2014 Playoffs: (4) Chicago vs. (5) Washington

[Kevin]

There you go...
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Washington Wizard’s forward-center Nene has been suspended one game without pay for head-butting and grabbing guard-forward Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls around the neck with both hands and attempting to throw him down, it was announced today by Rod Thorn, President, Basketball Operations.

That wasnt a headbutt, they were about to kiss but the referees misunderstood it.

[Andrew]

A fair ruling and not a surprise. Hopefully the Bulls can take advantage of his absence.

[Kevin]

If Chicago still loses tomorrow, its time to say goodbye.

[Andrew]

History would certainly agree that's a likelihood.

[_Steve_]

Wiz are up by 15 at halftime and Taj Gibson scored 20 of Chicago's 40 points. Things could look much brighter for the Bulls...

[NovU]

I mean no disrespect to the Wizard but this guarantees another bye round for the Heat in this year's playoffs. It's either the Hawks or Wizard in semi finals? I'm starting to wonder when I will be treated with some real basketball. Lamrock should do us a favor and skip on semi final thread for the Heat. k tank u bai.

[buzzy]

Let's not call the 4-0 Nets a bye round just yet, k?

[Andrew]

Bulls might be able to win another one to salvage some dignity, but they don't appear to be in any shape to join that small group of teams that have come back from being down 3-1. Their lack of offensive punch has caught up to them.

[Moz]

Only saw the first half and from that you can tell it'll be all Wizards for this game.... They had a great start (14-0), the Bulls' offense is going nowhere until Taj came in and turnovers everywhere.... It seems Thibs didn't saw that hole the last game where they're exploiting those ISOs against Gortat... this series made me wonder what would have been if the Bulls picked Gorgui Dieng or Hardaway Jr instead of Snell specifically Dieng who's a kind of player they badly needed (one who can get them offensive rebounds,inside scoring, additional post defender) on this series...

[[Q]]

lol i picked wizards in 7, it would have been a sweep had nene not gone all muay thai on butler

[Andrew]

This final minute has summed up the entire series and the Bulls' main problem. The Wizards have simply out-played and out-hustled the Bulls throughout the series, and Chicago hasn't been able to buy a bucket when it's counted the most. Disappointing, but they've still had a far better season than one would expect after Rose's injury and Deng being traded. Here's hoping the front office can make some magic happen in the offseason and get them some more offense...not to mention, fingers crossed for a full recovery and return to form (like we saw in the preseason) for Derrick Rose.

Congrats to the Wizards, definitely a team that appears to be on the rise. Wall's fine season continues.

[deihatein]

[Kevin]

Yeah, sure "Experts"

[Andrew]

Hindsight is 20/20. Quite a few people in this thread picked the Bulls as well and given the way they overachieved during the regular season and finished relatively strong, having one of the longer winning streaks during the final weeks of the regular season, it wasn't a pick without merit. However, the Wizards played better basketball and the Bulls' lack of offense caught up with them.

[benji]

https://twitter.com/WashWizards/status/ ... 7376642049

[Kevin]

So, is it gonna be Wizards vs Hawks? Damn it.

[SoF'nAwesome]

I mean no disrespect to the Wizard but this guarantees another bye round for the Heat in this year's playoffs. It's either the Hawks or Wizard in semi finals? I'm starting to wonder when I will be treated with some real basketball. Lamrock should do us a favor and skip on semi final thread for the Heat. k tank u bai.

Your cockiness will soon fade when Nene will headbutt LeBron out of the playoffs.

Wizards for NBA Finals!

[shadowgrin]

I'm fine with the Wizards winning it in 5 instead of the 6 games I predicted but Nene just had to ruin the details of my prediction with the Wizards still winning without him when he was out for a game.