Showing posts with label ECF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ECF. Show all posts

Crash and Burn


I had to let this one cool for a few weeks. If I would have posted after the game I may have torn this team to shreds and I don't wanna do that(I will a weee bit). What I saw in Game 5 was one of the biggest melt downs in NBA history. Easily the biggest in Bulls history. It was pretty embarrassing. The Bulls had to do everything wrong from the 3:00 min mark(that includes a four point play) to lose the game. The Heat had to do everything right for them to pull it off. Those two things happened and left the city stunned.

Thibs makes errors


I love how Thomas and the bench played to a point but once it became clear after the last time out that Derrick Rose was going 1 on 5 and needed more help that was the time to put back in Booze and Noah. Maybe they tip in a miss or give the Bulls an extra shot clock. Anything. To play it out with the group on the floor was a huge mistake.

Not having anymore time out is another huge mistake. He goes through them fast since he is a control freak but you gotta be mindful of them and keep a few for the situation that the Bulls put them selfs in. He didn't and it resulted in a car wreak of a final play where Korver was being chased by three Heat players.

I really wonder going forward if his style of coaching will last.Will he wear his guys out before the playoffs? I for one think they looked tired the whole playoff season. Will they just get sick of him and we will have Scott Skiles all over again? I wanna say that he is different and demands a different respect but I think he will need to tweak some of his habits in order to survive over a long haul.

Derrick Rose
He was brutal again and for the whole game. It hard to not blame him in the end when he was a main reason the Bulls lost. He was just dribbling around hoping and praying.. Going 1 on 5. I think more of that had to do with with the group on the floor. But he had to make plays and just didn't. After such a great regular season Derrick took his lumps in the playoffs.

He will come back better. This loss will sit forever with him. Even if he goes on to win a ring this lose will linger forever. It was that bad. He may need therapy.

He just made one bone head play after another. Letting Wade get to the hoop, giving up a four point play. Silly turnovers have costed him and the team all playoffs and this night was no different. Still doesn't have the best court vision in the world and doubt that changes much. His shot will get better and him handling the "moment" will get better.

The missing of clutch FTs is a bit concerning. Now people are linking him with missed ones in the final four and in spot light of the ECF. Lets just hope its a hick up and not something that sticks with him.

In the end he just looked tired. He was tired all playoffs. He hit a wall. He didn't have much lift at all. Most of his shots were short. His play in the lane stunk(a true sign of tired legs) and he lost his edge. With going balls out all year and team USA this shouldn't really be surprising. I expect him to bounce back since thats whats in his nature. He just left a sour taste in everyone mouth and it won't leave until the next season starts(when ever that is).

Noah and Boozer
Noah still to me just doesn't look right. I gotta think his thumb is still an issue. He uses his left hand all the time now and refuses to shoot his jump shot. Something is wrong. Wouldn't be surprised if we heard something more about this in the coming weeks. He looked like a shell of himself during most the playoffs. I think being injured had a lot to do with it.

Boozer is well... Boozer. He was over paid and didn't show up when needed. He was terrible around the hoop. He missed or got blocked on countless layups. He is just so under sized and has a weak mental state on the floor that it shines through when he looks scared to even shoot or when he is busy picking up flagrant fouls. There are already rumblings that the Bulls will try and move him(good luck). I still think we could use him but maybe in a back up role. I think its time Gibson starts and we go that route.

The Playoff Run
It was a brutal run and I am not sure this team could have beat Boston. They were just really bad for 75% of the playoffs. The Bulls were very lucky to gave the easiest road to the ECF because running into Boston may have resulted in a 2nd round exit.

For whatever reason the Bulls just lacked a lot energy and killer instinct all playoffs. Looking almost a sleep vs the Pacers and Hawks. Not sure if the whole team hit the wall or some how lost its edge along the way.

The Off Season
I expect the Bulls to search for a trade for Boozer and may not find much. I did heard the Magic were asking about him. Also heard rumblings of the Warriors nosing around about a Deng for Ellis trade but that puts the Bulls in the same position as they are in with the SG. Now we have no SF. Plus Deng is a glue guy and no way Thibs and the Bulls wanna deal with Ellis and his issues.

People are hoping the Magic will get dumb all of a sudden and trade Howard. Really don't hold your breath. The dude has made it clear he will give the Magic a chance. I haven't even heard the Bulls rumored. More the Lakers and Nets. If the Magic would deal Howard to Chicago, the Bulls should pretty much do anything possible to make that happen but I give it about a 10% chance of that happening. Basically I will eat my hat if it does.

Rose will take a huge break I am guessing and then get back to work. He will work on getting better. He got a terrible taste in his mouth.

The Bulls should really try and bring Thomas back and maybe even look to move Korver in a package for SG if the chance shows its self. He was pretty bad since the Pacers series.

I will still be posting Bulls content all off season. More of it maybe remembering the good old days but with a lock out looming it could be a long long off season. Lets hope they figure it out but the sides seem light years a part... ugh.

Random Thoughts and Why God??


Well since my internet at work decided to go out at the worst possible that kept me from doing my game 2,3 and 4 review which may have been a good thing since I would have said things I didn't mean.

Now that we are back up to speed and the Bulls season is on the brink of ending tonight. I just wanna see them compete and not roll over like a dog like so many teams do. I am not sure that they do. They look tired and frustrated. I am tired and frustrated so I have to think they are. I will say they have brought effort to the last 3 games and good energy but effort can only go so far when you can't throw it into the ocean. I am a bit surprised this issue never came up sooner in the season where the Bulls would brick them selfs out of games but they really didn't. So the fact that they have been this bad must be some of the Heats defense and us just be terrible at scoring.

Derrick Rose
A lot as been made of his poor play. You have group "A" of fans that will never say anything bad about Rose no matter how bad he plays just due to the fact that he brings so much to the team and the city and then there is is group "B" that says he still gotta be hold responsible for how he plays and shouldn't be given a free pass. I fall into a bit of both but right now its more group B for me.

As great as Rose has been during the season he hasn't been as good in playoffs and I will say it. He has been down right terrible since game 2. The heat have done a good job keeping the ball out of his hands and he(and Thibs) haven't done a good job figuring out how to counter that. Scoring something like 6pts in the last three 4th quarters doesn't cut it in the ECF and wouldn't for any teams best player. He talks about being more aggresive but I don't think that means you should just jack more shots. I feel like thats what he did in game 4. Just thought I will shoot more, well going all A.I. won't win us games and him missing huge FTs and taking fade away jumpers to end games won't either.

The air ball fade away vs Lebron had me turn red because in that situation which I will admit that he hasn't been in often is this. You either A.Drive and miss. B.Drive and get blocked or C.Drive and get fouled or D.Drive and score. If A or B happens then at least you tried to and had a chance to get C or D to happen(team just made a better play). Taking a fade away jumper vs the best player on the planet gives him and the Heat a huge % of surviving that moment.

Rose is still young and will learn in those moments but the turnovers,shooting % and overall play(how do you let Mike Miller dribble past you to the rim for a layup?) has just be pretty awful. I still love you Derrick but this poor ECF should fuel you for the summer to come.

Around the Hoop
The whole team has been terrible around the hoop. Noah's hands have turned to stone, Boozer missing anything and everything. Asik getting blocked and Rose flat out missing lay ups. Not sure what has happened to this team around the hoop as they seem to find ways to screw it up. Put that with bad outside shooting and it spells doom.

Bench Play
Its been pretty crap at best the last few games. Kyle Korver has gone beyond cold which makes him useless. I really see no point in playing him. I say just play Brewer more. Watson has been alright. Gibson hasn't be able to shake his game 1 performance. Asik is done for the season.... ugh.

Boozer
Has been pretty solid and maybe more solid then Rose but is still a giant dog on defense. Giving up a four point play and letting Bosh spin off him for dunks and lay in. Boozer should be still a decent player for us next year but going into 2013 he will have fans wanting him out of Chicago and will be hard to move.

The Big 3
They have played out standing and even when they don't you always have the other to pick up the slack. Bosh has really shot out of his mind and Lebron has been on point. Deng has done the best he could and still play decent on the offensive end. Wade has been hit or miss but done enough to make an impact. I felt like this was the year that the Bulls had to get them since they will only get better as time goes on.

Do we have a chance?
Ahh a very small one. Win tonight and then put in a miracle in Miami. Like I said in my preview, Bulls win this in 7 if they did win it and the Heat win it in 6. I expect the Heat to sorta come out laid back and will be primed to beat. As long as the Bulls still have some fight in them then they should win tonight in Chicago. If that holds true then Miami will bring the hammer in game 6 and it will take a amazing game by the Bulls to push it to 7 where its anyones game.

The Bulls have some issues to figure out. Lets hope they just shoot well tonight and make this a fight and not a  joke.

Game 1: Bulls vs Heat Game Review


There was the Bulls team I have been waiting for all Playoffs. Just the energy is what I am talking about. They brought it the whole game and I will say I am one to be hard on the UC crowd and they brought their "A" game. The night had a very 90s feel to the night where the Bulls were just flying around playing good sound basketball.

I don't expect this again in the series and in that I mean keep Lebron and Wade from getting theirs. The Bulls were amazing last night but to keep those superstars down like that for four games is gonna be tough. At some point they will get theirs and the Bulls gotta be ready to weather the storm. Game 2 becomes so important since they play so well in Miami and splitting could be very dangerous for the Bulls. Losing game 2 could give the Heat the chance to go up 3-1 and Chicago has to bring that same energy and solid basketball to game 2. Just don't let up.

Holding it under 80
The Bulls did what I said would be a huge stat. Keep the Big three under 80 and they knocked it out of the park by holding them to 63. If the Bulls can keep them in the low 70s they should win this series. The game plan was to load up on Lebron and Wade and let Bosh get his. Thats why he was open so much in the paint and in the 18 foot area. Thats fine as long as you hold Lebron and Wade. So far so good. 

Early on
I will say I was pretty nervous once the game started. Two fast break dunks to start the game. Derrick Rose being careless with the ball. I thought "oh great, the two things that will bury us" but the Bulls cleaned it up and kept the Heat in a half court game. The turnovers(9) were kept in check after the sloppy start. 

Deng>Lebron
Not gonna see that much. Deng out played Lebron for 90% of the game and was on point on both ends of the court. Deng getting some nice credit this morning on Mike and Mike and on ESPN which is well deserved since he is always the unsung hero. I know he may not shoot as well as he did last night but he can just stay in the realm of that. I expect Bron to come back and try his best to get to the rim and line. Deng will be ready.

Taj and Asik and the Bench
Taj had two dunks that were some of the best dunks of the year(not named Griffen). Taj seems to be on this peak right now(great time) and I hope he can keep it up. He is just flowing with mojo right now and some of his defense last night was outstanding. To hold Lebron one on one is pretty much a huge plus for the Bulls for their four and five men on switches. Asik did pretty decent too when stuck on Bron a few times. He as well just keeps plugging along. I never get sick of seeing those two handed hammer dunks and I saw him giving some looks to the heat players after his And One baskets. Hes building swagger which was something he lacked just due to always thinking while playing. Not anymore. 

I was pretty much dead wrong about the Heat bench. I figured they would use them more. I thought they would figure they had to play them to win. Jones and Chalmers were the only two to see a lot of time with Jamaal of all people getting 10 mins. Miller,House and Haslem would see less then 10mins combine. I am guessing Haslem just sin't there yet since I figured to see more of him. Miller? I dunno why they refuse to play him but their is zero trust in that bench and the Bulls bench is light years better. So yeah I was wrong... 

The Good
-Rose took care of it. 
-Noah had more energy then the whole Heat
-Boozer gave us what we need to win. 14 and 9.
-THROW IT DOWN TAJ!
-Wade... lol 
-Deng 
-Bench Mob is clicking
-Hey Kyle hit a 3 ball!
-Game plan
-ALL YOUR REBOUNDS BELONG TO US!

The Bad
-Semi sloppy start
-Bosh getting his
-Wade missed bunnies(won't happen again)
-Rose's turnovers

The Ugly
-back court turnovers

The Players

Noah: Had his way around the hoop. Brought the house.
Boozer: Played very well. Seems have his legs back.
Deng: Lebron who? 
Bogans: Tried his hardest to score 6pts but failed.
Rose: Set a great Pace. Let the 3 ball come to him. 

The Bench Mob

Gibson: Had Reggie Miller falling out of his chair. 
Asik: Owned the paint while in
Watson: Made a tough shot. Set up Taj... Ballin CJ
Korver: Still struggling. Mins have been cut a bit. Him guarding Wade is scary. 
Brewer: Great defense. Threw down a dunk on Bosh. Thats why hes on the floor.





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