Bulls: Is this finally the year Chicago breaks through?

[DPG21920]

Cept he can't impact in the playoffs like that. He's equalized immediately. Everybody and their sister heaping praise on him in the first 82,,,then skin & grin as they pull his shorts down and take advantage of him thereafter.

He did well in his two finals wins.

[Infinite_limit]

Deep bench + front court = #1 Seed in East

Beyond that the Bulls will grind out games. Another shot creator or offensive scoring in general would be great. But the issue in the playoffs will be that essentially the Bulls Top 4 players are

- Rose
- Noah
- Gasol
- Taj

Only 3 of these guys will see the court at crunch time. Butler is out of position at the 2. Teams with strong guard/SF play will suffocate the Bulls offense by pressuring the perimeter. If Mirotic or McDermott develop, by seasons end the Bulls could make a legit run at the le (You only have to win 4 games against the Western Conference) but at this point the expectations is the ECF.

[Shane27]

I know the heat obviously aren't what they used to be, but I feel like you guys are counting them out too quickly. I still think they have a shot to make it to the finals

[jeebus]

His athleticism

That's all he had before tbh, and that same dip move he always made int he paint where he jumped to a stop and did some gy dance for a layup. That's what made his knees explode and he's obviously too chimp-minded to move away from that. At this point, Wade is a better option, even though his prime was in 2006.

[baseline bum]

That's all he had before tbh, and that same dip move he always made int he paint where he jumped to a stop and did some gy dance for a layup. That's what made his knees explode and he's obviously too chimp-minded to move away from that. At this point, Wade is a better option, even though his prime was in 2006.

, Beasley might be a better option

[jeebus]

, Beasley might be a better option

He started out ok last season until after about a week or so, he remembered he was Beasley and became useless

[100%duncan]

That's all he had before tbh, and that same dip move he always made int he paint where he jumped to a stop and did some gy dance for a layup. That's what made his knees explode and he's obviously too chimp-minded to move away from that. At this point, Wade is a better option, even though his prime was in 2006.

[ElNono]

Seems like with ACL injuries that it takes one year to get back to playing and another year after that to maximize whatever it is you're going to be. The meniscus tear didn't seem to affect Russell Westbrook. I know the game is littered with guys who were never the same after suffering a major injury, but I think with Rose it's best to take a wait and see approach. It's hard to gauge Chicago because their status as a le contender depends on him coming close to regaining his previous form.

Rus is compe ive as tho, he's fearless and that's because he's a dude that cares about winning. There's really no comparison between those two.

[ezau]

no. Lebron has a solid supporting cast this time in Cleveland. They're good enough to come out of the East and then get ass-pounded again by the Spurs in the Finals.

[Chinook]

Chicago has the best front court in the league now, but their back court is at best murky. Even if Rose is healthy, there's still a huge hole at two-guard behind Butler. They need a glass-cannon guard. Good thing is that those aren't hard to find.

[Findog]

Rus is compe ive as tho, he's fearless and that's because he's a dude that cares about winning. There's really no comparison between those two.

I just think that if Rose is even 60-70 percent of what he was two years ago, the Bulls become a much more stout team. I like the Gasol pickup. If they could ever develop a bench maybe Thibs won't play his main guys 45 minutes a night.

[ElNono]

I just think that if Rose is even 60-70 percent of what he was two years ago, the Bulls become a much more stout team. I like the Gasol pickup. If they could ever develop a bench maybe Thibs won't play his main guys 45 minutes a night.

I don't put a lot of stock in rooks and I think they're weak in the wing. Today's NBA is tilted towards a lot of smallball, that's why having an above-average, athletic SF is key. I like what your Mavs did with Parsons on that department.

Agree about the bench, especially with Gasol playing over the summer, and the mileage he has, you gotta be able to rest him.

Going back to Rose, I just get the impression that if he's at 60-70 percent, he'll sit out...

[Horse]

They have been tough contenders in the East for a good while now.. have always missed 1-2 pieces. They missed on Carmelo but Pau is a great addition for scoring.. he averaged 17 and 10 last year.


Noah
P. Gasol
Mirotic
Butler
Rose

Taj Gibson
DJ Augustin
McDourmett
Dunleavy
Snell
Hinrich

Only thing breaking are roses tendons

[21209]

DJ Augustin signed with the Pistons.

[Baseline]

Dropping Boozer off that squad makes them a ton better, even if he was replaced by Matt Bonner. But replacing him with Pau Gasol is a serious upgrade.

If healthy they could conceivably win the East, but everything would have to go right for them. And we know that rarely happens. That being said, if they somehow get past LeBron and the Cavs, they still don't have anywhere near enough scoring to beat a Western team in the Finals.

[Infinite_limit]

Eastern Conference Finals are the expectation

[poeticism707]

They have been tough contenders in the East for a good while now.. have always missed 1-2 pieces. They missed on Carmelo but Pau is a great addition for scoring.. he averaged 17 and 10 last year.


Noah
P. Gasol
Mirotic
Butler
Rose

Taj Gibson
DJ Augustin
McDourmett
Dunleavy
Snell


Hinrich

No.

Not even close.

[Infinite_limit]

No.

Not even close.

Post the Winning Teams roster

[jimbo]

Rose still had a good amount of athleticism to start this season, he just couldn't finish. He'd jump in the air and still get his contortions down, but just miss the basket. (over and over) He was overrated in his MVP year, just a volume shooter that got carried by the Bulls team D' to a MVP. (Dwight shoulda won that year tbh)

I think he could approach that level again cause the bar wasn't too high.

But is that first 5 supposed to be a starting 5? Mirotic isn't a SF. That lineup is ridiculously huge. I'd think Pau would come off the bench, esp if Rose is playing. No point in putting big minutes on an older guy like that.

Didn't realize how deep they are though. That's pretty damn good.

Rose
Butler
McDermott
Gibson
Noah

DJ Augustine
Snell
Dunleavy
Mirotic
Pau

2nd seed maybe? They could possibly beat the Cavs if Lebron isn't taking the year off to rest tbh.

[RD2191]

Rose still had a good amount of athleticism to start this season, he just couldn't finish. He'd jump in the air and still get his contortions down, but just miss the basket. (over and over) He was overrated in his MVP year, just a volume shooter that got carried by the Bulls team D' to a MVP. (Dwight shoulda won that year tbh)

I think he could approach that level again cause the bar wasn't too high.

But is that first 5 supposed to be a starting 5? Mirotic isn't a SF. That lineup is ridiculously huge. I'd think Pau would come off the bench, esp if Rose is playing. No point in putting big minutes on an older guy like that.

Didn't realize how deep they are though. That's pretty damn good.

Rose
Butler
McDermott
Gibson
Noah

DJ Augustine
Snell
Dunleavy
Mirotic
Pau

2nd seed maybe?

Isn't Augustin a Piston now?

[jimbo]

Isn't Augustin a Piston now?

yeah you're right, didn't realize that. Who's their backup PG even then? Anyone?

if Rose goes down and they don't have a decent backup

[Infinite_limit]

Isn't Augustin a Piston now?

Yes. Lost Augustin, brought back in Hinrich

[RD2191]

I'm guessing Hinrich is their backup PG then?

[jimbo]

that's a joke. I'm not looking too hard into this, but all they had left to sign Hinrich was their room exception? They couldn't find a way to raise up the 6 mil for 2 years Augustine got in Detroit?

Bulls screwed up with that one. Don't know why they're letting him go

[Arcadian]

Probably not. Spurs vs. Cavs in the finals. Spurs sweep again, just like 2007.