Selling the Bulls

[BOTSLAYER]

Strengths:
Great work ethic every night
Depth
Defense
Rose

They could easily earn the #1 overall seed in the NBA with their night in night out work ethic and hustle.

Why I am selling them in the playoffs:
Everybody works in the playoffs so this is no longer an advantage. Their depth does not matter as much in the playoffs because the rotations shorten considerably in the playoffs.

Defense wins rings but you still need more than 1 scoring option on Offense. I think that the Nets, Pacers and Heat all beat them in a 7 game series.

Nets (whom I consider #3 in the playoff power rankings):
Last season this series went 7 games with out Rose. So that sounds great for the bulls until you find out the Nets added Garnett and Pierce. Those guys can score, play D and rebound. Lopez and Blatche should be able to do enough on the boards to nullify a very active Noah. Garnett and Pierce are no where what they were a few years ago, but they are huge upgrades to Wallace and Evans.

Heat (1b):
They have the blueprint and personnel to smother the Bulls on offense. LBJ/Wade rotation on Rose. Let Bosh battle Boozer. Other non Rose defender on their next best option. That matchup is very favorable for the Heat. The problem here may be Wade's health but I think they will be much more responsible this time around with his health. On D they will slow down the Heat but not enough to make up for Rose being smothered like biscuits under sausage gravy on cheat day.


Pacers (1a):
The Pacers can do everything that the Heat can do defensively but better. Their front court is bigger, more physical and more skilled than the Bulls, and it is not close. After that they have the best wing defender in the league. They should hold the Bulls to fewer points than a healthy Heat but the games will look closer because they do not have the scoring that the Heat have. They should be able to out rebound and shut down Rose their way to a short series.

 

[Hambombs]

You really think the pacers have a better defense than the bulls? I don't. Also Noah, Boozer, and deny can score the ball

 

[Black Adam]

You really think the pacers have a better defense than the bulls? I don't. Also Noah, Boozer, and deny can score the ball

I'd give him that Roy Hibbert potentially gives them a better inside presence. The rest, we'll see...

 

[Hambombs]

I'd give him that Roy Hibbert potentially gives them a better inside presence. The rest, we'll see...

It shall be interesting in the east! Ill be watching on my league pass this year.

 

[Black Adam]

It shall be interesting in the east! Ill be watching on my league pass this year.

Cool. I'm still hating what Time Warner did out here with Lakers games...

 

[BOTSLAYER]

In the playoffs I think their defense is much better. They are both blue collar work your ass off every play teams, but the Pacers are younger and longer. In the playoffs that youth is a huge weapon when every play, every pass and every shot is being fought over.

Pacers were 3.7 points per 100 possessions better than the Bulls. Per game the Bulls were 1.5 points per game better. The Pacers D is technically better but due to pace on both ends of the court the Bulls allow fewer points.

Rose should actually speed up their pace per game (last year the bulls passed a lot before jacking a brick and getting the rebound) and the supporting teammates should have gotten a little older while the Pacers should still be improving on both sides of the ball.

 

[Hambombs]

In the playoffs I think their defense is much better. They are both blue collar work your ass off every play teams, but the Pacers are younger and longer. In the playoffs that youth is a huge weapon when every play, every pass and every shot is being fought over.

Pacers were 3.7 points per 100 possessions better than the Bulls. Per game the Bulls were 1.5 points per game better. The Pacers D is technically better but due to pace on both ends of the court the Bulls allow fewer points.

Rose should actually speed up their pace per game (last year the bulls passed a lot before jacking a brick and getting the rebound) and the supporting teammates should have gotten a little older while the Pacers should still be improving on both sides of the ball.

Was that last years numbers in the playoffs or season?

 

[BOTSLAYER]

In the playoffs I think their defense is much better. They are both blue collar work your ass off every play teams, but the Pacers are younger and longer. In the playoffs that youth is a huge weapon when every play, every pass and every shot is being fought over.

Pacers were 3.7 points per 100 possessions better than the Bulls. Per game the Bulls were 1.5 points per game better. The Pacers D is technically better but due to pace on both ends of the court the Bulls allow fewer points.

Rose should actually speed up their pace per game (last year the bulls passed a lot before jacking a brick and getting the rebound) and the supporting teammates should have gotten a little older while the Pacers should still be improving on both sides of the ball.

I looked at the wrong stat!!!

Please amend to the Pacers allowed 2.2 points fewer per game. So pace did still factor in a bit and every thing else I said reigns true.

Pacers D is better.

 

[Midevilgnat]

The Bull's are workhorses night in and night out in the regular season so I imagine the final standings for the top 4 teams in the East to look like this.
1) Chicago Bulls
2) Miami Heat
3) The Pacers
4) The Brooklyn Nets

If this is the case that means to reach the ECF Miami or Indy will have to knock one or the other out.
I do agree that The Pacer have a beter shot at taking Miami out, but I also think the Pacers can't beat the Bulls, kinda a Rock,Paper, Scissors Heat>Bulls, Bulls>Pacers, Pacers>Miami .

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Was that last years numbers in the playoffs or season?

Regular

Heat>Bulls, Bulls>Pacers, Pacers>Miami .

I do not dispute the regular season seeds but I think the Bulls are the 3rd best playoff team.