Chicago Bulls Playoff Thread

[RynoRules]

So, because I was really curious, I calculated Thibs-PER for 2010-11...and the results were really interesting...

 

Top 10 by T-PER:

1. Kevin Love 74.76

2. Dwight Howard 72.39

3. LeBron James 67.86

4. Tim Duncan 64.77

5. Pau Gasol 63.12

6. Blake Griffin 63.08

7. Dirk Nowitzki 61.74

8. Zach Randolph 61.25

9. Kevin Garnett 60.36

10. Andrew Bynum 59.50

 

Interesting to me...no guards. First guard was Wade, 12th at 59.37. First PG was Steve Nash 13th at 59.03. Rose was the 4th PG (Westbrook, Paul) and 25th overall at 54.40. Boozer was 26th overall at 54.22, and Noah was 31st at 52.22. The biggest reason for this is the weight given to rebounds and blocks in his system. It's weird looking, but also the most accurate at predicting individual performance for players that change teams.

 

Next I'll calculate the measure that Neil Paine evaluated as the most accurate predictor overall (Thibs was 2nd for low continuity teams, 6th overall), AWS (Alternate Win Score). Why? Because I'm bored and like this stuff.

 

No wonder the whole world seems to want Bynum and the Lakers steadfastly refuse to deal him. Also says a lot about how well Garnett and Duncan have aged.

 

And Kevin Love might be the most underrated player in the Association. I was watching him the other night. He's in fantastic shape and is tireless. If the Wolves can get a scorer on the wing they are going to be a Top 5 team. They already have a ton of front court depth and a playmaker at PG who has been suprsingly efficient so far this season.

[ChiCubsFan]

Kevin Love is one of the most underrated players in sports. He's truly an elite player and at least a top 10 player in the league. Yet his own team doesn't want to give him a max contract.

 

My dream scenario would be for the Bulls to somehow get Love in the next 2 years. Love said him and Derrick (and Westbrook) talk about playing together a lot. Maybe Derrick would actually go out of his way to recruit his only real friend in the league.

[SouthSideRyan]

The others:

 

1) 132-92 over Sacramento, Rose played 28 minutes, Deng 32, and it was a 26 point game through 3 when the subs extended it.

 

2) 121-76 over Philly, Rose played 29 minutes, Deng 32, and it was a 38 point game through 3 when the subs extended it to 45.

 

So, two playoff teams and a bad team, with no starter playing more than 3 quarters. There is a bit of a difference between coasting for a quarter to a 20 point win and coasting for a quarter and winning by 40 anyway. It doesn't happen a lot.

 

But what does it mean? Having a good 9-13 is nice, but come playoff time the fact that your worst players are better than other teams' worst players means basically nothing.

[SouthSideRyan]

Was the amnesty clause a one-offseason thing? Could the Bulls amnesty Boozer, clear some additional space and sign Love to a max?

[Banedon]

Was the amnesty clause a one-offseason thing? Could the Bulls amnesty Boozer, clear some additional space and sign Love to a max?

 

You can use your amnesty at any time on a player that was under contract when the CBA was signed. So they could amnesty Boozer at any point, but they still have to pay out that money. It just doesn't count against the cap.

[CubColtPacer]

Was the amnesty clause a one-offseason thing? Could the Bulls amnesty Boozer, clear some additional space and sign Love to a max?

 

You can use your amnesty at any time on a player that was under contract when the CBA was signed. So they could amnesty Boozer at any point, but they still have to pay out that money. It just doesn't count against the cap.

 

Yup. Ended up being perfect for the Bulls because they don't have to make that decision on Boozer immediately and can wait until if and when he breaks down. But they'd still have to be pretty creative to sign Love unless my numbers are wrong. With Rose, Deng, and Noah's salaries I'm not sure where they'll fit in another max player even if they do amnesty Boozer. Maybe in the 2013 offseason if they pretty much get rid of everybody else on the roster, but that would require Love signing his qualifying offer with the Timberwolves when he's a restricted free agent this offseason.

[ChiCubsFan]

Was the amnesty clause a one-offseason thing? Could the Bulls amnesty Boozer, clear some additional space and sign Love to a max?

 

You can use your amnesty at any time on a player that was under contract when the CBA was signed. So they could amnesty Boozer at any point, but they still have to pay out that money. It just doesn't count against the cap.

 

Yup. Ended up being perfect for the Bulls because they don't have to make that decision on Boozer immediately and can wait until if and when he breaks down. But they'd still have to be pretty creative to sign Love unless my numbers are wrong. With Rose, Deng, and Noah's salaries I'm not sure where they'll fit in another max player even if they do amnesty Boozer. Maybe in the 2013 offseason if they pretty much get rid of everybody else on the roster, but that would require Love signing his qualifying offer with the Timberwolves when he's a restricted free agent this offseason.

 

S+T. I'm pretty sure unloading Deng (1 year, 14.3M) and/or Noah (3 year, 39.5M) won't be an issue. Deng + Noah would cost 26.4 M in 2013. I'm not sure what Rose will be making that year and what the cap will be then, but it might also be possible to add Love without having to trade either player as well.

[ChiCubsFan]

Was the amnesty clause a one-offseason thing? Could the Bulls amnesty Boozer, clear some additional space and sign Love to a max?

 

You can use your amnesty at any time on a player that was under contract when the CBA was signed. So they could amnesty Boozer at any point, but they still have to pay out that money. It just doesn't count against the cap.

 

But if they amnesty him and some team under the cap puts in an offer of say 5 million, that team pays 5 million and we pick up the remainder, correct?

[SouthSideRyan]

Was the amnesty clause a one-offseason thing? Could the Bulls amnesty Boozer, clear some additional space and sign Love to a max?

 

You can use your amnesty at any time on a player that was under contract when the CBA was signed. So they could amnesty Boozer at any point, but they still have to pay out that money. It just doesn't count against the cap.

 

But if they amnesty him and some team under the cap puts in an offer of say 5 million, that team pays 5 million and we pick up the remainder, correct?

 

Right. Boozer would almost certainly be claimed.

[bukie]

I enjoy Matt Moore's power rankings: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/16698151/power-rankings

[rawaction]

I'd love to see OKC/Bulls in the championship. I actually think it would garner better ratings than a lot better than people think too.

[bukie]

Also, an article from Zach Lowe of SI detailing why the Bulls' offense has been so good to this point (transition offense), whether it's sustainable (probably not) and whether it can provide some variety to the Bulls offensive schemes that were so easily defended in last year's playoffs (probably will).

[SpongeWorthy]

Rose seems to have been making a lot more back court to front court passes in order to push the tempo. Sometimes I think he gives it up a bit early but there's definitely been an emphasis on pushing it.

[The R-Train]

Hamilton's a game-time decision for tonight, Watson is out, "day-to-day". Thibodeau's "optimistic" that Watson will be back soon.

[imb]

Are the bulls' players sick with the flu tonight?

[Flames24Rulz]

This looks like a high school game.

[SpongeWorthy]

26 [expletive] points?

[SpongeWorthy]

Who is this roid monster of a ref?

[Flames24Rulz]

I hate to say it, but Funk and King are embarrassingly bad announcers.

[SpongeWorthy]

Holy [expletive] this is dreadful

[bcl412]

I was watching most of this game at a bar. WTF is this [expletive]?

[SpongeWorthy]

42 points after three

[Brian]

Is there a gas leak at the UC?

[Brian]

They woke up!

[Sammy Sofa]

Noah is [expletive] horrible.