better for round 2: sixers or rose-less bulls?

[Celtics18]

I agree that we can beat anyone if we play our best ball.  Let's start with getting through the Hawks.

[SHAQATTACK]

Bulls will have a hard time beating the sixers without Noah .  He doesn't play Bulls don't win. 

[thestackshow]

Noah looks done.

If so the Bulls wont beat the Sixers so thats who we will be facing in the 2nd round.

Theres no way Noah goes from crutches to playing in 24 hours.

[RebusRankin]

76ers.

HCA, they don't play the D Chicago does, less of a rebounding challenge, our D can neutralize their key players.

[thestackshow]

76ers.

HCA, they don't play the D Chicago does, less of a rebounding challenge, our D can neutralize their key players.

Bulls wont have Rose, Noah and Deng is playing injured.

That means their bench will have to start, and bulls will no longer have a bench and their 2 best players wont be playing.

[colincb]

Looks like Noah may be done for a long while with a severe strain or fracture.  I'm not proud. I want the Bulls. A couple of notes from the WWW:

"Noah is in bad shape. Initial X-rays were negative, however the team hasn't ruled out a fracture, two sources said."

"Noah left the stadium on crutches, wearing an air cast to support the ankle and lower leg."

[j804]

I was hoping the Bulls they are obviously beat up and the Sixers are playing better basketball right now. Philly is young and athletic and have been playing pretty good D, no?

How easy do the Heat have it though the Magic/Indiana both look awful to me

[thestackshow]

If Noah is out for the year, Bulls wont beat the Sixers, looks like were playing Philly in the 2nd round.

[Redz]

A Sixers matchup would be the first time these two have hooked up after the first round since 1985.  It's a shame this rivalry lost its steam because it was every bit as bitter as Celts/Lakers for about a 30 year stretch.

1953 Eastern Conference Division Semifinals    Celtics won, 2–0
1954 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Nationals won, 2–0
1955 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Nationals won, 3–1
1956 Eastern Conference Division Semifinals    Nationals won, 2–1
1957 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 3–0
1959 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1961 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–1
1965 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1966 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–1
1967 Eastern Conference Division Finals    76ers won, 4–1
1968 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1969 Eastern Conference Division Semifinals    Celtics won, 4–1
1977 Eastern Conference Semifinals    76ers won, 4–3
1980 Eastern Conference Finals    76ers won, 4–1
1981 Eastern Conference Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1982 Eastern Conference Finals    76ers won, 4–3
1985 Eastern Conference Finals    Celtics won, 4–1
2002 Eastern Conference First Round    Celtics won, 3-2

[Eja117]

It's very close.  I think the Sixers and the Bulls without Rose are very close.

I guess I'd say the Sixers, because they don't have the Thibodeau defense.

I'd say it depends way more on the Celts than the opponent. I'm not done with the Hawks yet. Hawks fans have every right to think they could have this if they had J Smith and Al Horford

[hpantazo]

A Sixers matchup would be the first time these two have hooked up after the first round since 1985.  It's a shame this rivalry lost its steam because it was every bit as bitter as Celts/Lakers for about a 30 year stretch.

1953 Eastern Conference Division Semifinals    Celtics won, 2–0
1954 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Nationals won, 2–0
1955 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Nationals won, 3–1
1956 Eastern Conference Division Semifinals    Nationals won, 2–1
1957 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 3–0
1959 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1961 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–1
1965 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1966 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–1
1967 Eastern Conference Division Finals    76ers won, 4–1
1968 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1969 Eastern Conference Division Semifinals    Celtics won, 4–1
1977 Eastern Conference Semifinals    76ers won, 4–3
1980 Eastern Conference Finals    76ers won, 4–1
1981 Eastern Conference Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1982 Eastern Conference Finals    76ers won, 4–3
1985 Eastern Conference Finals    Celtics won, 4–1
2002 Eastern Conference First Round    Celtics won, 3-2

that's right, and even that 2002 first round matchup was a bit bitter and resulted in the infamous Iverson post game "we're talkin about practice?" interview

[Redz]

A Sixers matchup would be the first time these two have hooked up after the first round since 1985.  It's a shame this rivalry lost its steam because it was every bit as bitter as Celts/Lakers for about a 30 year stretch.

1953 Eastern Conference Division Semifinals    Celtics won, 2–0
1954 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Nationals won, 2–0
1955 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Nationals won, 3–1
1956 Eastern Conference Division Semifinals    Nationals won, 2–1
1957 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 3–0
1959 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1961 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–1
1965 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1966 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–1
1967 Eastern Conference Division Finals    76ers won, 4–1
1968 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1969 Eastern Conference Division Semifinals    Celtics won, 4–1
1977 Eastern Conference Semifinals    76ers won, 4–3
1980 Eastern Conference Finals    76ers won, 4–1
1981 Eastern Conference Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1982 Eastern Conference Finals    76ers won, 4–3
1985 Eastern Conference Finals    Celtics won, 4–1
2002 Eastern Conference First Round    Celtics won, 3-2

that's right, and even that 2002 first round matchup was a bit bitter and resulted in the infamous Iverson post game "we're talkin about practice?" interview

Many years the Celts and Sixers were the two best teams in the league playing in the same division.

[hpantazo]

A Sixers matchup would be the first time these two have hooked up after the first round since 1985.  It's a shame this rivalry lost its steam because it was every bit as bitter as Celts/Lakers for about a 30 year stretch.

1953 Eastern Conference Division Semifinals    Celtics won, 2–0
1954 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Nationals won, 2–0
1955 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Nationals won, 3–1
1956 Eastern Conference Division Semifinals    Nationals won, 2–1
1957 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 3–0
1959 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1961 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–1
1965 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1966 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–1
1967 Eastern Conference Division Finals    76ers won, 4–1
1968 Eastern Conference Division Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1969 Eastern Conference Division Semifinals    Celtics won, 4–1
1977 Eastern Conference Semifinals    76ers won, 4–3
1980 Eastern Conference Finals    76ers won, 4–1
1981 Eastern Conference Finals    Celtics won, 4–3
1982 Eastern Conference Finals    76ers won, 4–3
1985 Eastern Conference Finals    Celtics won, 4–1
2002 Eastern Conference First Round    Celtics won, 3-2

that's right, and even that 2002 first round matchup was a bit bitter and resulted in the infamous Iverson post game "we're talkin about practice?" interview

Many years the Celts and Sixers were the two best teams in the league playing in the same division.

as much as I would like to see that rivalry rekindled, I'm all for doing it some other time and just taking the path of least resistance to the finals this year with our old guys on their last legs.  The last thing we need right now is a 7 game slobberknocker with KG choking Elton Brand and Pierce and AI fighting in the stands.

[blink]

I think that Philly it is probably a better match up for us.  The bulls played us really tough without D Rose, and there D is really good.  We have enough problems generating offense when we are  playing average teams.

Even though it doesn't seem like a big deal sometimes, home court advantage would be nice in that series.  I could see a 6 or 7 game series vs the sixers and that one additional game at home can make the difference.

[thestackshow]

I want the Bulls.