The Cavs vs Bulls Series

[theSTEREO.]

I dunno. I've watched the Bulls a bit recently and they're scraping by IMO. They got handled for 3.5 quarters tonight at home at full strength by Toronto. Gotta give them credit for the huge burst that won them the game. But the Raptors lost this one.

If the playoffs started today, I'd be WAY more scared of Atlanta. I'm getting less and less worried about our loss to the Hawks last week. They beat the Bulls, then beat us on the road without Teague, then beat Houston on the road without Teague, and are smashing the Mavs tonight, again without Teague.

 

[Anglefan]

I dunno. I've watched the Bulls a bit recently and they're scraping by IMO. They got handled for 3.5 quarters tonight at home at full strength by Toronto. Gotta give them credit for the huge burst that won them the game. But the Raptors lost this one.

I feel exactly the same way. The Bulls have all of these players playing amazingly, but they just don't seem to be "great" as a team. They're a very good team, but it's just not all adding up the way it would seem to on paper. I watch them and it seems like Gasol plays great, Rose plays great, Butler plays great and yet it always still goes down to the wire no matter who they are playing.

 

[Pioneer10]

ATL is interesting in that they have two bigs who are big time scorers who can post up and hit mid range jumpers. I think Memphis is the only other team where either big is a threat to go for 20-30 a night (maybe Washington is another). You add in all the 3 point shooting they have plus a good PG and it's not surprising they are doing well.

Nonetheless, the East is looking scarier then I thought as I think Toronto and Atlanta remind me of the Detroit runs - teams who collectively are better then the sum of their part (good players in the starting lineup combined with a strong bench). Plus the playoffs aren't starting right now and a Bulls team with Rose and Butler spending more time together plus Mirotic getting more experience is going to be tough.

 

[priceFTW]

I feel exactly the same way. The Bulls have all of these players playing amazingly, but they just don't seem to be "great" as a team. They're a very good team, but it's just not all adding up the way it would seem to on paper. I watch them and it seems like Gasol plays great, Rose plays great, Butler plays great and yet it always still goes down to the wire no matter who they are playing.

I've felt the exact same way although Rose has been awful offensively for mos of the season. If, and it's a big if, he can consistently play close to the level he showed in the fourth tonight, Bulls be one a lot tougher. He's still not making any threes though which will be key in game planning for him.

My biggest concern is the when the season started, Butler was a defensive plus who could score some gritty points. In now way, shape, or form did if think he would get 10+ FTs a game seemingly on a nightly basis and be a 21+ PER player. This really changes the dynamics.

 

[David.]

I'll say it all season, Atlanta and Toronto are the scary teams in the east. Washington is a pretender, bulls are nothing to worry about

 

[LeShaq]

I was not worried about the Bulls at all at the start of the year. Now I am a bit, and it's because of Butler. Also, their bench (Gibson, Brooks, Mirotic) can be big at times.

We could have some issues with them. This is the first time all season I've felt that way.

I'm not worried about it, but hopefully we will be able to add a piece here or there this season to help us out. I'm sure that by next year we'll match up better with them.

 

[tn819]

Butler is an all star, playing better than any guard in the east and one of my favorite players in the east. Thibs is predictably running him into the ground. He is a special defensive player. He was blocking 3 point shots right and left yesterday and doing so even once he got to the 40+ minute mark.

Their guards can't shoot though and their bigs are overrated. They are gritty, but having pau and dunleavy as starters diluted their defensive identity. Deng was the perfect fit at the 3 because of his grit.

Their bench is much stronger than ours. I like Aaron Brooks over drose in half the games, particularly since he can actually shoot. Mitotic gets exposed defensively although a good piece on offense. Gibson is the best bench big in the league.

Bottom line: they don't have answers for our stretch game since they have lumbering big men, and lebron always creates a mismatch. They will lose against us in ashoot out, but if they get back to their defensive ways, watch out.

The east is slowly but surely rising to respectability as a 5 team deep conference

 

[blommen]

Question is when Thibs will run him into the ground, causing him to miss the Post season

 

[priceFTW]

Butler is an all star, playing better than any guard in the east and one of my favorite players in the east. Thibs is predictably running him into the ground. He is a special defensive player. He was blocking 3 point shots right and left yesterday and doing so even once he got to the 40+ minute mark.

Their guards can't shoot though and their bigs are overrated. They are gritty, but having pau and dunleavy as starters diluted their defensive identity. Deng was the perfect fit at the 3 because of his grit.

Their bench is much stronger than ours. I like Aaron Brooks over drose in half the games, particularly since he can actually shoot. Mitotic gets exposed defensively although a good piece on offense. Gibson is the best bench big in the league.

Bottom line: they don't have answers for our stretch game since they have lumbering big men, and lebron always creates a mismatch. They will lose against us in ashoot out, but if they get back to their defensive ways, watch out.

The east is slowly but surely rising to respectability as a 5 team deep conference

43, 44, 43 minutes played in the last three games. Thibs trusts him more and relies more on him than anyone. He's young and strong as an ox, but I can't see him doing this night in and night out and being fresh for the playoffs. These are 40+ minute games sans any coasting.

 

[Cavatt]

I see Tristan as a future Gibson. Stopper who can guard 3's and switch on guards. I love Gibson. Always my favorite player on this bulls team. He just executes well and really defends. He never has a bad game because he always contributes.

He came in as 4 year player that was doubted mostly because of age, but he played very mature like Delly.

Tristan is just his age entering the league now, so I think Tristan can be that rock off the bench and fooling in for the starter when he is hurt.

 

[randymoss1881]

I see Tristan as a future Gibson. Stopper who can guard 3's and switch on guards. I love Gibson. Always my favorite player on this bulls team. He just executes well and really defends. He never has a bad game because he always contributes.

He came in as 4 year player that was doubted mostly because of age, but he played very mature like Delly.

Tristan is just his age entering the league now, so I think Tristan can be that rock off the bench and fooling in for the starter when he is hurt.

He's not teaching Gibson

 

[czvo]

Tristan will never be the offensive player Gibson is.

 

[Cavatt]

Everything is so yes or no around here. No he isnt by as good as Gibson yet. Gibson was not a finished product at Tristan's age either.

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

Everything has changed since butler has become a stud

Jimmy is now leading his team with rose as his 2nd fiddle


Going to be interesting

 

[randymoss1881]

Everything has changed since butler has become a stud

Jimmy is now leading his team with rose as his 2nd fiddle


Going to be interesting

I still think rose will be rose by playoff times. When he isn't playing vs an elite team rose just shoots 3s. But playing vs elite teams he goes back to attacking and his floater is deadly now. Playoff time he will be attacking but you're right the way butler is playing is crazy bulls got Mirotic/Butler in the same draft.