Chicago Bulls Thread

[The_Flying_Tomato]

Dang. Guess Chicago jerks off except teams they psychically know they'll need to have tiebreakers against. Tell us, Andrew, why does their record suck?

[Andrew]

Cut the attitude and take the hating out of this thread, please. Thank you.

[Fewrookies-From2kW/Love]

WE ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!









some needs to wipe that stupid smile off my face

[DipSetVC]

Congrats. The fact that they made the playoffs is incredible considering how many different line-ups they have used this season. They should be a force next year considering they have a Top 3 pick and about $30 million in a cap room.

[Amphatoast]

bulls are in with a big win vs. Miami....and so is the whole central division.

What's funny is the bulls is only 1 game behind 5th place Washington and have the same amount of L's as 6th and 7th place teams.. wonder how far will they rise? Tiebreakers come into play now..

[Drex]

Great for the Bulls Sucks for Philly

[Andrew]

Phew! Guess it won't come down to the last game after all. I'd love to see them win the last two to finish up at .500 with a chance to avoid the Pistons in the first round. Taking a win or two in the first round would be great for the further development of the nucleus, before making the most out of the opportunities this offseason.

Also, a very emphatic victory there over the Heat. Looks like it pays when I'm not openly optimistic. No jinx.

[J@3]

Also, a very emphatic victory there over the Heat. Looks like it pays when I'm not openly optimistic. No jinx.

I'd love to see them win the last two to finish up at .500 with a chance to avoid the Pistons in the first round. Taking a win or two in the first round would be great for the further development of the nucleus, before making the most out of the opportunities this offseason

So I'm guessing that means a 4-0 sweep against the Pistons in the first round, before trading Gordon, Deng and Hinrich for Stephon Marbury and hiring Terry Stotts as the new head coach?

[got philk?]

I have to be honest, I didn't know if we would make it. I did however tell some friends I was happy we were battling the 76ers b/c of their potential to implode on themselves.


YEEEEESSS!!!!!!!! This is so friggin sweet to have my team to root for in the playoffs!

[The_Flying_Tomato]

I don't see the bulls doing anything this year, but yeah, with that pick and the cap, they should be scary next year

[Andrew]

I don't many people outside the completely Homerish folk expect big things but making the playoffs and thus given the opportunity to compete in the playoff atmosphere is as they say "character building", as well as forcing everyone to play to their absolute limits. That can only be a good thing in developing the right competitive attitude and confidence to perform in big game situations.

[artestfighttrainer]

Congrats to the Bulls! Ben Gordon and co. are doing damn well. Go Air Gordon and hope you show your 4th quarter skills in the playoffs. I'm glad they made it and not the Sixers which as a team are mediocre. A.I, Iggy and CWebb and a few others are not to blame but their GM is. He is bad but not as bad as Isiah. Back to the Bulls, I predict they'll lose in the 1st round but will take a couple of games out of their opponents. Would love to see them take on the Cavs.

[air gordon]

good stuff. glad the team proved me wrong

nice avatar, Andrew

detroit has pretty much owned the Bulls this year.

The Bulls beat NJ twice year and have played Miami tough even though they lost to them twice. But regardless how well the Bulls have played those 2 teams, I think both of those teams will show the Bulls what playoff basketball is all about

And if they face the Cavs- no Bulls defender will be allowed to even breathe on Lebron James without getting a foul called on him

i don't have a preference to who they play. I'll just be happy to be going to the United Center for the 2nd year in a row to watch them in the playoffs. but if i had to name one team, i guess Miami. it would be awesome to see Wade play in person in his hometown and i guess to see if the Fatman can "turn it on" during the playoffs

Nocioni probably played his way out of 6th Man of the Year but he's played himself into contention for Most Improved Player IMO

[Andrew]

nice avatar, Andrew

As soon as I saw the photo, I knew I had a new avatar.

I don't have much of a preference either apart from avoiding the 8th seed (and thus Detroit) if possible. Wade's one of my favourite non-Bulls so I wouldn't mind seeing a matchup with Miami and as you said, the two losses were very close. Honestly, I'm just glad they're in the Playoffs. I hope ESPN Australia shows a game or two.

OT victory over Orlando today as well.

[Fewrookies-From2kW/Love]

The magic has run out on any team the Bulls come in contact with.

That being said,

BRING ON THE BAD BOYS!!!!!!!!

[Sir Robbie]

Another good win for the Bulls. I like the fact that they don't have to rely on one person to win games. Gordon, Deng and Hinrich have all been game winners (Or the team's best player in individual games) recently.

On a side note, it's funny how Ben Gordon won the game for the Bulls on his birthday and then Luol Deng did it on his own birthday.

[Andrew]

Gordon shares Player of the Week honours with Kobe.

[Bullsfan239712]

even tho im a bullsfan (as you my name ) but i kinda feel bad for A.I....seein as the shit he went thru like not makin team usa 2008 or tryin real hard in the games...........anyways that was a good win against miami even tho only their second string played

[air gordon]

i didn't know whether to laugh or cry when Orlando honored Skiles with some plaque thing during halftime- Skiles was his usual humble self and looked uncomfortable under the spotlight and the crowd that stuck around to watch this mini ceremony were sitting on their hands.

anyway- i don't know what the league wide opinion is on Hinrich's defense but from my perspective he's been pretty solid this year, most notably in April. He's done a great job limiting opposition's best scorers. i'm normally ripping this guy but i hope he gets some consideration for at least 2nd all defensive team

regular season finale tomorrow. i'm hoping to score some tickets. should be a playoff type atmosphere even if they are only playing Toronto, especially if Milwaukee loses to Washington tonite

[Fewrookies-From2kW/Love]

Oh well, I guess the Bulls will sweep the Heat and leave the Nets hanging without any revenge.....

[Andrew]

Very impressive finish to the season, great way to cap off the run from 29-39. Bulls/Heat Game 1 will actually be the first game shown here as well. I'm hoping they'll make it a series but I still refuse to get Homerish about their chances.

[benji]

Statistically the Bulls only shot is at home. They are projected to be outscored 98.8ppg to 95.3ppg overall for the series. In Miami it's 101.3-95.3 Miami. In Chicago however it's 98.8-97.8 Miami. One point is almost close enough for them to steal all the games in Chicago. I'd feel better if it's .5 or closer, then they'd be a lock to steal at least one, probably two. The biggest problem is Shaq and Wade, they really don't have anyone to throw at either of them. Not that most teams do though.

[Andrew]

At the risk of resurrecting the jinx, I think they can win one at home.

[air gordon]

Statistically the Bulls only shot is at home. They are projected to be outscored 98.8ppg to 95.3ppg overall for the series. In Miami it's 101.3-95.3 Miami. In Chicago however it's 98.8-97.8 Miami. One point is almost close enough for them to steal all the games in Chicago. I'd feel better if it's .5 or closer, then they'd be a lock to steal at least one, probably two. The biggest problem is Shaq and Wade, they really don't have anyone to throw at either of them. Not that most teams do though.

i'm not sure which stats you were looking at but up until the last month, the Bulls generally played better on the road then at home. even the players and coaching staff admitted it



It's really too bad the games are so spaced out, unlike before. "back" in the 90's, there would be back to back games- even when the series went from one city to another.

anywho- Mourning is not expected to play Game 1. a nice bonus for the Bulls since in the games he was playing against the Bulls, he was controlling the paint and the bulls player got scared to drive

for todays game i fully expect Sweetney to be in foul trouble within the 1st 5 minutes of the games. And probably Wade will put someone in foul trouble too.

Miami is fully rested so they should come out strong. hopefully the Bulls can withstand this initial charge and stay in the ballgame. and if the Bulls continue to play like they have the past month...

[benji]

The home team wins 61% of the time, road team only 40%, that's why there is a difference in home/road game projections.

Mark Jackson said the Bulls will beat the Heat. He didn't specify if he meant one game or the series. Of course, earlier the ESPN guys were talking about Rasho Nesterovic's "complete lack of defense" so they must be passing the bong around.