Chicago Bulls Playoff Thread

[illiniguy]

Rivalries are games that are circled on the calendar before the season begins. The Pacers are a good basketball team, but I sure didn't look at when the Pacer games were this year.

 

I'm sure you circled the Heat game on the calendar, but they sure as [expletive] aren't a rivalry.

Eh going back to te 90s we've had some big playoffs series with them, not a huge rivalry, but still a rivalry.

[SouthSideRyan]

They played a lot, but it's not like anything was hotly contested. Steamrolling a team year after year doesn't mean you have a rivalry with them.

[illiniguy]

They played a lot, but it's not like anything was hotly contested. Steamrolling a team year after year doesn't mean you have a rivalry with them.

Haven't we been pretty split the past few years? Also we steamrolled everyone for about a decade. You saying we had no rivalries then?

[SouthSideRyan]

They played a lot, but it's not like anything was hotly contested. Steamrolling a team year after year doesn't mean you have a rivalry with them.

Haven't we been pretty split the past few years? Also we steamrolled everyone for about a decade. You saying we had no rivalries then?

 

Beating a team does not = steamroll. Obviously you had a rivalry with the Knicks. Can you really recall any memory from games with those Zo Heat teams, let alone the Glen Rice Heat teams?

 

If the Bulls have a current rivalry, it's with the Celtics, this seems pretty obvious.

[CubColtPacer]

it's not really a rivalry. the pacers are just the annoying team that plays us tough and then think they're on our level because of it.

 

I don't know what more it will take to make it a rivalry. The players don't seem to like each other. The fanbases don't seem to like each other. And the teams are not horribly mismatched anymore. The Bulls are still definitely better but the Pacers are coming fast, and both teams should continue to improve in the next couple years. If there was a playoff series between them, the Bulls would be favored but the Pacers would have a shot to actually win the series. Will it actually take the Pacers beating the Bulls in a playoff series to make it a rivalry? I think that's a pretty strict definition that would lead to pretty much no rivalries in the sport.

Beat us in a playoff series. Have you ever done that? Until then youll be the team that gets up for us and never beats us when it matters.

 

No, but IIRC they have only played 2 playoff series total. One where the Pacers were the 8 seed and decidedly mediocre, and the other one where they came the closest of any team ever of derailing Jordan's 6 titles.

 

And that's fine if that's your definition of rivalry. But if two teams have to beat each other in a playoff series to be a true rivalry, there are going to be very, very few rivalries ever. Especially because in the NBA once one team starts to tank rivalries tend to go away.

[Sammy Sofa]

Pretending there's a Bulls/Pacers rivalry is pretty much on par with Brewers fans that insist that there's a Brewers/Cubs rivalry.

[UMFan83]

The Bulls and Heat almost had a rivalry in the mid 00's with Some good storylines but it quickly fizzled out. They played in consecutive playoff series with altercations in both series (posey/hinrich, nocioni etc). Lowly Bulls lost to eventual champs in 6 hard fought games, bulls destroyed champs on ring night the next year followed by bulls sweeping heat out of playoffs. Then a year later it was all set up with the Rose/Beasley picks but obviously that never materialized, both teams turned over a lot of their roster and the potential rivalry fizzled.

[Banedon]

Taj Gibson participated in the entire Friday morning shootaround and, barring a setback during pregame warmups, will return from his sprained left ankle against the Milwaukee Bucks.

[Theo]

Was not expecting that. I heard it was a high ankle sprain for Taj and he could be gone for an entire month possibly.

[Banedon]

Was not expecting that. I heard it was a high ankle sprain for Taj and he could be gone for an entire month possibly.

 

KC Johnson has said Friday or Sunday as a return date for a couple days now. His ankle has been feeling better and he's been walking without a limp.

[bcl412]

it's not really a rivalry. the pacers are just the annoying team that plays us tough and then think they're on our level because of it.

 

I don't know what more it will take to make it a rivalry. The players don't seem to like each other. The fanbases don't seem to like each other. And the teams are not horribly mismatched anymore. The Bulls are still definitely better but the Pacers are coming fast, and both teams should continue to improve in the next couple years. If there was a playoff series between them, the Bulls would be favored but the Pacers would have a shot to actually win the series. Will it actually take the Pacers beating the Bulls in a playoff series to make it a rivalry? I think that's a pretty strict definition that would lead to pretty much no rivalries in the sport.

 

I don't get the sense that the fan bases hate each other. At least none of the Bulls fans I know really hate the Pacers and my cousin is the only Pacers fan I've ever met and he doesn't seem to hate the Bulls. They've had some pretty good intense games between last year and this year though so it could be building but right now it's hard to call it a true rivalry because it doesn't seem like the Pacers could beat the Bulls in a playoff series.

[bcl412]

Was not expecting that. I heard it was a high ankle sprain for Taj and he could be gone for an entire month possibly.

 

KC Johnson has said Friday or Sunday as a return date for a couple days now. His ankle has been feeling better and he's been walking without a limp.

 

No more Scal then? I would imagine so unless Taj's ankle gets reinjured and that would be a great thing.

[Banedon]

Was not expecting that. I heard it was a high ankle sprain for Taj and he could be gone for an entire month possibly.

 

KC Johnson has said Friday or Sunday as a return date for a couple days now. His ankle has been feeling better and he's been walking without a limp.

 

No more Scal then? I would imagine so unless Taj's ankle gets reinjured and that would be a great thing.

 

I would think certainly not as much Scal.

[Andy]

it's not really a rivalry. the pacers are just the annoying team that plays us tough and then think they're on our level because of it.

 

I don't know what more it will take to make it a rivalry. The players don't seem to like each other. The fanbases don't seem to like each other. And the teams are not horribly mismatched anymore. The Bulls are still definitely better but the Pacers are coming fast, and both teams should continue to improve in the next couple years. If there was a playoff series between them, the Bulls would be favored but the Pacers would have a shot to actually win the series. Will it actually take the Pacers beating the Bulls in a playoff series to make it a rivalry? I think that's a pretty strict definition that would lead to pretty much no rivalries in the sport.

 

I don't get the sense that the fan bases hate each other. At least none of the Bulls fans I know really hate the Pacers and my cousin is the only Pacers fan I've ever met and he doesn't seem to hate the Bulls. They've had some pretty good intense games between last year and this year though so it could be building but right now it's hard to call it a true rivalry because it doesn't seem like the Pacers could beat the Bulls in a playoff series.

From my limited experience with Pacer fans they have somewhat of an inferiority complex thing with the Bulls. Not really surprising considering my age group were all kids during the Jordan dynasty.

[Flames24Rulz]

They played a lot, but it's not like anything was hotly contested. Steamrolling a team year after year doesn't mean you have a rivalry with them.

Haven't we been pretty split the past few years? Also we steamrolled everyone for about a decade. You saying we had no rivalries then?

 

Beating a team does not = steamroll. Obviously you had a rivalry with the Knicks. Can you really recall any memory from games with those Zo Heat teams, let alone the Glen Rice Heat teams?

 

The only game I really recall from those Miami teams was the Memorial Day game where the Bulls lost in Miami. And the only reason why I remember that game was because I was absolutely furious after it for some reason. The joys of childhood.

 

Other than that, I've got nothing.

[BCVM22]

No Taj yet, no Deng, and Rip apparently has a thigh bruise and aggravated his groin again - he's a game time decision and Jimmy Butler is expected to start if Rip can't go. Edited January 27, 2012 by BCVM22

[bcl412]

Rivalries are games that are circled on the calendar before the season begins. The Pacers are a good basketball team, but I sure didn't look at when the Pacer games were this year.

 

I'm sure you circled the Heat game on the calendar, but they sure as [expletive] aren't a rivalry.

 

Maybe. I don't really know if the Bulls have a rivalry at all right now, but the Heat are probably the closest thing.

 

It doesn't seem like the NBA really has many true rivalries anymore.

 

I kind of think NBA rivalries are built throughout the course of a season or seasons. There aren't any Bears/Packers or Cubs/Cards traditional type rivalries.

 

And the rivalries are pretty much between teams who are strong candidate for the title over the course of a few seasons. Considering the Bulls just got on the contender scene (and heck so did the Heat) rivalries are just beginning to begin with each other. I think both Heat and Bulls are more rivals with the Celtics because the Celtics are the team who's been at the top the longest and both teams have some history with this incarnation of the Celtics (LeBron while he was with the Cavs/and the beat them last year) and the Bulls with their tough series from a few years ago.

 

On the Celtics end, they are an aging team trying to keep pace with the two younger, and what looks like better teams so they have some fuel on their end.

[UMFan83]

No Taj yet, no Deng, and Rip apparently has a thigh bruise and aggravated his groin again - he's a game time decision and Jimmy Butler is expected to start if Rip can't go.

 

fml, can we go more than 5 minutes without a damn injury. I've never season so many injuries to start a season. None of them (expect maybe Deng's) have been serious thankfully, but its the sheer number of them at once that makes it so frustrating.

[Banedon]

Taj will play tonight assuming nothing goes wrong in warmups, but yeah. No Rip. Butler will start.

[ChiCubsFan]

Summary of last night:

 

A win is a win, Rose was unstoppable, Noah and Booz finally both had a good game together, the defense was bad.

 

Thank god I'm not GM of the Bulls or I would have traded Noah for less than he's worth a few weeks ago.

[imb]

 

All of Jordan's highlights from the 1996 playoffs. His post game was sick.

[UMFan83]

Summary of last night:

 

A win is a win, Rose was unstoppable, Noah and Booz finally both had a good game together, the defense was bad.

 

Thank god I'm not GM of the Bulls or I would have traded Noah for less than he's worth a few weeks ago.

 

Hard to trade a $12 mil a year player whose playing like garbage. I don't think you would have gotten any offers worth taking.

[UMFan83]

Anyways, I have a feeling the Bulls will lose tomorrow. I know they will really want this, but so will Miami, just to shut up the people who think the Bulls are better and can beat Miami in the playoffs.

 

Either way, I hope I don't get too worked up either way as we all saw how much the regular season meant in the playoffs. If we lose to a healthy Heat team in Miami without likely Deng, so be it.

[Guest]

 

All of Jordan's highlights from the 1996 playoffs. His post game was sick.

 

Now I'm going to be watching Jordan era highlights for the rest of the night.

[Banedon]

Anyways, I have a feeling the Bulls will lose tomorrow. I know they will really want this, but so will Miami, just to shut up the people who think the Bulls are better and can beat Miami in the playoffs.

 

Either way, I hope I don't get too worked up either way as we all saw how much the regular season meant in the playoffs. If we lose to a healthy Heat team in Miami without likely Deng, so be it.

 

From what was being said this week, Deng may play tonight.