The Cavs vs Bulls Series

[I'mWithDan]

Not sure why we need to try to hide Kyrie?

Just play off of Rose. Go under screens, force him to shoot jumpers and make him really work to get to the basket by slouching off. Play in to his inefficiencies and take everyone else away.

Rose has yet to prove he can carry a team to a series win. The Cavs can only lose to the Bulls if the Chicago role players go off IMO. They don't have an individual guy that can pull them across the finish line.

 

[spydy13]

Kyrie is going to get his shit together on the defensive end. We saw him do it earlier in the year. He can lock guys down when the effort is there, and I'm sure LeBron will tell him that after this series he needs to lock in for the rest of the year.

 

[castor777]

Not sure why we need to try to hide Kyrie?

Just play off of Rose. Go under screens, force him to shoot jumpers and make him really work to get to the basket by slouching off. Play in to his inefficiencies and take everyone else away.

Rose has yet to prove he can carry a team to a series win. The Cavs can only lose to the Bulls if the Chicago role players go off IMO. They don't have an individual guy that can pull them across the finish line.

Exactly this. Even though we've seen Rose get hot behind the arc, he is a career 30% 3 pt shooter and actually shot 28% from there this season while almost doubling his attempts. It's likely due to his injuries but he's become more comfortable as a shooter despite not being a very good one. If you get Rose to stay out of the paint and be a jump shooter all game, you live with the outcome and the Cavs would likely prevail. If he's in old Rose beast mode, then you decide making some adjustments/rotations on him. But I just don't think he has it in him anymore to be that kind of player every night.

 

[Pioneer10]

This plan doesn't work if Mirotic is playing SF that forces kyrie on rose.

Rob beat me to it but there is no way the Bulls could stay with the Cavs with Mirotic at SF. Lebron would go to town on him.

Now things could get interesting if they go to something like Noah/Mirotic/Dunleavy/Rose/Butler. That's a very good mix of floor spacing and defense.

 

[Mdog1]

Rose is one of the easiest stars to guard. Lay back about 4 or 5 feet so he can't drive by you, and let his jumpshot, and lack of willingness to pass do the work.

No need to try and hide Kyrie on anyone, when we can keep him on Rose, let him sag off, and let Rose take jump shots with late closes. If Rose is hitting the jumpers, then we can try to body him up with LeBron.

 

[Bulls_fan]

Rose is one of the easiest stars to guard. Lay back about 4 or 5 feet so he can't drive by you, and let his jumpshot, and lack of willingness to pass do the work.

No need to try and hide Kyrie on anyone, when we can keep him on Rose, let him sag off, and let Rose take jump shots with late closes. If Rose is hitting the jumpers, then we can try to body him up with LeBron.

I don't think we're watching the same games if you think Rose is unwilling to pass.

 

[LeShaq]

We will miss Andy against the Bulls. He gave them problems with his movement (against Pau) and his size (against Gibson). Love and Tristan will have to pick up that slack. And Perkins is probably going to be using his fouls.

 

[Prime 1978]

We will miss Andy against the Bulls. He gave them problems with his movement (against Pau) and his size (against Gibson). Love and Tristan will have to pick up that slack. And Perkins is probably going to be using his fouls.

Historically, Mosgov has given Gasol problems. Hopefully he can stay out of foul trouble.

 

[randymoss1881]

Rob beat me to it but there is no way the Bulls could stay with the Cavs with Mirotic at SF. Lebron would go to town on him.

Now things could get interesting if they go to something like Noah/Mirotic/Dunleavy/Rose/Butler. That's a very good mix of floor spacing and defense.

Mirotic playing SF is suicide...LeBron would annihilate him.

Come on Why would they put Mirotic on lebron when he can guard whoever is playing PF/SG. Butler/Snell will always be on him no matter what position he plays

 

[Pioneer10]

Come on Why would they put Mirotic on lebron when he can guard whoever is playing PF/SG. Butler/Snell will always be on him no matter what position he plays

Huh? The whole reason the Bulls play Mirotic at SF is they play him with two other bigs like Noah and Paul so if Mirotic guards the Cavs PF then do the Bulls want one of those guys guarding Lebron? My God would James feast on that.

Plus Mirotic is a natural PF who is out of position at SF: he would have a hell of a time sticking with a guy like JR Smith on the perimeter

 

[randymoss1881]

Huh? The whole reason the Bulls play Mirotic at SF is they play him with two other bigs like Noah and Paul so if Mirotic guards the Cavs PF then do the Bulls want one of those guys guarding Lebron? My God would James feast on that.

Plus Mirotic is a natural PF who is out of position at SF: he would have a hell of a time sticking with a guy like JR Smith on the perimeter

Rose-Irving
Mirotic-Smith
Butler-Lebron
Gosal-Love
Noah-Mosgov

If the plan than is to give JR the ball and beat Mirotic off the dribble the bulls take that all day.

 

[Pioneer10]

Rose-Irving
Mirotic-Smith
Butler-Lebron
Gosal-Love
Noah-Mosgov

If the plan than is to give JR the ball and beat Mirotic off the dribble the bulls take that all day.

You realize the instance the Bulls run this the Cavs will run Mirotic with elevator door play to force Mirotic to try to stick with a cutting Smith or simply use Smith as the screener to force him onto Lebron and then Gasol or Noah to guard Smith outside. This is not a good cross match

 

[Cassity14]

Rose-Irving
Mirotic-Smith
Butler-Lebron
Gosal-Love
Noah-Mosgov

If the plan than is to give JR the ball and beat Mirotic off the dribble the bulls take that all day.

This isn't a pre game 2k menu. The Cavs would force that switch in a heartbeat. Here's a very elementary way of doing so:

JR Smith has the ball up top. LeBron sets a screen (pretty common set for the Cavs). Smith comes off the screen to the top of the key. Either Chicago switches it, allowing LeBron to go to his iso area between the elbow and corner, or Chicago doesn't switch, meaning Mirotic goes under the screen, allowing JR Smith to tee off from 3.

Yeah, Thibs isn't going to do that.

 

[Prime 1978]

This isn't a pre game 2k menu. The Cavs would force that switch in a heartbeat. Here's a very elementary way of doing so:

JR Smith has the ball up top. LeBron sets a screen (pretty common set for the Cavs). Smith comes off the screen to the top of the key. Either Chicago switches it, allowing LeBron to go to his iso area between the elbow and corner, or Chicago doesn't switch, meaning Mirotic goes under the screen, allowing JR Smith to tee off from 3.

Yeah, Thibs isn't going to do that.

Or the Bulls could trap JR (ala Atlanta) and make him have to make decisions under pressure. Although it was more Kyrie and LeBron, the Cavs struggled mightily when Atlanta trapped the ball handler on PNR's the last time they played them.

And even if they chose to go under the screen, with the way JR is shooting two games into the playoffs, it would be a fair tradeoff.

 

[Benedict_Boozer]

Only concern against Chicago is Rose. The throwback game he had in game 1 where he was getting in the lane and finishing and knocking down jumpers would be a problem. Then he looked like hobbled Rose again in game 2 so he is just a huge wildcard.

Butler is tough but he will have his hands full guarding Lebron which will impact his offense.