The rest of the season...

[Scoot26]

The Bulls have 30 games left.

17 are at home and 13 are on the road.

They are 13-11 at home this season. Struggling mightily.

Starting tonight they play Their next 9/10 at home.
Those 10 games:
vs Sacramento - non playoff team
vs Cleveland - playoff team'
@ Detroit - non playoff team
Phoenix - playoff team
Milwaukee - playoff team
Charlotte - sub .500 playoff team
Minnesota - non playoff team
LA Clippers - playoff team
Washington - playoff team
Oklahoma City - currently a above .500 non-playoff team

On paper, not the toughest schedule. A mix of non-playoff teams and playoff teams. However given how we've played this season, who the hell knows how this stretch will go. I do hope this is the point where the Bulls turn it around and quit slacking so much against the bad teams. But again Sunday night they didn't prove that.

After this stretch we have ..12 road games to 8 home games. We play Toronto twice more and a few western teams. In April we play Milwaukee, Detroit, Cleveland, Orlando, Miami, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and Atlanta. If we are truly playing better by then, we should finish April relatively strong.

 

[clonetrooper264]

It's really not that tough a schedule to close out the year. We should close out well, but it really remains to be seen. They try too hard to win games against bad teams because they quit trying once they're up big in the first half. Keep your foot on their throats and keep that 20 point lead. Bonus: starters get to rest more (minus Jimmy who will play 40 minutes unless he dies). Here's to them getting their act together.

 

[Scoot26]

It's really not that tough a schedule to close out the year. We should close out well, but it really remains to be seen. They try too hard to win games against bad teams because they quit trying once they're up big in the first half. Keep your foot on their throats and keep that 20 point lead. Bonus: starters get to rest more (minus Jimmy who will play 40 minutes unless he dies). Here's to them getting their act together.

Somehow I don't see that happening except for Rose, who will request it.

 

[Scoot26]

I'm also pulling this from Reddit

Supposedly this is the strength of schedule of the Top 5 teams in the East:

• Atlanta -- 0.4789
  
• Toronto -- 0.4714
  
• Washington -- 0.4901
  
• CHICAGO -- 0.4498
  
• Cleveland -- 0.5141

Cleveland just finished their easy stretch of their schedule and they finish out with the toughest. As of right now, we have the easiest schedule of the Top 5 in the East it looks like, so I really hope we lay down the pedal the rest of the season here.

 

[clonetrooper264]

I'm also pulling this from Reddit

Supposedly this is the strength of schedule of the Top 5 teams in the East:


Cleveland just finished their easy stretch of their schedule and they finish out with the toughest. As of right now, we have the easiest schedule of the Top 5 in the East it looks like, so I really hope we lay down the pedal the rest of the season here.

Just watch us finish with the worst record among the bunch...

 

[Scoot26]

Just watch us finish with the worst record among the bunch...

Would not surprise me one bit... But I really hope not. This is all set up perfectly for us to get the #2 or #3 seed while Washington/Cleveland end up #4 and #5 and we avoid all of Atlanta, Washington/Cleveland until the ECF.

 

[clonetrooper264]

Would not surprise me one bit... But I really hope not. This is all set up perfectly for us to get the #2 or #3 seed while Washington/Cleveland end up #4 and #5 and we avoid all of Atlanta, Washington/Cleveland until the ECF.

In order for us to be doomed to the 1st round exit predicted by the "objective" posters here, we will finish 4th in order to lose to Washington/Cleveland.

 

[knoxville7]

I don't think seeding is all that important to this bulls team. health has been and continues to be the #1 thing. if they can be healthy come the last 10 regular season games and play well in them heading into the playoffs then I like their chances against anyone in the east

 

[Scoot26]

In order for us to be doomed to the 1st round exit predicted by the "objective" posters here, we will finish 4th in order to lose to Washington/Cleveland.

And if that were to happen, I am perfectly okay with firing Thibs despite me still thinking he's one of the best coaches. The fact this team went from predicted Finals finish to 1st round loss is inexcusable at that point. Of course we're still stuck with all the same players then.

 

[knoxville7]

And if that were to happen, I am perfectly okay with firing Thibs despite me still thinking he's one of the best coaches. The fact this team went from predicted Finals finish to 1st round loss is inexcusable at that point. Of course we're still stuck with all the same players then.

no, just no. firing thibs would be a huge mistake IMO...but rest assured there will be no first round exit

 

[Scoot26]

I don't think seeding is all that important to this bulls team. health has been and continues to be the #1 thing. if they can be healthy come the last 10 regular season games and play well in them heading into the playoffs then I like their chances against anyone in the east

Seeding is important to an extent. They don't need to be the #1 seed (Something that is nearly impossible right now anyways). #2 or #3 is most ideal though so you avoid Washington, who seems to have the Bulls number and they have zero answer for Nene.

I'm not that afraid of a first round matchup against Cleveland, but just something I'd rather avoid that early in the playoffs.

 

[Scoot26]

no, just no. firing thibs would be a huge mistake IMO...but rest assured there will be no first round exit

Perhaps, but you can't excuse the team for an epic failure with a first round loss. And this is the knee jerk reaction you see in the NBA now a days. I don't think there will be a first round loss, because I feel this team will still turn it around here and start to play a lot better.

 

[clonetrooper264]

And if that were to happen, I am perfectly okay with firing Thibs despite me still thinking he's one of the best coaches. The fact this team went from predicted Finals finish to 1st round loss is inexcusable at that point. Of course we're still stuck with all the same players then.

Then we hire a worse coach (let's say Mark Jackson..solid coach) and do worse. Then we blow up the team because we stink and have to pay luxury taxes or something. Seems legit.

 

[Scoot26]

Then we hire a worse coach (let's say Mark Jackson..solid coach) and do worse. Then we blow up the team because we stink and have to pay luxury taxes or something. Seems legit.

It's the Bulls way.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

no, just no. firing thibs would be a huge mistake IMO...but rest assured there will be no first round exit

While I'm a Thibs supporter, and want him to remain coaching this team...they would be completely justified in firing him with a first round exit this season.

 

[Axl Rose]

trading Thibs will be the best mistake Bulls ever made

his defense is cooked now with the stretch 4's becoming a thing and he doesn't have any real strengths in other areas

he also shows no willingness to adapt so lets move on before hes totally exposed

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

His defense isn't cooked. His defense doesn't have anybody to guard the stretch 4.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

And stretch 4's have been a thing for a long time now. I'd argue Rasheed Wallace was your first stretch 4.

 

[Scoot26]

KG was a stretch 4.. Thibs was the assistant coach and in charge of the defense in Boston.

 

[Axl Rose]

And stretch 4's have been a thing for a long time now. I'd argue Rasheed Wallace was your first stretch 4.

yeah but every team has one now

and the way the defense is set up allows a big to get long 2 or 3 and seems like every big is hitting that shot nowadays

just this year we have got blitzed by guys like Scola/Draymond

last year in the playoffs Nene chewed us alive