Should we be more worried about the Bulls than we currently are?

[Lucky17]

While I still have little doubt that the C's win a 7 game series, I'd be more comfortable if someone told me why the Bulls will lose in the playoffs.

Because Derrick Rose can't continue to average nearly 40 minutes a night for the remainder of the season and the playoffs without breaking down.

Once he's lost to an injury, Chicago becomes incredibly mediocre, and much more easy to game-plan against.

[nba is the worst]

They haven't done well on the road, and have played a lot of home games.

Noah will make them better, but they're pretty dependent on Rose.

Good points about their advantage vs the C's in Thibs, but they have aways to go (like every east team besides the celtics).

[Jon]

They likely won't make it out of the second round.  As long as we hold the #1 seed, we won't have to worry about them. 

[Megatron]

I think they can beat MIA but not us if they have all their pieces.  Why worry folks, we will play who we play.  Worry only helps things you can control.  Who will play is not something we can control folks.

They are a young team that plays us tough.  I think they are a more balanced team than MIA but MIA has three big time studs but are a flawed team with redundant parts.

Where is all this Bulls can beat Miami talk coming from?

LeBron and Wade will decimate the Bulls, the Bulls arent a big team, Miami matches up to them well.

Wade will DOMINATE bogans, it will be a slaughter.

And we all know LeBron will get his.

Bulls are a 2nd tier team that are getting alot of hype right now, but in the playoffs they will be exposed as just not having enough to be a contender.

[Junkyard Dawg]

Bulls are a 2nd tier team that are getting alot of hype right now, but in the playoffs they will be exposed as just not having enough to be a contender.

Maybe I haven't been up on my ESPN and NBATV but I didn't think the Bulls were getting any hype, that's why I started this...

I do think the C's beat them in a 7 game series, I have little doubt about that, but I think with them getting back their best defensive player on a defense-first team and the fact Thibs knows us so well has me more concerned about them than the other elite east teams.

[Neurotic Guy]

As weu all know, the Bulls have only 2 more losses than the C's.  They are very much in the thick of the race for HCA in the East.  I do hope the Heat and Bulls play in round 2.  I think it will be tough to play Chicago and then Miami.    

[ManUp]

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=44604.msg923477#msg923477

Chicago with Hamilton or any above average Shooting guard is a scary thought. They've got some legit talent at the other 4 positions. They matchup really well with us when healthy. As of right now they're the second best team in the east. One of only two teams that I'd be nervous about going into a play-off series (the other is Miami for obvious reasons).

Posted this in the wrong thread yesterday so might as well use it correctly today.

You have to consider that they have the third best record in the east despite missing Noah and/or Boozer for significant portions of the season. So far this season they've been a better team than Miami. The only reason I'd take Miami over Chicago in a seven game series is because they Lebron and Wade. Despite how overrated Miami has looked this regular season the play-offs are a whole different ball game.

[Bankshot]

Yes

[Who]

No, the C's defensive strengths matchup extremely well against the Bulls' offensive strengths and will consequently do a good job limiting Chicago in a playoff series.

The main defensive strengths being their defense against ball-dominant perimeter players, especially their pick and roll defense, their length and shot-blocking on the interior against dribble penetration, their PG defense with Rondo, and Garnett's defensive skill-set against Carlos Boozer.

The Bulls are a very good team but they are not quite a title contender yet. They have the core of their squad in place but their supporting cast (mainly their non-Deng wings = Bogans, Korver, R.Brewer) don't complement their star talent as well as they need to. So they are a year or two away from fixing that flaw and becoming a full fledged title contender.

[FLCeltsFan]

I said before the season that the Bulls concerned me.  They are a young, athletic team that plays great defense and are well coached.  They are a tough team. 

[j804]

Yes.

Particularly the way Rose gets the whistle, it will be even worse come playoff time. Shaq pretty much will be on the bench entire series.

[Junkyard Dawg]

They have the core of their squad in place but their supporting cast (mainly their non-Deng wings = Bogans, Korver, R.Brewer) don't complement their star talent as well as they need to.

Agreed, and the more I think about it, the year we played them in the first round (aside from missing KG) I think you could say the difference maker was a strong outside shooter in Ben Gordon.  And they lost Salmons who had a strong series then, too.  But they've gotten much better defensively and their young stars have gotten better... I dunno I guess we should see if they end up making noise at the deadline.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

They are very good but maybe we won't see them too early....Their real X factor is probably the refs LOVE for Rose..he is a free throw every minute......Rondo a free throw a game....if only they could ref equally...maybe the Tea Party will next bust up this ref-union junk.....We can beat the Bulls but it won't be easy...!

[Kane3387]

Answer to original poster:

YES!!!

Deng Rose Noah and Boozer is a quality quartet. Plus Tom T as coach.

Our depth should be the difference IMO.

[Donoghus]

There's a legitiate reason to be concerned about them.

They are a very dangerous basketball team and have seemed to really found their stride as the season has progressed.  Rose is playing at a MVP caliber level and has the ability to singlehandedly take over a game which is a trait to be fearful of in the playoffs. 

They are going to be a very tough out for whoever plays them in the playoffs.  My hope is that they and MIA got at it in Round 2 and we pick feed off the scraps.

At 100% health, we should beat them, no questions asked.  But if we're banged up heading into a playoff series with them, there is every reason to be fearful.