Predict the Series Bulls Cavs

[celticsclay]

The Bulls gave themselves a little positive momentum with a 50 point win after perhaps a tougher than expected 6 game series against the Bucks. They move on to play the Cavs with Cleveland holding home court advantage. For the first 2 games of the series Jr Smith is suspended (I think it should have been longer but I digress).

Who wins this series and why?

I personally will be rooting for the Bulls. I actually like Thibs and it seems like he may be losing his job after this season so that is one reason (he does do a lot of stupid things like having a beat up Noah on the floor with a 45 point lead last night). I also like Butler and Mirotic as players, and nobody on the Bulls really rubs me the wrong way (Gasol did at one point, but at 35 years old and having left the Lakers it is hard to think of a reason to now).

On the Cavs I do think Kyrie and Lebron are immensely talented, but can't really ever root for Lebron for things that are not worth getting into. I am inclined to think that the Bulls can win this in 6 games but this requires they capitalize on the Smith suspension in the first 2 games.

The primary reason I say this is depth. I don't think Lebron can play at a peak level for 48 minutes at this level in his career and they really need him to because of the weakness of the Cavs bench. A top 8 of

Noah
Rose
Butler
Mitoric
Gasol
Gibson
Dunleavy
Heinrich/Brooks

Really will have a massive depth advantage over

Irving
Shumpert
James
Thompson
Mosgov
Delladova
Marion?
Jones

For the first two games. The spurs series taught me last year the importance of depth. Another year older and with an even worse bench, I don't think Lebron can do it again.

[D.o.s.]

Bulls in 6 because Dan Gilbert deserves nothing but misery.

Also because the NBA is a better place when Derrick Rose is playing like DERRICK ROSE, and he's going to have to if they have a shot at winning this series.

[celticsclay]

I also do think it could be the course of Wiggins. He was named rookie of the year on the day Love posted a selfie of himself in a sling during the playoff run.

Related,  I am a huge celtics fan but am honestly surprised these playoffs don't warrant more discussion than 3 threads on cousin/monroe or players that are still playing (Danny Green, Draymond) possibly joining us next year. Do people forget how long and boring the offseason is?

[Beat LA]

Bulls in 6 because Dan Gilbert deserves nothing but misery.

Also because the NBA is a better place when Derrick Rose is playing like DERRICK ROSE, and he's going to have to if they have a shot at winning this series.

It is?  And by playing as himself, do you mean completely out of control and with no interest in ever passing to any of his teammates?  No matter who wins, this series is going to be a drawn-out, ugly, slug-fest, imo.

It's Hinrich, not Heinrich, as in Himmler, btw, lol .  The matchups should be interesting to watch, as well.  I'd think that the Cavs will put Shumpert on Rose to start, and maybe switch Lebron on to him later, if need be.  For Chicago, Butler has to be on Lebron, meaning that Dunleavy will take, umm, Shumpert?  My head is starting to spin, lol .  I guess that that leaves Rose on Irving, and on the other end, Kyrie taking Dunleavy?  Man, this is getting confusing, haha .  And this is all before Smith comes back.  Crap, lol .

[TheTruthFot18]

Not that Love was a force down low but the cavs will be a 1-3 team in this series. Gasol, Noah, and Gibson will have the upper hand against Mozgov, Thompson, and whoever else they can throw out at the 4-5 thats not Lebron.

I've never liked Chicago (as a contender) but I think they can get this in 6

[SparzWizard]

Bulls in 4.

[Who]

Coaching will be very important for Cleveland. If Blatt stays big with LeBron at SF and plays two offensively limited big men, I think Chicago will win in 4 or 5 games. If Blatt goes small with LeBron at PF (defending Noah - limited scorer, LeBron can easily handle that matchup), then I expect Cleveland to win in a long hard fought series.

I will be rooting for Chicago but I expect Cleveland to win in a long series. Kinda similar to the series where Miami beat Indiana after Chris Bosh got injured early in the series a few years ago. I think it was the year Miami beat OKC in the Finals.

[Vermont Green]

Cavs in 7. Don't forget that James will still get every call. All Chi has done is beat Milwaukee

[SparzWizard]

Coaching will be very important for Cleveland. If Blatt stays big with LeBron at SF and plays two offensively limited big men, I think Chicago will win in 4 or 5 games. If Blatt goes small with LeBron at PF (defending Noah - limited scorer, LeBron can easily handle that matchup), then I expect Cleveland to win in a long hard fought series.

I will be rooting for Chicago but I expect Cleveland to win in a long series. Kinda similar to the series where Miami beat Indiana after Chris Bosh got injured early in the series a few years ago. I think it was the year Miami beat OKC in the Finals.

It was also the year where we should've been in the NBA Finals with Keyon Dooling, Greg Stiemsma, Mickael Pietrus, Marquis Daniels, Ryan Hollins, and Ray Allen sitting in the bench...but the refs just had to rig Game 2, and LeBron had to go super-saiyan mode in Game 6, so meh. 

[Roy H.]

Cavs in 7.  Maybe in 6.

[PhoSita]

Bulls in 6.  Thibs puts on a defensive clinic and the Bulls' big men get the Cavs' frontcourt, which has zero depth, in foul trouble.

[Beat LA]

You guys might find this interesting, especially Webber's idea of moving Lebron to the 4, which now makes him look like Nostradamus, lol .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwkfz53uqvg

[GratefulCs]

Here's my prediction:


Bulls in five or six


In one of the last games, it gets chippy as all heck, and JR lands another punch


Then people make MORE excuses for lebron (as if he hasn't had the luxury to coast through the east for half his career) and let him off the hook





https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-zsB2g8yY58

[Csfan1984]

Gut says Cavs in 5 and I find more hate for LeBron.
But I honestly have no idea who the refs will pull for in this series and think as the calls go so does the series.

[Kuberski33]

Love's loss really hurts Cleveland and Smith missing 2 games hurts them even more. I see the first two games as key.  If Cleveland gets one they win the series in 7.  If they don't, Chicago in 6.