Bulls vs Heat "Playoff Experience"

[Anytime23]

Besides the obvious fact that the people who get paid to talk about sports can't stand being wrong and never back down from pre-season predictions. I'd like to know when they say the bulls haven't won a playoff series with this group, why do they choose the Heat to come out of the east?

Tell me about having a second player(or lack off) that can create in the half court. Tell me about our sg issues. Tell me about our front courts lack of chemistry and shaky play as of late. Please don't tell me the Heat as a team are more playoff tested than the Bulls because they aren't.

Wade won a finals MVP. He's taken over playoff games since his rookie season. I witnessed his coming out party vs Baron Davis led Hornets live in Miami. LeBron brought arguably the worst team to ever make the finals to get swept by the Spurs. Mike Bibby probably has more playoff experience than anyone in the East in his time with the Kings/Hawks. None of that matters because it was all individually. They've done nothing as a core. The only player besides wade still on the Heat from the contender days is Haslem and he hasn't logged a minute all season.

So why knock us for not having playoff experience as a whole? In fact our core is more playoff tested than the Heat. Rose and Noah took the defending champs to 7. Them plus Deng went 5 vs LeBrons cavs last season. Deng actually took over that playoff series vs the Heat and swept the defending champs. He's made it out of the first round but that was individual. They don't like to mention that Boozer Kyle and brewer have all played a bunch of playoff games together in Utah. They made a conference finals. Oh yeah and don't forget to add Taj to the list of guys who played in the Playoffs with the bulls last season. So that's 4 key players who have all played together in the Playoffs. No they didn't make it past the first round but that's further than what any of the Heats key players have done as a group.

Sorry for the rant. Just think this is stupid.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

Well, you know what they say... there's a first time for everything. The Bulls nor Thunder have won a playoff series in many years and haven't with either of their core of guys. But it would not surprise me at all if we see both OKC and CHI in the NBA Finals this year.

I remember when the Hinrich-Gordon-Deng-Nocioni-Brown-Ben Wallace Bulls knocked off the Heat as defending champs 4-0. They sure as hell didn't win a playoff series before that but it hardly mattered.

Kurt Thomas has a lot of deep playoff experience, too, to go along with Boozer-Brewer-Korver. Udonis Haslem has actually played some games this season though. But I don't think he will be back.

I do happen to remember Wade's coming out party in his rookie season. He completely trashed the Hornets and then dunked on Jermaine O'Neal like CRAZY in the next round. That's why he used to be my favorite player...

 

[Anytime23]

Oh yeah that dunk was nasty!

I though Haslem got hurt before the season? Anyways he hasn't played very much at all. I guess he was close to being back but had a setback last week.

 

[Scoot26]

How many playoff series had the 2008 Celtics team won playing together before 2008?

 

[Anytime23]

How many playoff series had the 2008 Celtics team won playing together before 2008?

Don't mention that to them because they'll say that the big 3 were all old and mature enough to know what intakes to win in te post-season.

 

[ClydeLee]

Don't mention that to them because they'll say that the big 3 were all old and mature enough to know what intakes to win in te post-season.

Or they'll talk about all the other experienced key role players they had as well such as James Posey and Eddie Money.

 

[Uman85]

Let ESPN talk. They spend half the show on the Yankees/Red Sox/LeBrick anyway, so make them eat their words if the Bulls prevail. It's funny to hear them even now sound so depressed about the Red Sox poor start. lol

 

[AE23]

Thibs has miles of playoff experience over that kid coaching the heat

 

[houheffna]

Lebron and Wade both have been to the finals...that is the playoff experience they speak of. Bosh has about as much experience as Rose, Deng and Noah. The Bulls last won a playoff series in 2007. I don't think its hard to believe that playoff experience would tip in the favor of Miami. Haslem has a ring, Dampier started in the finals...Miami is definitely more playoff tested than the Bulls, by quite a bit.

 

[TopekaRoy]

Lebron and Wade both have been to the finals...that is the playoff experience they speak of. Bosh has about as much experience as Rose, Deng and Noah. The Bulls last won a playoff series in 2007. I don't think its hard to believe that playoff experience would tip in the favor of Miami. Haslem has a ring, Dampier started in the finals...Miami is definitely more playoff tested than the Bulls, by quite a bit.

Who cares? I think playoff experience is over rated.

Do you know why the Bulls don't have a lot of playoff experience? It's because they weren't that good. That's not the case this year.

You don't win playoff series because you have won in the past. If that was true nobody would ever win their first series. You win because your team is better than the teams you play against.

This year, the Bulls are better than every team they will play with the possible exception of the Heat (who they are 3-0 against) and the Lakers (who the Bulls are 1-1 against). That's why they will at least make it to the Conference finals.

That's also why they play a 7 game series. So the better team doesn' lose because of one bad game.

 

[Anytime23]

Lebron and Wade both have been to the finals...that is the playoff experience they speak of. Bosh has about as much experience as Rose, Deng and Noah. The Bulls last won a playoff series in 2007. I don't think its hard to believe that playoff experience would tip in the favor of Miami. Haslem has a ring, Dampier started in the finals...Miami is definitely more playoff tested than the Bulls, by quite a bit.

Thanks for not paying attention. Was speaking of them as a whole, like Lebron wade and bosh having playoff experience with each other.

 

[houheffna]

Thanks for not paying attention. Was speaking of them as a whole, like Lebron wade and bosh having playoff experience with each other.

I disagree with your rant-let's just leave it at that...

 

[Diddy1122]

Playoff experience starts at the top, with the coach. Thibs has loads of playoff experience throughout his career with New York, Houston & Boston. He's the most well prepared coach in the NBA imho. And the team & our star, D-Rose, have completely bought into his "one game at a time" mantra. With Thibs at the helm, I don't think playoff inexperience will be an issue.

On the other hand, Miami may have lots of players who've gone far in the post-season, but the man at the helm has been to the playoffs just twice & lost both times in the 1st round. I think it's pretty safe to say that Thibs could coach Spo under the table.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

I honestly don't think Chicago or Miami are going to win the championship. Both teams have some flaws that are hard to overlook. Miami doesn't have a guy who can defend the basket without creating a liability on offense. Nor do they have a three-point shooting threat to complement the big three without causing a liability on defense.

Chicago only has one guy who is really going to create for himself on offense. Boozer honestly isn't good enough as a second scoring option lately and neither is Deng. And Boozer is very turnover prone and is not a difference maker on defense. He's usually either slow on defense or doesn't rotate at all. Often opposing offensive players go right by him and finish with lay-ups. That is going to cost the Bulls dearly in a series with the Celtics.

Despite the inexperience on Oklahoma City's side, I like them as a title contender more than Miami or Chicago. Their defense is as good or better than Chicago's. When it comes to just 1st unit vs. 1st unit, it's hard to deny that Chicago's defense doesn't look anywhere as imposing as L.A.'s or OKC's. Even this Perkin's-less Celtics 1st unit can defend just as well as the Bulls if not better.

 

[houheffna]

I honestly don't think Chicago or Miami are going to win the championship. Both teams have some flaws that are hard to overlook. Miami doesn't have a guy who can defend the basket without creating a liability on offense. Nor do they have a three-point shooting threat to complement the big three without causing a liability on defense.

Chicago only has one guy who is really going to create for himself on offense. Boozer honestly isn't good enough as a second scoring option lately and neither is Deng. And Boozer is very turnover prone and is not a difference maker on defense. He's usually either slow on defense or doesn't rotate at all. Often opposing offensive players go right by him and finish with lay-ups. That is going to cost the Bulls dearly in a series with the Celtics.

Despite the inexperience on Oklahoma City's side, I like them as a title contender more than Miami or Chicago. Their defense is as good or better than Chicago's. When it comes to just 1st unit vs. 1st unit, it's hard to deny that Chicago's defense doesn't look anywhere as imposing as L.A.'s or OKC's. Even this Perkin's-less Celtics 1st unit can defend just as well as the Bulls if not better.

I really don't know what to think when it comes to this year's playoffs. The Lakers just don't look good right now. The Celtics look even worse. The Bulls have had the best defense in the league this year. That defense is the principal reason why they have the best record in the conference. Its not the offense believe me. I am also concerned about Boozer. I am not so much worried about Deng at this time, that might change though.

I guess that is the fun of this year's playoffs. We will have to wait and see...

 

[Gunzaan]

I don't understand why you guys are insulted that the media is looking at the Bulls lack of playoff-success. It is what it is and will continue to be talked about until the Bulls can win a series. Take it personally, if you want, but to me the Bulls have to show the mental toughness it takes to win a playoff series. They haven't done that since 2007.

I'm not saying they can't go far, but it is a legitimate talking piece when you are looking at teams. The media needs something to talk about before the games are played. Let them talk about it. Waaaay too many people get offended if you say anything bad about the Bulls. It's annoying as ****.

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

I really don't know what to think when it comes to this year's playoffs. The Lakers just don't look good right now. The Celtics look even worse. The Bulls have had the best defense in the league this year. That defense is the principal reason why they have the best record in the conference. Its not the offense believe me. I am also concerned about Boozer. I am not so much worried about Deng at this time, that might change though.

I guess that is the fun of this year's playoffs. We will have to wait and see...

The Bulls' starters have arguably a top 10 offense in the NBA, especially when Derrick Rose is being aggressive. But yeah, the offense is not nearly as big of a reason they will end with 60+ wins as their top rebounding and their top defense. But I really don't think the defense is better caliber than OKC (Perkins, Ibaka, Sefolosha), L.A. (Bynum, Gasol, the versitile Odom, Artest, Barnes, Bryant, Fisher), or BOS (Garnett, Green, Pierce, Rondo).

I really don't like imagining the Bulls lose but it's just too hard to imagine them winning a series against the Lakers and Thunder. I think there is a VERY good chance the Bulls makes the Finals though.

 

[Anytime23]

I disagree with your rant-let's just leave it at that...

I posted a fact that the Bulls core has more playoff experience together than the Heats core. That's really the whole point.

 

[Anytime23]

I could see the Bulls winning a championship but I can also see them losing to the thunder or Lakers

 

[RamiTheBullsFan]

Every team between OKC, MIA, and CHI all have weaknesses when it comes to "experience" and all of them have certain strengths. The subject of experience is extremely subjective. A large part of it is also superficial. I could say that the Bulls of the later 90's have more experience than anybody but that obviously doesn't matter now. LeBron James has been to the Finals, but he got there in a horrific Eastern Conference.

Coaching: The Bulls have the better coach but they do not have a coach with head-coaching experience in the post-season; Miami does. This Bulls roster also doesn't have more than 1 season of experience playing under the system of their current head coach; Miami does. Oklahoma City also does.

Miami also has played over a season with Wade, Chalmers, and Haslem (injured and replaced nicely by Bosh) under their current system. The Bulls may have more experience with their core together (Rose, Deng, Noah, Gibson) but it's not as though it means anything much.

Let's say my resume for running for President of the United States was that I ran Nazi Germany. So, because Hitler had more executive experience than Obama, does that make Mr. Adolf more qualified for the job? I don't think so. There is something called relevant experience. Take OKC for instance. Sure, they haven't won a playoff series together but they sure did a number on eventually champion L.A. in that first round. And as somebody else pointed out in this thread, look at the 2008 Celtics. They did not win a playoff series together, and the year prior they lost over 20 consecutive games, and went onto win the championship. Much like Boozer, Deng, Brewer, Korver and Kurt Thomas, their Big 3 had tons of playoff battles behind them. So we can't count out the Bulls based on just that. And if somebody does, then why not get mad at them? The Bulls have the RELEVANT experience needed to win a championship. They might get a little nervous before Game 1 of the Finals but I don't think that will be the ultimate difference-maker. Teams wins because they are well put-together, well-orchastrated and are talented. The Bulls are all of those things. The Heat are more talented than the Bulls (somewhat), but aren't nearly as well put-together or as well-coached.