2014 NBA Playoffs

[the AntiPusher]

RE: NBA Playoffs

This was the first year the Bulls really failed miserably in the playoffs. Last year they did well to beat Brooklyn and then lost to Miami. In 2012 they lost Rose in game 1 and couldn't adjust in time to beat Philly and in 2011 they made the ECF and lost to Miami as expected, though it was an easier series than it should have been. This year was a bad one though. Washington is a legit team but to get blown away 4-1 won't sit well with the organization or its fans.

Granted I watch probably 5 minutes total of Bulls games this past season.. that being said, what else could he have done with that cast of non offensive talent.. Pax and Guy Forman has got to go. Well, lets take it to another level, Jerry needs to sell the team and just vanished..

While I understand the Wizards are really good when healthy, I agree w/ Darth that the Bulls underperformed this year. 69 points will not win you a playoff game. While they don't have the talent of the Wiz, Heat or the teams out West, they missed something like 15 layups in a close-out game. That's just ridiculous. The few players who can get their own shot performed miserably in this series.

KS and Darth, How can you underperform when you dont have the Talent.. I stated back in Nov or Dec when Drose got hurt.. give up on the season to get lottery picks.. but i think both of you said, Ney.. So look at the Bulls now.. sure they have a pingball pick but not the lottery odds had they tanked the season .. being a mediocre.. aah I am tired of stating the same thing over and over..you two will not listen..

You have me mistaken AP, I agreed that it would be a good idea but I told you there was no way they were going to do it. Thib and the grinders on that team were never going to tank. I don't think they underperformed this year until the playoffs which is of course when it truly matters.

I stand corrected.. I apologize my good friend:blush:

 

[kskate2]

RE: NBA Playoffs

The underperformance was definitely done in the playoffs. I wasn't referring to the regular season. They did well to get home court even though it didn't help this year.

 

[kskate2]

RE: NBA Playoffs

45-43 Wiz at the half. While there has been a Hibbert sighting in this game (17 pts), Indy is still fighting a losing battle.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: NBA Playoffs

I thought Pacers would come out of the gate like a bat out of hell and have a sizable lead at the half, Wizz would make it closer in the second but Indy would hold them off for the narrow win. So much for that theory. This one will be close till the end I guess.

 

[the AntiPusher]

RE: NBA Playoffs

45-43 Wiz at the half. While there has been a Hibbert sighting in this game (17 pts), Indy is still fighting a losing battle.

Maybe Hibbard went to visit the Wizard for heart or courage on his day off :laydownlaughing

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Why is everyone going for the money ball in the Wizz? What happened to driving, pulling up, kicking out? They had 3 chances to score, they settled for the three. The last one could have been a clear path to the basket.

 

[the AntiPusher]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Why is everyone going for the money ball in the Wizz? What happened to driving, pulling up, kicking out? They had 3 chances to score, they settled for the three. The last one could have been a clear path to the basket.

its only the money ball if you hit it:nono

 

[the AntiPusher]

RE: NBA Playoffs

What a sensational dunk by westbrook.. why can't Drose change his game to be like Russell instead of trying to play like he is 6'8:nono

 

[brokenshoelace]

RE: NBA Playoffs

When Russell Westbrook plays well, he's something else. He didn't deserve that 10th assist but that was one hell of a performance. Completely controlled the game. Needed that too, after Paul schooled him in game 1.

 

[DarthFed]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Yeah Russell is playing with a little more control these past couple games, still very aggressive but not out of control as he sometimes gets. Westbrook's jumper is also falling which makes him pretty unguardable. The Clippers can hope he comes down to Earth a bit but regardless they will have to rebound a lot better than they did tonight.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Almost both KD and RW had triple doubles. One assist shy. Anyone remembers a game where 2 people from the same team had triple doubles?

 

[DarthFed]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Almost both KD and RW had triple doubles. One assist shy. Anyone remembers a game where 2 people from the same team had triple doubles?

They said it's never happened in the playoffs. As for regular season I'd have to imagine Jordan and Pippen did it as some point. Possibly even Lebron and Wade (or they likely have come close).

 

[DarthFed]

RE: NBA Playoffs

What a sensational dunk by westbrook.. why can't Drose change his game to be like Russell instead of trying to play like he is 6'8:nono

They play similar styles and Westbrook has also had a really bad knee injury. As of now it just appears that he has recovered better than Rose and he also hasn't had a 2nd big injury to the knee (knock on wood). Westbrook looks 100% though, still probably the fastest and quickest player in the league.

 

[brokenshoelace]

RE: NBA Playoffs

I'd probably take 2011 Rose over Westbrook, but Russell has surpassed him in the past couple of years in part due to Derrick's injury. Westbrook is a bit smarter when it comes to recognizing when he has a strength advantage over the defender and actually posts him up (he did that to Chris Paul in last night's game on multiple occasions). Both are pretty similar in many ways, and I fear for their longevity given that they rely so much on athleticism, meaning that once they start losing a bit of that (especially with all their injuries), they'll fade. Improving their respective jump shots will go a long way.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: NBA Playoffs

^2011 Rose was the best player in the league. He was relentless. I wonder if he will ever get to that level again. I know he is young but missing 2 seasons is not easy.

 

[brokenshoelace]

RE: NBA Playoffs

^2011 Rose was the best player in the league. He was relentless. I wonder if he will ever get to that level again. I know he is young but missing 2 seasons is not easy.

Missing 2 seasons and 2 knees is even more difficult... Sadly, I don't think Rose will ever live up to his potential. If he manages to stay healthy long enough, I'm sure he'll have a very good season, but it will be difficult to reach what he seemed to be destined to reach 3 years ago after two serious knee injuries (one on each knee).

 

[DarthFed]

RE: NBA Playoffs

^2011 Rose was the best player in the league. He was relentless. I wonder if he will ever get to that level again. I know he is young but missing 2 seasons is not easy.

Have to disagree Murat, he wasn't even close to the best player in the league (a distant 2nd).

I doubt he will get back to that point and if he does he'd now be at best #3. 2 major knee injuries makes it very difficult, there is no way he will be as explosive. He definitely can still be a good/great player though.

 

[DarthFed]

RE: NBA Playoffs

I'd probably take 2011 Rose over Westbrook, but Russell has surpassed him in the past couple of years in part due to Derrick's injury. Westbrook is a bit smarter when it comes to recognizing when he has a strength advantage over the defender and actually posts him up (he did that to Chris Paul in last night's game on multiple occasions). Both are pretty similar in many ways, and I fear for their longevity given that they rely so much on athleticism, meaning that once they start losing a bit of that (especially with all their injuries), they'll fade. Improving their respective jump shots will go a long way.

No question I'd take Rose over Westbrook back before the injuries. Rose is/was more of an all around player and is a significantly better shooter. Westbrook is pretty much all athleticism at this point but it is a whole hell of a lot of athleticism. Westbrook is a streaky shooter so I wouldn't expect him to keep shooting the way he has the past few games.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: NBA Playoffs

^2011 Rose was the best player in the league. He was relentless. I wonder if he will ever get to that level again. I know he is young but missing 2 seasons is not easy.

Have to disagree Murat, he wasn't even close to the best player in the league (a distant 2nd).

I doubt he will get back to that point and if he does he'd now be at best #3. 2 major knee injuries makes it very difficult, there is no way he will be as explosive. He definitely can still be a good/great player though.

I don't know man, I had so much fun watching D Rose that year. I know numbers wise maybe Bron was still better, but Rose dominated every match up he had. To my subjective eyes, he was the best player. A lot of others must have thought so too because they gave him the MVP award.

 

[DarthFed]

RE: NBA Playoffs

^2011 Rose was the best player in the league. He was relentless. I wonder if he will ever get to that level again. I know he is young but missing 2 seasons is not easy.

Have to disagree Murat, he wasn't even close to the best player in the league (a distant 2nd).

I doubt he will get back to that point and if he does he'd now be at best #3. 2 major knee injuries makes it very difficult, there is no way he will be as explosive. He definitely can still be a good/great player though.

I don't know man, I had so much fun watching D Rose that year. I know numbers wise maybe Bron was still better, but Rose dominated every match up he had. To my subjective eyes, he was the best player. A lot of others must have thought so too because they gave him the MVP award.

You're better than this bud I know you don't like Bron but it was no contest. 2 words as to why Rose won MVP that year: voter fatigue. Same reason that Malone won it over MJ in 1997. Lebron's stats dwarfed Rose's that year to the point that he should've won the MVP even though the Heat had a worse record than the Bulls (didn't matter in the ECF that year). The stats that year: Lebron 26.7, 7.5, 7.0 on 51% shooting vs. Rose with 25, 4.1, 7.7 on 44.5% shooting.

What made this year so interesting is that Durant legitimately deserved the MVP award. He was the best player this season. I still don't think that makes him the best player in the league though but it spices things up. Lebron had been the best player by far for the past 5-6 years beforehand IMO.