East team to beat? Heat or Bulls

[vinnie]

Heat

[ManUp]

I think the Celtics will be the team to beat in my heart. I'll ignore what my mind is saying until its obviously not going to be the Celtics.

TP Nick I respect it. My mind has already counted them out, but my heart is still carrying hope. I'm pretty confident we could take the Bulls in a 7 game slug-out. In a Heat series I'm not confident, but I do feel there's a chance. I would feel a lot more confident if I didn't think we'd have to go through both.

[Snakehead]

Heat no doubt.  The two best players in the league on the same team.

Bulls are a great team too though, and I have to say watching how well Rip played for them last night I am pretty worried.  He looks like the Rip of old and he provides a lot of little things they need and that championship experience.

[Moranis]

Once a Celtics fan Always a Celtics fan!
Hope the C´s surprise us all!
But Bulls is a more balanced team compared to the Heat. Bulls have some good starters and a good bench. Miami has 3 good players and a bench that sucks..

Aren't Udonis Haslem, Shane Battier, and Mike Miller on Miami's bench.  Not to mention Eddie House, Juwan Howard, and James Jones.

Miami destroyed the Bulls last year.  The Bulls upgraded SG, but Miami has Haslem and Miller back healthy and added Battier and should have a better chemistry and working relationship.  It really is no debate.

[Snakehead]

Once a Celtics fan Always a Celtics fan!
Hope the C´s surprise us all!
But Bulls is a more balanced team compared to the Heat. Bulls have some good starters and a good bench. Miami has 3 good players and a bench that sucks..

Aren't Udonis Haslem, Shane Battier, and Mike Miller on Miami's bench.  Not to mention Eddie House, Juwan Howard, and James Jones.

Miami destroyed the Bulls last year.  The Bulls upgraded SG, but Miami has Haslem and Miller back healthy and added Battier and should have a better chemistry and working relationship.  It really is no debate.

You're right, plus the Heat match up so well.  Sure, the Bulls added Rip, but he's going to have to play and be defended by Wade and LeBron can guard Rose like he did last year and shut him down.  Deng wasn't much of a factor and even if he could be, the Heat can throw Battier on him.  That leaves Boozer to try to save them?  Yeah....

[Lord of Mikawa]

The Heat without much debate.

[CelticSooner]

Heat are the team to beat in the whole league.

[Celtics4ever]

Got to go against the grain, Celtics....

I hope the five five plan helps our old legs and our bench solidifies.

[Q_FBE]

The Heat have pulled further away from the rest of the pack. They would probably be the favs even without Lebron James.

[Celtics4ever]

I don't he is an asset in the playoffs.   He is a drawback in the finals and a no show.