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Perhaps Math, but you know I don't put a lot of stock in regular season encounters. The playoff lights are a completely different kettle of fish, and I have my doubts about whether this team can essentially go from no wins all the way to the finals. That's a HUGE step. Not saying it's impossible, and in fact it makes for a really good story. I'm just saying I don't take their regular season record against the elite clubs as a sure-fire method of saying they'd beat Boston in a 7 game series.
Personally I think a Bulls-Thunder series would be both unexpected and quite a pleasant surprise, seeing as most people had one of 3 teams.... Lakers, Heat, Celtics.... winning it all. Having been a 90's Bulls follower( more accurately, a HUGE Jordan-Pippen fan) the nostalgic side of me smiles seeing the Bulls' rise to prominence again. But.... I'm through making predictions. I just want the playoffs to start and the talking to stop.
Oh, and your point about the Bulls record against those elite teams, if not proof that the Bulls are ready for the finals, at the least makes an excellent case for Rose to be MVP. Which, at this point, seems to be in the bag anyways....
Perhaps Math, but you know I don't put a lot of stock in regular season encounters. The playoff lights are a completely different kettle of fish, and I have my doubts about whether this team can essentially go from no wins all the way to the finals. That's a HUGE step. Not saying it's impossible, and in fact it makes for a really good story. I'm just saying I don't take their regular season record against the elite clubs as a sure-fire method of saying they'd beat Boston in a 7 game series.
Personally I think a Bulls-Thunder series would be both unexpected and quite a pleasant surprise, seeing as most people had one of 3 teams.... Lakers, Heat, Celtics.... winning it all. Having been a 90's Bulls follower( more accurately, a HUGE Jordan-Pippen fan) the nostalgic side of me smiles seeing the Bulls' rise to prominence again. But.... I'm through making predictions. I just want the playoffs to start and the talking to stop.
Oh, and your point about the Bulls record against those elite teams, if not proof that the Bulls are ready for the finals, at the least makes an excellent case for Rose to be MVP. Which, at this point, seems to be in the bag anyways....
MVP is in the bag.
We will have to agree to disagree about the Bulls vs. Celtics. If you watched the game last night you could see the Bulls had zero fear of the Celtics and asserted themselves physically.
Again, I'm not saying regular season record puffed up on meaningless wins....11-0 against the best in the NBA.
We will have to agree to disagree about the Bulls vs. Celtics. If you watched the game last night you could see the Bulls had zero fear of the Celtics and asserted themselves physically.
I'm not necessarily in disagreement with you. I'm just saying it would be quite a feat to go from no wins all the way to the finals. Rose is playing poised beyond his years, but we still need to remember that he's 22, and the pressure to perform in the playoffs raises several notches from the regular season. We'll see if he can handle it..bear in mind that the Bulls the past few years have operated from the standpoint of the underdog, which takes the pressure off. Should be interesting to see how they perform when they're the 'favorite'....
I did start to watch the game, actually feel asleep before the end of the 1st quarter...did catch the highlights on NBA.com though. I think trading Perkins away was a really bone-headed move, from the little comments some of the players have made, I believe they think so also.
I agree with Math. I don't think the Bulls have any reason to be intimidated by the Celtics and the Perkins trade will more than likely be the Celtics down fall as its already appearing that way. I said in the beginning I had Boston to come out the East but I want the Bulls to make it and they have great potential to do so.
I agree with Math. I don't think the Bulls have any reason to be intimidated by the Celtics and the Perkins trade will more than likely be the Celtics down fall as its already appearing that way. I said in the beginning I had Boston to come out the East but I want the Bulls to make it and they have great potential to do so.
I don't think the Celtics will get past the Heat the way they've been playing. What is scary is if the Heat pick up some solid guys in the off season as they are doing very very well with serious flaws.
^^^yeah I will admit the Heat are getting hot at the right time. Its going to be interesting to see what their outcome is. I def see Miami winning the East before the Knicks.
No-one's suggested that the Bulls are intimidated by the Celtics. I imagine at this point they're like a shark in the water, smelling the Celtics' blood. Having said that, going off last post season I'm not ready to write them off yet, because they stumbled into the playoffs last year, and were 5 minutes from an NBA title. The only thing that has given me doubt now with regards to Boston, is the bone-headed Perkins trade. I still have no idea why they made this trade before the season ended...because whatever Ainge envisioned does not seem to be working.
No-one's suggested that the Bulls are intimidated by the Celtics. I imagine at this point they're like a shark in the water, smelling the Celtics' blood. Having said that, going off last post season I'm not ready to write them off yet, because they stumbled into the playoffs last year, and were 5 minutes from an NBA title. The only thing that has given me doubt now with regards to Boston, is the bone-headed Perkins trade. I still have no idea why they made this trade before the season ended...because whatever Ainge envisioned does not seem to be working.
I hear ya.
I'm BOTH questioning the Celtics AND shocked at basically how dominant the Bulls have been this season.
I agree about the finals experience being a hole in their resume but they've gone...11-0 against the best down the stretch. Dang impressive.
I'm BOTH questioning the Celtics AND shocked at basically how dominant the Bulls have been this season.
I agree about the finals experience being a hole in their resume but they've gone...11-0 against the best down the stretch. Dang impressive.
I guess if you think about it, this particular Bulls squad has managed some degree of continuity the past 3 years, which in the NBA means alot. The biggest addition is Boozer, but he doesn't have the type of game that will mess up team chemistry, so he's basically fit right in, and Rose has obviously improved BIGTIME. The Celtics are obviously aging, and they lost their best post defender, so I'd say they're definitely on the decline now, I really don't see them being much of a factor beyond this season. Orlando has gotten worse since the 09 finals and there's rumblings of Howard leaving, Miami essentially turned their entire roster over during the offseason, New York still needs a few pieces and to be introduced to the word 'defense'. Surprising that Chicago is 'this' good, perhaps. Not 'shocking' though...
If Shaq can get healthy, it could be a 3 team race. Otherwise, it will be more likely Bulls vs. Heat in ECF. Bulls are the favorites obviously. Gotta wonder if the Knicks need a new coach besides additional pieces. He isn't exactly defensive minded.
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