Chicago Bulls Playoff Thread

[bukie]

Here's my point:

 

Westbrook has Durant and Harden, two guys playing out of their minds early on, and even though the Thunder are 10-2, watching them just ticks me off about Westbrook because he could and should be getting so much more out of the offense (which is already clicking well) if he'd just accept when his shot's not falling and letting Durant and Harden do more.

 

There's no excuse for his assist average to have dropped by so much so quickly ...and it's trending down, not up...and his great shooting game against Memphis is almost concerning because it's just going to encourage him to shoot more again.

 

Rose, on the other hand, is probably the 8th or 9th best player in the league, not the first, but he's surrounded by a Boozer who's suddenly afraid to go to the rim and a Noah who's just not in playing shape (tonight aside). His other best offensive option, Deng, is currently being slowly killed by a coach whose idea of rest is making him the only offensive option on the second unit (when they're actually deep at wing! They have 5 wing players, and they all just rotate at SG and leave Deng in to collapse).

 

The only way the Bulls can create offense is via Rose (I mean, did you see the atrocity Wednesday night?), and every other team knows it, and the Bulls are somehow still 11-2. and in the top 10 of offensive efficiency in the league. It's crazy, and Rose in my opinion is a miracle worker for getting this team to pull off an efficient offense overall. So criticizing his shooting efficiency when he's pretty much each and every offensive option on the team is a little hollow, to me.

[bukie]

Also, I can't wait for Deng's upcoming 3-15 night from the floor tomorrow and everyone inexplicably ragging on him for it.

[imb]

You apparently haven't followed the thunder very well, because that's the exact problem our starting five faces. Durant can get his shot and so can Westbrook, but otherwise you're passing to ibaka who just fumbles it out of bounds, thabo (lol) or Perkins (double lol). His assists are down because 1.) he likes to shoot 2.) durant is facilitating more when the two of them are on the court and 3.) he plays off the ball when harden is on the court.

 

He was top 5-10 in the nba in assists last year. I get frustrated sometimes with his decision making, but I'm sure if the gameplan called for him to assist more, he would. I'd actually rather he did, because our offense gets so stale, but I'm not calling our "plays" (hope durant is single-covered)

[bukie]

I catch them when they're on NBA TV, which was...the Spurs, Mavs and the first Memphis game (the 0-13 one from WB). So maybe I just caught his especially bad games, but man, he was the most frustrating guy on the court.

 

EDIT: Oh, and some of the Christmas game against Orlando (which admittedly was also a terrible Westbrook game).

[imb]

Frustratingly successful sums up the Westbrook experience. Rose is capable of more than Westbrook and is more aesthetically pleasing, but their end results are in the same ballpark.

 

This is totally off topic from the bulls thread, but like I said, our roles have changed. Watch how durant plays now, whipping no look passes and bounce pass entries. And like I said, Westbrook is off the ball when he's on the court with harden (the right move.) at this point, I'm chalking up westbrooks first 7 games to pressure from playoff criticism+adjustment period. I'm betting it evens out.

[DivineBovine]

I don't understand anyone who says Rose is overrated. OK, so he's probably not the best player in the league. But I don't see even the biggest Bulls homers calling him the best player in the league. But easily top 5.

 

I don't care what stats people say about his "efficiency". Just look at the W's. It's laughable that he can lead his team to the best record in the NBA last year and thus far this year, and be viewed as a marginal top 10 player by stats people. Sure, I'm sure the Bulls would be a better team if we traded Rose for Chris Paul. Right.

[imb]

It's because the nba is more about proper fit than any other sport.

[DivineBovine]

It's because the nba is more about proper fit than any other sport.

 

 

I'll agree with you on one aspect of what you're saying. It's a team sport. That's why its really hard to reliably judge players based on stats. But since there's only 5 guys on the floor at once, its also pretty damn reasonable to judge a lot based on wins.

 

It's funny that stats guys who feel Rose is so overrated will point to how good a supporting cast he has. Deng, Noah, Boozer, Taj. Yet LeBron's supporting cast of two other top 10 stats players and a handful of very solid role players including Chalmers, Miller, Anthony, Haslem, etc. is just horrible. That's what's laughable. To me, its missing the forest through the trees.

[imb]

It's because the nba is more about proper fit than any other sport.

 

 

I'll agree with you on one aspect of what you're saying. It's a team sport. That's why its really hard to reliably judge players based on stats. But since there's only 5 guys on the floor at once, its also pretty damn reasonable to judge a lot based on wins.

 

It's funny that stats guys who feel Rose is so overrated will point to how good a supporting cast he has. Deng, Noah, Boozer, Taj. Yet LeBron's supporting cast of two other top 10 stats players and a handful of very solid role players including Chalmers, Miller, Anthony, Haslem, etc. is just horrible. That's what's laughable. To me, its missing the forest through the trees.

 

the very fact that you call mike miller and joel anthony "very solid role players" lets me know that you're not ready.

[bukie]

The Heat's roster consists of James, Wade, Bosh, and a rotating cast of replacement level players that might do one thing adequately enough to be in the rotation. Maybe Chalmers is better now?

 

The Bulls roster consists of Rose, a couple good shooters in Boozer and Korver, and a full defensive set of rotation players whose job is to keep the other team from scoring long enough for Rose to win the game offensively. Deng can stumble upon offense (after an off day) but doesn't really create it. That defensive rotation, though? Really damned good at their job.

[DivineBovine]

It's because the nba is more about proper fit than any other sport.

 

 

I'll agree with you on one aspect of what you're saying. It's a team sport. That's why its really hard to reliably judge players based on stats. But since there's only 5 guys on the floor at once, its also pretty damn reasonable to judge a lot based on wins.

 

It's funny that stats guys who feel Rose is so overrated will point to how good a supporting cast he has. Deng, Noah, Boozer, Taj. Yet LeBron's supporting cast of two other top 10 stats players and a handful of very solid role players including Chalmers, Miller, Anthony, Haslem, etc. is just horrible. That's what's laughable. To me, its missing the forest through the trees.

 

the very fact that you call mike miller and joel anthony "very solid role players" lets me know that you're not ready.

 

 

Really? So you casually ignore everything else I say, ignore the fact he has DWade and Bosh, and attack the contention that Miller and Anthony a solid role players. Therefore, argument is over. You sound like a politician. And for the record, Miller made tons of huge shots last year in the playoffs- more than just about any Bulls seemed to be able to do, and Anthony kept abusing Noah and Boozer like they were little girls.

 

To me, if individual stats cannot accurately predict wins, then they are not reliable. Hollinger and stats people should just go back to the drawing board. Because there is something missing from their formula. But instead of possibly acknowledging that these stats could possibly be wrong, people think of every explanation to explain how the individual stats, which can't possibly be wrong, can explain how the team performs. Hence the ridiculous assertions that the DRose has the best supporting cast in basketball, and LeBron's supporting cast is average at best.

[UMFan83]

Well this was fun to read after the fact. The funniest part was SSR begging people for attention and for the most part getting ignored.

[SouthSideRyan]

I don't understand anyone who says Rose is overrated. OK, so he's probably not the best player in the league.

 

Considering he just won the [expletive] MVP award, I'd say it's easy to see.

 

But I don't see even the biggest Bulls homers calling him the best player in the league.

 

You've gotta be [expletive] kidding me.

[DivineBovine]

I don't understand anyone who says Rose is overrated. OK, so he's probably not the best player in the league.

 

Considering he just won the [expletive] MVP award, I'd say it's easy to see.

 

But I don't see even the biggest Bulls homers calling him the best player in the league.

 

You've gotta be [expletive] kidding me.

 

 

I've got news for you. Bulls fans don't vote on the MVP. And MVP has never meant the best player. It's an award that Steve Nash has won back to back, and Michael Jordan has lost.

[bcl412]

Rose just wins games. He's pretty much the Tim Tebow of the NBA.

[bcl412]

I doubt this happens as I'm sure they'll slip up a game or two but looking at the schedule the Bulls could be 19-2 when they play Miami on the 29th.

[scarey]

Well this was fun to read after the fact. The funniest part was SSR begging people for attention and for the most part getting ignored.

 

I just like to see imb! and SSR making post after post feeling like their trolling and wasting other people's time only to see me stroll in after the matter and have a good laugh about it. 10 minutes of reading two guys trying to convince themselves that Rose is overrated is anything but a waste of time.

[imb]

i think you mean "they're"

[illiniguy]

i think you mean "they're"

Why worry about punctuation the best basketball player alive, DRose, doesn't?

[UMFan83]

i think you mean "they're"

Why worry about punctuation the best basketball player alive, DRose, doesn't?

 

I'm hoping you purposely made a ton of grammatical errors in that reply just to be funny :)

[BigSlick]

I still miss Big Sexy

[illiniguy]

i think you mean "they're"

Why worry about punctuation the best basketball player alive, DRose, doesn't?

 

I'm hoping you purposely made a ton of grammatical errors in that reply just to be funny :)

Lol, you'll never know.

[bcl412]

Someone forgot to tell the Bulls that just because a team is playing zone you don't have to settle for jumpshots all the time.

[imb]

Nice 56 point first half for the Bulls.

[SpongeWorthy]

Jamaal Magloire is still in the league?