Outside chance we won't see the Bulls in the playoffs

[fairweatherfan06]

Playoff seeding the way it is the worse we can do is 3rd seed.  So at this point what we're playing for is homecourt in the second round vs Miami (assuming we and they make it to the 2nd round which its unlikely that will not occur) and that likely locks Orlando in the secound round against the Bulls (unless Dwight Howard falls of a cliff Atlanta is not beating them) and to me Orlando is the biggest matchup problem for the Bulls other than the Lakers. Derrick Rose parade in the lane shuts down in the face of Dwight Howard's mighty elbows.  I think Orlando is gonna give them a fit in round 2 at minimum and at most could beat them, and to me if we can beat the Heat in Round 2, Orlando (even without Perk) is a team we are still very capable of beating in a 7 game series. Here's hoping we'll have a better final record than the Lakers and they get Portland (the team they most don't want to see early) in the first round.

[csfansince60s]

Completely agree. +1

See my post on same yesterday.http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=46528.0

This anointing of Rose and coronation of the Bulls EC Finalists/Champions is getting a little old and tremendously premature to me. I mean, why even bother playing the games. Just give the Bulls a bye right to the ECF and let the other pretenders fight it out for the honor of being the sacrificial lamb to these unstoppable Bulls.

Gimme a blankin' break!

Remember the Cavs last year? Rolled thru the league during the regular season, Huh? What then?

The Bulls most likely get by the Pacers, that I'll concede. Then they most likely play the Magic. The Bulls do not match up well against the Magic, and as we know, the playoffs are all about match-ups.

The Bulls have the edge at the 1, but Rose's advantage over Nelson/Arenas (the combo of whom will keep Rose busy at the other end) is nowhere near the advantage that the Magic have at the 5.

The Bulls have no answer for Howard. Yeah, Thibs D minimized Howard's effectiveness, but that was because of the Perk/Baby muscling of Howard away from the hoop which allowed us to run their 3 point shooters off the arc. The Bulls will have no such luxury. Noah (too weak) and Thomas (too immobile) have no chance against Howard. Orlando's wings will be getting all sorts of open looks.

The Bulls have a slight edge at the 4 with the Boozer/Gibson combo over the Bass/Andersen/Turkoglu (when they go small) group, but Bass is underrated and will give Boozer some physicality (which he doesn't like) and  Andersen and Turkoglu will draw Gibson outside with their 3 pt range which will leave Noah/Thomas all alone vs Howard underneath. Good Luck with that!

Where the Magic have a decisive edge over the Bulls is at the wing positions. JRich/Reddick/Arenas/Turkoglu vs Deng and a bunch of nobodies is a huge edge to the Magic and along with the Magic dominance at the 5, I feel become a true match-up nightmare for the Bulls.

In addition to the match-up advantages, the Magic are a far more playoff tested, seasoned team, which is intimately familiar with Thib's D. All the match-up and experience edges the Cs had/have vs the Magic, the bulls do not possess.

Has Rose gotten out of the 1st round yet?

The Bulls may yet get to the ECF and could win it all. I'm just not convinced yet, and I don't think Orlando is either. The bulls are 6(Rose, Deng,Thomas,Boozer,Gibson,Noah)players deep. Let's see how far that gets them.

[fairweatherfan06]

Exactly here's one for you.

[jambr380]

The Rashard for Arenas trade still baffles me. I would feel much more confident if they still had Lewis, as Nelson and Richardson will get the vast majority of the minutes. I just liked the versatility that Lewis brought, even though he never really lived up to his contract.

I do think the series is a toss-up, though. Each team has one game changing super-duper-star and it really matters which teams' other players come to play. While a healthy Celtics squad should beat both teams, I would be much happier playing the Magic...and living in Orlando, it gives me more of a chance to gloat 

[csfansince60s]

The Rashard for Arenas trade still baffles me. I would feel much more confident if they still had Lewis, as Nelson and Richardson will get the vast majority of the minutes. I just liked the versatility that Lewis brought, even though he never really lived up to his contract.

I do think the series is a toss-up, though. Each team has one game changing super-duper-star and it really matters which teams' other players come to play. While a healthy Celtics squad should beat both teams, I would be much happier playing the Magic...and living in Orlando, it gives me more of a chance to gloat 

Agree on the Rashard Lewis trade being a mistake.

Magic were also a lot physically tougher with Gortat and Pietrus (although JRich and Turkoglu are better than Vince and Pietrus) which is why I also agree with you on wanting to play the Magic instead of the Bulls. When they played Howard and Gortat together against us, that was a very effective line-up. Now, we match up better against them.

Love to get Gortat somehow for the Cs.

[GreenNote]

I was thinking the same thing about the Orlando matchup. Derrick Rose got knocked down by Howard a couple times last year (or the year before) and injured his wrist so he probably thinks about that every time he goes to the lane.

You can also add the fact that Stan Van Gundy believes Howard should be the MVP and that Orlando will come out extra motivated just to beat Chicago, they have nothing to lose after all.

[chambers]

you guys are thinking VERY optimistically. The Bulls should CRUSH the magic. Either 4-1 or a sweep would not be surprising at all.
You're saying they match up well but I think it's the complete opposite.
The Bulls interior defense is better than the Magic. The Magic are going to have a hard time getting the ball inside to Noah with Rose guarding Jameer, Deng guarding Turk and Bogans guarding Richardson.
Then they have to stop all the put back attempts by Chicago when Rose drives and gets to the line over and over again.
The Bulls are the number 1 team in the league at running teams off the three point line hence their number 1 percentage wise of 3 point % scored against them.
The Bulls will immediately take the ball inside against Bass and Howard and try to get Howard in foul trouble and I can't see what the Magic are gonna be able to do about it.

The only way the Magic win is if they win 2-3 games with 3 point shooting the lights out of the building and then another 1-2 games of Howard getting 40 points and 20 rebounds.
Sorry guys the Magic are garbage this year and Dwight Howard still has the offense of Shawn Bradley.

[csfansince60s]

The Bulls will immediately take the ball inside against Bass and Howard and try to get Howard in foul trouble and I can't see what the Magic are gonna be able to do about it.

........ and Dwight Howard still has the offense of Shawn Bradley.

This should read "the Magic will immediately take the ball inside and attack Noah and Boozer". Then the Bulls will be in real trouble. They are only 6 deep.

Also, saying that Dwight Howard's offense is equivalent to Shawn Bradley's?

The Magic's dominance at the 5 and their depth and the 2 and 3 means they will rule the perimeter and the inside.

 Wait till little DRose gets flattened a few times. He'll turn into a jump-shooter real quick and become far less effective. Also, Nelson and Arenas will be working him pretty good on the other end. He does have to play D against two pretty aggressive guards in their own right, although admittedly not of the caliber as Rose. Also, Nelson has been on the big stage before. DRose hasn't been out of the first round.Let's see how he does when the lights are on.

I do agree with your analysis of foul trouble for either Howard or Noah/Boozer though as being controlling in this series.....Very insightful and accurate to the point of being determinative as to the outcome of this series. Nice point,TP, and which way it will go, I don't think either of us can know for sure.

[j804]

yea Bulls will try containing him with the hack a Howard and they got tons of fouls to give in Gibson Thomas Asik etc

plus D Rose will have Howard in constant foul trouble the way he gets the whistle

[jdpapa3]

Sorry guys the Magic are garbage this year and Dwight Howard still has the offense of Shawn Bradley.

I get the feeling that you haven't watched Dwight much this year, but he is a high usage, high efficiency player that has become almost unguardable when he is hitting that banked jumper. Which he does have now.

I agree with you OP. The Magic did screw up that trade, but they still have the formula to take down Chicago. I think they'd need JRich, Nelson, and Hedo to shoot well, though. I think Redick being hurt is not talked about enough.

[chambers]

The Bulls will immediately take the ball inside against Bass and Howard and try to get Howard in foul trouble and I can't see what the Magic are gonna be able to do about it.

........ and Dwight Howard still has the offense of Shawn Bradley.

This should read "the Magic will immediately take the ball inside and attack Noah and Boozer". Then the Bulls will be in real trouble. They are only 6 deep.

Also, saying that Dwight Howard's offense is equivalent to Shawn Bradley's?

The Magic's dominance at the 5 and their depth and the 2 and 3 means they will rule the perimeter and the inside.

 Wait till little DRose gets flattened a few times. He'll turn into a jump-shooter real quick and become far less effective. Also, Nelson and Arenas will be working him pretty good on the other end. He does have to play D against two pretty aggressive guards in their own right, although admittedly not of the caliber as Rose. Also, Nelson has been on the big stage before. DRose hasn't been out of the first round.Let's see how he does when the lights are on.

I do agree with your analysis of foul trouble for either Howard or Noah/Boozer though as being controlling in this series.....Very insightful and accurate to the point of being determinative as to the outcome of this series. Nice point,TP, and which way it will go, I don't think either of us can know for sure.

So if the Bulls are only 6 big men deep, what are the magic? Can you see the irony in your comparison?
What do the Magic do if Dwight gets 2 early fouls? Is Brandon Bass going to take over the game?

Dwight is definitely not Shawn Bradley (that was an exaggeration ) but he also definitely not Hakeem Olajuwan. His offense will only take them so far- they rely too heavily on hitting outside shots and the Bulls are excellent at guarding the paint AND protecting the 3 point line.

[PosImpos]

If we somehow make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, there's absolutely no chance we don't face the Bulls there.

I expect the Bulls to steamroll their way to the Eastern Conference Finals.  The Magic or Hawks could be a little bit of a speed bump in the second round, but nothing too challenging.

[greenpride32]

For what it's worth CHI leads the series 2-1 going into the SUN game.  The loss came earlier in the season in Boozer's first game back from injury so they were stil getting adjusted then.  The two victories were this year with Boozer in the line-up.

I think series between BOS/CHI/MIA could go either way and whatever the outcomes, they wouldn't be surprising.  But I think most feel ORL should fall to any of those teams.