2012 Playoffs: (1) Bulls Vs. (8) 76ers

I know the history behind the #8 seed beating a #1 seed, but will all the injuries the Bulls aren't even close to being a first seed team in terms of performance.

Sure it's an ugly series. Ugly, defensive and hard-fought. That's pretty much the only way the Sixers have a shot and - without Rose - the same goes for the Bulls. We have two of the top3 defenses in the NBA here, so low FG% on both sides and fair ammounts of fouls were to be expected. I'm just glad Philly players aren't shitting themselves in crunch time. In the regular season they were something like 7-20 (not sure if I remember correctly) in games decided by low margins. Looking at how the Celtics are playing against the Hawks (even with all of their bigmen woth mentioning injured), if the Sixers do indeed get past the Bulls, they might even have a chance to play in the ECF (whoever advances from the BOS-ATL series), which is automatically quite ridiculous. Boston's offense in the playoffs is arguably worse than Philadelphia's.

For some reason, I feel if any teams gonna come back from this, it's gonna be this Bulls team. Even if not, I'm pretty sure they'll get game 5 and this'll go to a sixth one.

I know the history behind the #8 seed beating a #1 seed, but will all the injuries the Bulls aren't even close to being a first seed team in terms of performance.

The Sixers are capitalizing the advantage that fate has given them.

I'd say it evened up the odds rather than gave Sixers an advantage. It is a 1vs8 series after all. And correct me if I'm wrong, but after game 1 and Rose's injury most people still thought the Bulls shouldn't have too much problems putting the 76ers away and that while they're not a championship contender anymore, the earliest they can get knocked out is in the 2nd round by the Celtics.

I'd say it evened up the odds rather than gave Sixers an advantage. It is a 1vs8 series after all. And correct me if I'm wrong, but after game 1 and Rose's injury most people still thought the Bulls shouldn't have too much problems putting the 76ers away and that while they're not a championship contender anymore, the earliest they can get knocked out is in the 2nd round by the Celtics.

Yeah almost everybody thought that but

It'd be nice if they could salvage some pride and win Game 5 at home, but it's tough to see it happening with them being so shorthanded. So long as Rose can make a full recovery and there are better years ahead, this one doesn't sting quite as much, but needless to say it's still very disappointing.

You'd also have to include Deng in that too, he wants to be on the Britain team in the Olympics. So if surgery is happening on his wrist it's not going to happen until that's over with.

If my voted prediction of Sixers in 5 happens...PSYCHIC!

^ That's like making a shot off the backboard and not calling bank. I mean, i still went in, but you didn't mean how it went in.

Tim Duncan doesn't call bank every time he takes and sinks his bank shots, which we know is money. Your argument is invalid.

If my voted prediction of Sixers in 5 happens...PSYCHIC!

haaaa

We're still alive after a huge win! Now let's see if this team can play hard and make a big comeback!

We won when we shot 34% FG, but apparently 32% FG is just too damn awful to be able to win. Wasn't able to watch the game, but Iggy and Jrue with a combined 9/36 FG don't really encourage me to do so. Just looking at the box score, Hawes was too passive - just like the previous games in Chicago. Did he miss an open layup this time also? Brand, after being very decent in the first two games, continues not showing up for the next ones. Anyway, seems like two Bulls players having a good offensive game is one too many, especially when our players either don't do anything or throw up a ton of bricks on the offensive end. Well, can't let this thing go to game 7. Game 6 is a must win. It'll be at home, hopefully Hawes or Brand will step up and help Jrue finish off the Bulls.

Bulls can grind it out like that, they can pretty much beat anyone at home... although Gibson is hurt now...

Good to see them gut out a win at home and extend the series at least one more game; right now it's pretty much all about going down swinging. At this point they're likely to either bow out on the road or at least make the series go the distance, which is certainly respectable given the circumstances. If everything goes their way they could conceivably advance for a token second round appearance which would be nice, though I don't see it happening and it's a bit hard to get too excited about the prospect anyway.

Whatever they can achieve the rest of the way will be nice to see, but I'm more interested in/concerned with the long term impact of Rose's injury and their ability to remain competitive in the seasons to come. That said, it's great to see them playing with pride and not just rolling over, I like the attitude if not their chances in the wake of that crippling blow towards the end of Game 1.

God these teams suck. If Chicago ends up winning tonight, it'll top Hawks/Heat '09 as the worst 7 game series ever.

God Deng! lame I know...

Yeah, that's what happens when you get a 12-point lead and decide to stop playing offense and let Rip Hamilton get offensive rebounds. I'm starting to wonder why I'm doing this to myself...

edit: is anyone counting the Sixers' airballs? they're unbelievably bad tonight and yet they would win this game easily if they had a clue what a boxout is.

CJ Watson: The Most Hated Man in Chicago

Cheryl Miller's voice hurts my ears

IGGY!!!!!

Wow. To win despite not being able to create a shot any better than a fadeaway three with at least one defender in your face for the entire 2nd half, being very badly outrebounded and trailing all the time from midway through 3rd quarter. Horrible end of the 4th for the Bulls.

Seriously though, they have to play a lot better to do anything in the 2nd round.

What the fuck was that?