Playoff Look

[??? ??????]

With 24 games left in the season, it looks like realistically, the Bulls will end up in between the #3-9 seeds.

In this range you have the following seedings at the moment.

3. Boston Celtics (5.5 games back)
4. Atlanta Hawks (5.5 games back)
5. Toronto Raptors (0.5 games back)
6. Chicago Bulls
7. Milwaukee Bucks (1.5 games ahead)
8. Miami Heat (2.0 games ahead)
9. Charlotte Bobcats (2.5 games ahead)

The Bulls have been playing the second best ball in the new year, behind only the Cavs. The Celtics have transformed into a bit of a dysfunctional .500 team since then, and the Hawks are looking more like a middle team, and not part of the elite.

I think both Boston and Atlanta are catchable for the Bulls, as our team looks good, and we typically finish the season out strong.

Right now, the Bulls and Celtics are slated for a first round re-match, and that could also potentially happen in the 4 vs. 5 matchup too.

 

[Shakes]

5.5 games is a huge amount to make up, especially with the tough schedule. Just can't see it happening.

 

[pinkizdead]

bulls have a really tough schedule ahead

 

[cool007]

pinkizdead wrote:

bulls have a really tough schedule ahead

Exactly. We still have about 23 games to go and our team is really banged up (Rose/Deng/Miller/Gibson/Noah) and we have a tough stretch coming up as well.

I hope we keep it around 6th seed and be closer to 5th seed coz that would be our best chance at getting in the 2nd round.

I want to avoid facing Cavs/Magic in the first round at any costs. I would like Hawks in the first round but would not mind Celtics either.

 

[TheStig]

Boston would have to fall apart for us to catch up to them. I don't think we have a real shot at 3 or 4 but a legit shot at Toronto. We need to get a bit of an advantage while bosh is out.

 

[Dpauley23]

TheStig wrote:

Boston would have to fall apart for us to catch up to them. I don't think we have a real shot at 3 or 4 but a legit shot at Toronto. We need to get a bit of an advantage while bosh is out.

We can't past Boston because whoever wins their division automatically gets top 4. The only team we can pass is Atlanta

 

[TheStig]

Sure you could.

Cavs
Magic
Bulls
Boston or Toronto

Not likely but its possible.

 

[dabullz1]

I know this for a fact, no matter were we land, Atlanta and Boston or even Orlando Should be afraid to face us in the first round. We hung with atlanta tonight with a banged up Drose and no Noah and Deng. If we are healthy I don't think Championship but we will scare someone at full strenght.

 

[??? ??????]

dabullz1 wrote:

I know this for a fact, no matter were we land, Atlanta and Boston or even Orlando Should be afraid to face us in the first round. We hung with atlanta tonight with a banged up Drose and no Noah and Deng. If we are healthy I don't think Championship but we will scare someone at full strenght.

I'd love to get Atlanta in either the 3 vs. 6 or 4 vs. 5. We play Atlanta really well.

I don't want Boston. If they're healthy, it's going to be pretty close to a sweep. They've blown us out every time they've had their full roster.

I think Orlando would probably beat us too, but they came out sluggish in the first round last year against a Sixers team that isn't as good as this year's Bulls, and I think last year's Magic was better as well. But I think Dwight would eat us up with Brad Miller being old, and two of our other big men having plantar fascitis.

 

[cool007]

??? ?????? wrote:

dabullz1 wrote:

I know this for a fact, no matter were we land, Atlanta and Boston or even Orlando Should be afraid to face us in the first round. We hung with atlanta tonight with a banged up Drose and no Noah and Deng. If we are healthy I don't think Championship but we will scare someone at full strenght.

I'd love to get Atlanta in either the 3 vs. 6 or 4 vs. 5. We play Atlanta really well.

I don't want Boston. If they're healthy, it's going to be pretty close to a sweep. They've blown us out every time they've had their full roster.

I think Orlando would probably beat us too, but they came out sluggish in the first round last year against a Sixers team that isn't as good as this year's Bulls, and I think last year's Magic was better as well. But I think Dwight would eat us up with Brad Miller being old, and two of our other big men having plantar fascitis.

No, I don't want Orlando at any cost especially since Noah is really not going to be healthy until next season. Meaning Dwight will just kill us single handedly. Besides, their 3pt shooting usually kill us anyways.

The 2 teams I would like to face are Hawks and Celtics. I know Celtics had our number with KG healthy but now that they are banged up, I don't mind facing them. I also think facing them again would bring the best out of our team. They would be more focused and be more prepared this time around.

Ofcourse, I would prefer Hawks first but then Celtics come 2nd. Then Cavs and then Magic. Call me crazy but I don't mind Cavs either after Hawks and Celtics. Especially with Shaq being out and may hurt their chemistry when he comes back by playoff time.

 

[RC_Skinny22]

Call me crazy but I would prefer playing the Celtics to the Hawks. Even if every Celtic is healthy. B)

 

[pinkizdead]

if we gave them another series while with kg, it would prove that we've arrived/last year wasn't a fluke.

 

[fola]

pinkizdead wrote:

if we gave them another series while with kg, it would prove that we've arrived/last year wasn't a fluke.

I'm not sure that it would prove anything. They're just not as good as they were 3 years ago. does anybody think that (when healthy) they really have a shot at a title anymore?


If we're healthy we can hang with any team in the east outside of Orlando and Cleavland.

 

[TheStig]

We won't be overtaking anyone now. We will be lucky to hold our postion with deng and noah out.

 

[Dpauley23]

TheStig wrote:

We won't be overtaking anyone now. We will be lucky to hold our postion with deng and noah out.

Deng was only out for one game. Having Noah out doesn't hurt that much as he kills our offense since we run the pick and roll through him. I will suck not having him against a guy with really good post game

 

[TheStig]

Dpauley23 wrote:

TheStig wrote:

We won't be overtaking anyone now. We will be lucky to hold our postion with deng and noah out.

Deng was only out for one game. Having Noah out doesn't hurt that much as he kills our offense since we run the pick and roll through him. I will suck not having him against a guy with really good post game

Deng, Miller and Rose also aren't practicing. We are more beat up than just Noah being out.

 

[clonetrooper264]

I think I'd rather play the Celtics. They have several injuries themselves which helps balance the field a little. They're still the better team, but I don't think the Bulls play very well against the Hawks ever. The Celtics still can kick us around if KG is healthy, but I still think we could put up more of a fight than against the Hawks. That's just my opinion though.

 

[Shakes]

We lost to the Hawks because we gave up a ton of offensive rebounds, which is where Noah would really have helped. Also now Miller is hurting from the extra minutes he's having to play without Noah. I don't see how anyone can say not having Noah isn't hurting much.

Hopefully it is only Noah we're missing for an extended period though. Sounds as if Deng/Rose/Miller will be OK, we're just giving them rest.

 

[Diddy1122]

Dpauley23 wrote:

Having Noah out doesn't hurt that much as he kills our offense since we run the pick and roll through him. I will suck not having him against a guy with really good post game

What?? Noah doesn't kill our offense. In fact we score more when he is out there because of his passing & activity around the hoop. He's one of the top offensive rebounders in this league not to mention our defensive anchor in the post. Having Noah out hurts. Just look at the Atlanta game. Noah & Deng, our 2 best offensive & overall rebounders were on the bench, & we gave up damn near 70 rebounds! Not to mention we lose that game to Portland if Noah is not out there shutting down Aldridge in the final minutes of the 4th.

Not having Noah during this stretch is going to hurt alot. As much as I like Richard's toughness, he's a D-leaguer, & he's not going to replace what Noah gives us. Taj is the real savior during the recent stretch. He's been playing out of his mind on the glass averaging around 13rpg.