2014 - 2015 Eastern Conference

[Cavsengland]

From how Rose looked last night, I came away for the first time in the summer worried about the Bulls. I think we are better, but only after getting Love. Another strong reason I do not wait to try to make a trade at the break. I dont think Love is in any way a luxury with a healthy (explosive Rose) I think he is a necessity to get out of the East!
The Bulls are going to be very solid!

Rose looked even better in pre season last season.

lets just wait until the season starts to see what he's like when he's up against defences designed to stop him like last season.

 

[AZCavs]

Look, Derrick Rose looked explosive but let's not get ahead of ourselves. The defense in that exhibition was lackluster and it was a scrimmage. I'm sure the Bulls will be great, but where else is the offense coming from? An aging Gasol is likely their second scoring option. Their defense is strong, yes, but it's nowhere strong enough to offset Love, Kyrie and LeBron on the offensive end of the floor. To me, having LeBron is enough for me to believe the Cavs are already better, but once the Love deal is official, the Bulls are a clear step below the Cavs.

 

[morgwon]

No matter how good Rose looks it doesn't change the fact that he has two bad knees and relies on his explosiveness. I just don't trust Rose staying healthy with Thibs being stuck in his old coaching ways. he's going to grind him down trying to get the first seed in the east and Rose's wheels are going to fall off. I have said it before and I'll say it again: The bulls will never win a championship with Thibs at the helm, and especially not with an injury prone athletic superstar Point Guard.

You do realize that the last two years the Bulls depth has been severely hampered due to injuries? They went from having a solid rotation 10 deep in 2011 to sometimes only having 7 deep the last two years. The Bulls sometime only had 8 players dressed in the series against the Nets. That had nothing to do with Thibs. Freak infection for Deng. Noah dealing with ankle injury. Hinrich as well. That is why I don't criticize Thibs for his heavy usage of his players. I won't discount the possibility of Rose getting injured again but the fact that Derrick Rose went for the longer meniscus repair rather than removing it allowed his body more time to heal. He also has youth on his side. Right now I am liking his explosiveness. He still needs to get his legs under him though so I am glad he had the chance to do it during the summer against elite competition. Liking what I have seen so far. Tony Snell who excelled in the summer league might have trouble getting consistent minutes due to them being 11 deep.

 

[PIP]

Noah and Gasol is the best front court in the east...

- Defensiely should be very solid
- Rebounding should be sound
- Passing and creating offense will be elite from the 4/5

Sprinkle in Rose, Gibson, Butler and if they get any production from their 2 rookies (which I like a lot) --- Chicago could be dangerous... Very !!

Like them a lot better than Miami and the overall structure of their team more....

 

[morgwon]

Look, Derrick Rose looked explosive but let's not get ahead of ourselves. The defense in that exhibition was lackluster and it was a scrimmage. I'm sure the Bulls will be great, but where else is the offense coming from? An aging Gasol is likely their second scoring option. Their defense is strong, yes, but it's nowhere strong enough to offset Love, Kyrie and LeBron on the offensive end of the floor. To me, having LeBron is enough for me to believe the Cavs are already better, but once the Love deal is official, the Bulls are a clear step below the Cavs.

Funny you say this when many members of this board use All Star weekend performances to prop up Kyrie and Waiters. If I am being honest the addition of Love does not scare me that much. I still think you need to be at least top 10 defensively to be able to win a championship and I just don't see how Love and Kyrie playing a majority of the minutes will get you there. I am only basing my opinion on their NBA regular season history. Until proven they can be a good defensive team I still like the Bulls chances. I will say this though that if all things teamwise are evenly matched the Cavs obviously have the best player so that gives them the edge.

 

[Cavsengland]

Funny you say this when many members of this board use All Star weekend performances to prop up Kyrie and Waiters. If I am being honest the addition of Love does not scare me that much. I still think you need to be at least top 10 defensively to be able to win a championship and I just don't see how Love and Kyrie playing a majority of the minutes will get you there. I am only basing my opinion on their NBA regular season history. Until proven they can be a good defensive team I still like the Bulls chances. I will say this though that if all things teamwise are evenly matched the Cavs obviously have the best player so that gives them the edge.

And until rose can prove in an actual nba game he's back to his best I like the cavs chances.

 

[morgwon]

And until rose can prove in an actual nba game he's back to his best I like the cavs chances.

Don't think a game is enough. Has to stay healthy and obviously has to be able to excel in the games for the entire season.

 

[Cavsengland]

Don't think a game is enough. Has to stay healthy and obviously has to be able to excel in the games for the entire season.

And you think he will be able to do that?

 

[Jordan]

1: Bulls
2: Cavs
3: Wizards
4: Hornets
5: Heat
6: Raptors
7:Knicks
8: Hawks

Bulls vs. Hawks = Bulls in 5
Cavs vs. Knicks = Cavs in 6
Wizards vs. Raptors = Wiz in 5
Hornets vs. Heat = Heat in 7

Bulls vs Heat = Bulls in 6
Cavs vs. Wizards = Cavs in 7

Bulls vs. Cavs = Bulls in 7

That's my take of what will happen this year. Orlando could surprise people and jump in the playoffs. I think Brooklyn will be too slow this year to do anything important. I think Wizards match up well against Bulls so if standings are different I could see the former going to ECF. In that case Cavs in the finals.

 

[morgwon]

And you think he will be able to do that?

Russell Westbrook looked pretty good last season coming back from his meniscus tear. I just hope DRose doesn't have the post surgery cleanups Russell had to get. Normally they say you need 2 years to fully recover (mentally and physically) from an ACL. Has been 2+. In the first 10 games last season he looked like he still had his speed and explosiveness. He was just rusty as fuck. Lets say I am more optimistic about the prospects given all the evidence I have.

 

[amil99]

Lol at thinking a Rose led team will ever beat a team with Lebron on it.

 

[col63onel]

Noah and Gasol is the best front court in the east...

- Defensiely should be very solid
- Rebounding should be sound
- Passing and creating offense will be elite from the 4/5

Sprinkle in Rose, Gibson, Butler and if they get any production from their 2 rookies (which I like a lot) --- Chicago could be dangerous... Very !!

Like them a lot better than Miami and the overall structure of their team more....

I know LeBron doesn't want to play the 4 a lot, but I feel that in a series vs the Bulls, he would. Bulls would pretty much be forced to play 1 big.

 

[AZCavs]

Russell Westbrook looked pretty good last season coming back from his meniscus tear. I just hope DRose doesn't have the post surgery cleanups Russell had to get. Normally they say you need 2 years to fully recover (mentally and physically) from an ACL. Has been 2+. In the first 10 games last season he looked like he still had his speed and explosiveness. He was just rusty as fuck. Lets say I am more optimistic about the prospects given all the evidence I have.

And you have every right to be optimistic. I would be too. The Bulls have a very, very good team. I just don't see them finishing ahead of the Cavs if the Cavs end up with Kevin Love. Thibs is a very good defensive minded coach an should be able to keep them among the elite defensive teams again this year. But, even with how good they have been defensively, Cleveland would have far too much offensive firepower around LeBron for Chicagoto stop. I also have no doubt that Cleveland's team defense improves dramatically as LeBron will demand more out of Kyrie and Kevin Love than any of their previous teammates have been able to. Chicago will no doubt be better than Cleveland defensively, but I like Cleveland's offensive firepower much more than I like Chicago's.

 

[Redzone]

Don't think a game is enough. Has to stay healthy and obviously has to be able to excel in the games for the entire season.

Rose was not defended last night. He simply went to the rim, etc. at will. It's like playing in the backyard by yourself without anyone else. Color me not impressed--at least not yet.

Part of my thinks coach K told his team not to defend Rose so he gets his confidence back.

Giving how players backed off from him, the media gushing was just silly.

 

[batdan]

Sleeping on the Bulls isn't a bright idea.

• Noah was the defensive player of the year last year and probably healthy this year.
• Rose is their best guy attacking off the dribble and he's surrounded by 3pt shooters in Gasol, Mirotic, Mcbuckets, Dunleavy, Brooks, etc. The drive and kick game is going to be dangerous.
• Butler will probably be better mainly focusing on defense and being a threat on the wings, hitting corner 3s(Which he excels at, shooting 43% just last year).

Staying healthy is going to be tough for teams like the Bulls, Nets, Knicks, and Hawks who've lost key guys in the past, in multiple seasons. It's a safe bet at least one of these teams won't make the post-season because of injuries.