I'm not on the up-and-up with basketball metrics, so I'm not even sure if that's something you can easily look up. I would think there wouldn't be a huge variance as the successful basket AND made foul shot probably brings it back pretty close when you figure in missed buckets and missed free throws in those cases.

 

Adding in free throws is going to give Rose's 2 point attempts a huge advantage.

 

1. a missed shot resulting in free throws doesn't count as a FGA

2. It's rare you get fouled on a 3.

[UMFan83]

I really think he should able to compensate by either hitting pull up jumpers or maybe having the bigs do something differently to create more space for him to work with. They're really funneling him to bad spots, but since it's the only spot they're giving him he has to work with it and it hasn't gone well.

 

 

Given Asik's injury and the fact that he has no offensive ability if he's not dunking (I mean the man went up and literally threw a fastball at the backboard yesterday), I am thinking Kurt Thomas gets a shot on Tuesday. I am not sure how much space he can create but it won't hurt if he comes out there and hits a couple of 12-15 foot jumpers, which he is certainly capable of doing.

 

In fact, I think it is an absolutely no brainer that he plays even if Asik is healthy. Love me some Turkish Hammer but not in this situation.

[TruffleShuffle]

jeez kurt thomas is still playing??? i had no idea. shows how much attention i pay to the nba, especially during the regular season.

[Formerly Snayke]

It's really unfair how good Wade and LBJ are on the defensive end.

 

And is Joel Anthony that good or is Carlos Boozer playing that poorly?

[Flames24Rulz]

Boozer had 26 and 17 yesterday. He had an awful first quarter, but he was the only reason the Bulls were even close yesterday. I don't understand why people are bashing him after that game.

 

If you're looking for a frontcourt player to blame, how about the guy that scored 1 point last night?

[WrigleyField 22]

jeez kurt thomas is still playing??? i had no idea. shows how much attention i pay to the nba, especially during the regular season.

He started 37 games and actually played well. Bulls really got pretty lucky with him.

[DivineBovine]

This Miami perimeter defense is an absolute bitch. The way they force Derrick to the outside allows their bigs an extra second to get in position not to contest the shot so much as they are filling the spaces that Derrick prefers to take off from. His timing on those attacks at the rim are so precise and practiced that by altering where he takes off from, it throws his timing off just enough that he's missing bunnies and runners that are usually his money shots.

 

It's obviously good video scouting but it highlights two huge things for me, 1)LeBron and Wade can do a good impression of Jordan and Pippen guarding the perimeter and 2) this is why size matters in the NBA and it's unheard of for someone Derrick's height to lead a team to a championship as it's only star. They can force Derrick to the outside. The book on LeBron has always been force him left. Luol Deng is as good a perimeter defender in the league as you'll find. Just watch him and see how little success even he has forcing LeBron left.

 

Good post.

 

Along those lines, Bulls aren't helping themselves by setting a ball screen for Rose on most possessions. All it does is bring an extra big man up near Rose and get him momentarily trapped and he has a hard time seeing over them to make a good quick pass for an open shot . He really doesnt need a ball screen to beat Bibby off the dribble, so all the screens do is destroy floor spacing.

 

 

I dunno. I think one problem is that Miami is trying to take away the inside and the Bulls are trying to force it inside. In game 2, they got a ton of good looks from outside. They missed a ton of wide open 3s. They even shoot an average percentage from 3 or open jumpers, then they win game 2. Yesterday, it seemed like nobody wanted to take an outside shot. They kept trying to force it inside against a defense that was collapsing and playing passing lanes.

 

Clearly, Miami is going to double Rose and try to get it out of his hands, which has been working pretty well. They are also overplaying passing lanes and playing off guys. Guys like Deng, Taj, Boozer, Bogans have to knock down a mid range jumper or 3 its there, and then crash the boards if it misses.

 

Miami isn't exactly winning by getting to the basket either. Bosh scored the majority of his points on jumpers. LeBron and Wade are scoring on jumpers or fast breaks. I think the Bulls have to take what's given and make a shot.

[bcl412]

Superstar fouls exist because stars will get the benefit of the doubt from an official. The ref knows Player A is good, so when player A starts telling him he's getting hacked, they're inclined to believe it. When Player Z starts saying it, it's shut up you're a 2nd year scrub that scores 3 points per game, you're trying to tell me that Player A can't stop you without cheating?

 

Plus the better plays know how to work that with the refs. Wade is an absolutely [expletive] master at working the refs (and I'm not slamming him for it), and that's going to be something that Rose needs to figure out if he expects to get the same kind of treatment as a star outside of the cursory "there was a flurry of action so he gets the benefit of the doubt...usually" call.

 

I almost wonder too, if refs, because they are human, look at a start player and figure that it's incredibly hard to stop them legally (which, of course, it is) and look closer at the play and make more ticky tack calls that they wouldn't make in favor of a non-superstar player.

[SpongeWorthy]

We should stop helping them double Rose by bringing screeners to him. Or if they're gonna double at least have a guy pick and pop. Boozer always slips the damn screen and Noah can't shoot anyway.

[Guest]

Joakim is an idiot: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=13667838

[Sammy Sofa]

Joakim is an idiot: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=13667838

 

Are you talking about the situation in general or what he said in the article?

[Guest]

Joakim is an idiot: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=13667838

 

Are you talking about the situation in general or what he said in the article?

 

The situation in general. You got to control yourself in this day and age with cameras around, especially after what happened to Kobe.

[SouthSideRyan]

Joakim is an idiot: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=13667838

 

Are you talking about the situation in general or what he said in the article?

 

The situation in general. You got to control yourself in this day and age with cameras around, especially after what happened to Kobe.

 

That's the real idiocy, you saw what just went down with Kobe, how do you repeat the exact same slur?

 

I'm a little surprised you have quotes from James and Deng somewhat excusing it based on cameras being everywhere and the fan being annoying. Not really savvy, just give a no comment and get yourself the hell out of that situation without dumping on your fellow player nor tacitly excusing the slur.

[Banedon]

Joakim is an idiot: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=13667838

 

Are you talking about the situation in general or what he said in the article?

 

The situation in general. You got to control yourself in this day and age with cameras around, especially after what happened to Kobe.

 

That's the real idiocy, you saw what just went down with Kobe, how do you repeat the exact same slur?

 

I'm a little surprised you have quotes from James and Deng somewhat excusing it based on cameras being everywhere and the fan being annoying. Not really savvy, just give a no comment and get yourself the hell out of that situation without dumping on your fellow player nor tacitly excusing the slur.

 

Maybe they're afraid the camera will catch them someday, and are trying to pre-emptively excuse it for themselves?

[E.J.]

Joakim is an idiot: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=13667838

 

Are you talking about the situation in general or what he said in the article?

 

The situation in general. You got to control yourself in this day and age with cameras around, especially after what happened to Kobe.

 

Joakim must not have seen those Grant Hill anti-gay commercials they play every five minutes during NBA games.

[SouthSideRyan]

Joakim is an idiot: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=13667838

 

Are you talking about the situation in general or what he said in the article?

 

The situation in general. You got to control yourself in this day and age with cameras around, especially after what happened to Kobe.

 

Joakim must not have seen those Grant Hill anti-gay commercials they play every five minutes during NBA games.

 

I don't think you quite understood Mr. Hill's message.

[Formerly Snayke]

Boozer had 26 and 17 yesterday. He had an awful first quarter, but he was the only reason the Bulls were even close yesterday. I don't understand why people are bashing him after that game.

 

If you're looking for a frontcourt player to blame, how about the guy that scored 1 point last night?

 

I fell asleep after the first seven minutes and didn't realize he finished with that line. Still, that was a horrible start to the game.

[E.J.]

Joakim is an idiot: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=13667838

 

Are you talking about the situation in general or what he said in the article?

 

The situation in general. You got to control yourself in this day and age with cameras around, especially after what happened to Kobe.

 

Joakim must not have seen those Grant Hill anti-gay commercials they play every five minutes during NBA games.

 

I don't think you quite understood Mr. Hill's message.

 

Dammit!