Chicago Bulls Playoff Thread

[Guest]

I don't know how the tiebreakers work, but the Cavs look like they could still finish anywhere from 3rd and 7th in the lottery order. I'd much much rather face a "MKG or Brad Beal?" choice instead of the "Harrison Barnes or Perry Jones" nightmare, so if the Bulls could not pull any funny business and put the Cavs out of their misery, I'd be appreciative.

[ChiCubsFan]

So it'll likely be Bulls/Sixers, Heat/Knicks, Thunder/Mavs, and Pacers/Magic?

 

I really hope we don't play the first game of the day.

[bukie]

The Bulls have played the first game on the first day of the playoffs two years running, and I don't see any reason that it'd be different this year, unless the Knicks fell to the 8 seed and ABC wanted to bump it to prime time.

[bcl412]

If I was in their shoes I'd say I'd rather play the Bulls. Neither team will beat the Bulls or the Heat though.

[Brian]

Rose, Deng and Korver are all sitting tonight

[bukie]

I am somewhat amused by the fact that every playoff team resting their starters is getting shellacked tonight, except the Bulls, who lead by 22.

[bcl412]

I don't care that the Big 3 are resting. Seeing Miami down 30 to Washington makes me smile.

[CubsBears29]

I realize I am letting this affect me so much more than is healthy, but after seeing Turner's comments and then the '6ers intentionally rolling over and playing dead tonight, to make sure they face the Bulls... I was thinking it didn't matter who the Bulls faced in the first round, be it PHI/NY/(possibly ORL there for a few days), they were just in the way to the Bulls' march to the ECF and (*fingers crossed*/hopefully!!) the Finals; but I want blood now.

 

Here's to hoping Chicago just utterly annihilate's Philly for 4 straight games, and at the end of the 4th domination - publically urinates all over what ever is left of their destroyed and desicated forms.

[bcl412]

I realize I am letting this affect me so much more than is healthy, but after seeing Turner's comments and then the '6ers intentionally rolling over and playing dead tonight, to make sure they face the Bulls... I was thinking it didn't matter who the Bulls faced in the first round, be it PHI/NY/(possibly ORL there for a few days), they were just in the way to the Bulls' march to the ECF and (*fingers crossed*/hopefully!!) the Finals; but I want blood now.

 

Here's to hoping Chicago just utterly annihilate's Philly for 4 straight games, and at the end of the 4th domination - publically urinates all over what ever is left of their destroyed and desicated forms.

 

Sweep them with this line up. Just for fun.

[UMFan83]

Philly it is. I predict 5 games

[bukie]

Also, the Heat lost by 40 to Washington. It's a little funny that this meaningless last game of the season is going to affect point differential and power ratings so much. :P

[Careless]

A decent end to the regular season.

[UMFan83]

Turner backtracked:

 

"What I said was looking back at the past two years matching up against teams, we had a tougher time against the Heat," Turner said. "That's all I said. If I had to choose, we match up better against the Bulls.

 

"Obviously, the Bulls are one of the best teams in the East and one of the best teams in the NBA. I'm not taking anything away from them. I would never do that. When I heard what was written, 'What?' I wouldn't sit there and say anything like that. How many minutes do I play? How big a role will I have [in the playoffs]? Why would I run my mouth?"

 

Turner also said he understood the reaction on Twitter from Bulls fans.

 

"Absolutely, they play the whole year as the No. 1 team, they beat Miami a couple times, they're without Derrick [Rose], without their best player for a while," Turner said. "Obviously, they should be [upset]. I would be mad, too. 'Who does Evan Turner thinks he is?' I understand. They could have easily said negative stuff and been unprofessional."

 

[CubsBears29]

Turner backtracked:

 

"What I said was looking back at the past two years matching up against teams, we had a tougher time against the Heat," Turner said. "That's all I said. If I had to choose, we match up better against the Bulls.

 

"Obviously, the Bulls are one of the best teams in the East and one of the best teams in the NBA. I'm not taking anything away from them. I would never do that. When I heard what was written, 'What?' I wouldn't sit there and say anything like that. How many minutes do I play? How big a role will I have [in the playoffs]? Why would I run my mouth?"

 

Turner also said he understood the reaction on Twitter from Bulls fans.

 

"Absolutely, they play the whole year as the No. 1 team, they beat Miami a couple times, they're without Derrick [Rose], without their best player for a while," Turner said. "Obviously, they should be [upset]. I would be mad, too. 'Who does Evan Turner thinks he is?' I understand. They could have easily said negative stuff and been unprofessional."

 

 

Too late to wuss out now, Evan. And since when do fans have to be "professional"?? Didn't realize this was a business interaction.

 

Doesn't change my stance on how I want the series and its ending to go, one little bit.

[CubsBears29]

Back to the important matters - with the Bulls reaching 50 wins on the season, and the SAS being able to do no better - Chicago clinched HCA all the way through the Finals, right? Due to owning the tiebreaker vs the Spurs??

 

 

And idle curiousity; just what was used as the tiebreaking procedure between the two teams?

[bukie]

Yes. Finals tiebreakers are head to head, then record vs. opposing conference.

[CubsBears29]

Yes. Finals tiebreakers are head to head, then record vs. opposing conference.

 

Thanks. Duh. Shouldn't have needed to even ask.

[bukie]

Bulls playoff schedule: http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/playoffs_2012.html

 

As expected, they kick off the playoffs at noon Saturday.

[bcl412]

Why does the NBA like them playing the first game so much?

[Banedon]

A Game of Thrones NBA playoff preview from the Spurs SBnation blog:

 

http://www.poundingtherock.com/2012/4/27/2973158/playoff-preview-game-of-thrones-and-the-nba#storyjump

 

 

Spurs = Starks

Lakers = Lannisters

Thunder = Baratheons

Clippers = Cleganes

Grizz = Greyjoys

Mavs = Freys

Nuggets = Arryns

Jazz = Wildlings

Bulls = Dothraki

Heat = Targaryans

 

Across the narrow Mississippi sea, the Dothraki horde plans its assault on the Eight Kingdoms. Led by the ferocity of Khal Joakim, the cowmen plan to Bull their way through their enemies, cutting them down with physicality and will. Yet if the bloodrider Derrickharo is not fully healthy, the Dothraki may lack the horsemen to overthrow the jilted and angry Tagaryens.

 

In the Floridian Waste, DanErik Targaryen rises from the ashes of last year's Finals debacle. With the resurrection of the three dragons given to him by Ser Riley Mormont, DanErik hopes to harness their power and Heat to claim the O'Brien Throne, as it has been held captive by the houses from Westeros these last three years.

 

[CubColtPacer]

Why does the NBA like them playing the first game so much?

 

I don't know why the NBA wanted them on Saturday (are there any scheduling conflicts for either arena?) but once they were it was pretty obvious they were going to be the first game. Miami-New York was obviously going to be the ABC game, Dallas-Oklahoma City had to be the late game, and TNT has higher priority than ESPN so they were going to pick Chicago over airing the series none of the networks want in Indiana-Orlando (and that's with good reason).

[ctcf]

Second straight year with the overall #1 seed. Good times.

[bukie]

Philly's SB Nation blog thinks particularly highly of the Sixers' chances in the playoffs.

[ConstableRabbit]

Ah, that special time of year where "*if necessary" begins showing up.

 

Can't wait.

[wolf stansson]

Party time, you guys.