Tough way to go out for the Bulls and their fans, but that was a great series

[RedBlackAttack]

I know this is a difficult time to be a fan of a team. I have been there many times in my life, obviously, being a Cleveland sports fan. And, I know that any pat on the back is going to seem hollow, but I felt that the way the Bulls played throughout this series deserved a thread from a die-hard Cavs fan so here I am...

I have nothing but respect for that Bulls team. Obviously it isn't a perfect team and the offense -- at times -- looks like a dysfunctional mess, but they're tough as nails and midway through the fourth quarter tonight was the only stretch in this series where I felt comfortable enough to get off the edge of my seat.

People used to the finesse of the Western Conference may scoff at this series, but this was old-school, tough basketball from both sides. The Bulls finally wilted tonight, but it took 5 1/2 games fought tooth and nail, for every inch. Ugly offense is often the result of excellent defense and those are two very good, hard-nosed defensive teams.

I also feel like -- aside from the obvious injuries we sustained in this six game battle -- we'll be a better team for it. Guys like Kyrie, Tristan, Shump and Delly have never experienced a series of games that physical. It took a toll on both teams, but our young guys now know the kind of wear and tear you need to expect when playing a great defensive team who isn't afraid to put you on the ground. Couldn't have been a better learning experience for them.

I also keep hearing people saying "blow it up" when it comes to the Bulls... I don't really get it. They have a very young, incredibly talented and hard-working two-way player. Rose is still young and if he's able to maintain this level of play for the foreseeable future, he's an asset. Maybe not the perennial MVP or even All-Star player that everyone envisioned four years ago but a very good player. Mirotic could turn into the kind of stretch-four every team needs. Taj Gibson is still only 29 and he's a very solid rotation guy on a good team.

So, yeah... other guys are getting older (Noah, Gasol) and there are some questions about their respective future, but there is plenty to build around already on the roster.

Anyway, the Cavs were left standing and we'll now move on, but I tip my cap to the Bulls players, coaches and fans. It didn't end the way you wanted, but it was still a hell of a tough series.

Great series, guys. :cheers:

[ArbitraryWater]

Bron really did a number on those guys having them believing their dreams would come true after game 3...














































https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFA0_VeWoAAortv.png

[LAZERUSS]

One shot basically won the series.

Gotta hand to both teams, though. The players looked like cars in a demolition derby, but they still fought hard.

As for Thibs...one word: Popovich. The guy has proven to be one of the best coaches in the league. Instead of blowing up the coach, and the team...why not add pieces, and hopefully health...and see what this team can do?

[coin24]

No heart losers.. Game 4 collapse sealed there fate. Blow it up

[keep-itreal]

tl;dr

[Kingwillball]

I called the Cavs winning this series and if 100% healthy the Cavs could sweep or win in 5..

The injuries suck for the Cavs but what came of this series on positive note the Role players have found their groove and Dely has a new found confidence. If Irving can get semi healthy they will be a tough out for anybody left.

As far as Bulls go they are a good team but Cavs took their soul.

[Pointguard]

Bad series primarily because both Kyrie and Rose weren't themselves. Suspensions that weren't really part of this series were part of it. Gasol got injured and it exposed Thibes limitations hardcore. The Bulls had some interior passing during the year but rarely run cuts and counters, and rarely post effectively nor willing to use his bench advantage.

On the good side, the Cavs found out about how deep they were. Shump and JR kept focus and played very well. And their defense can be top level. I hope Lebron doesn't tire out. To me the most dangerous teams for the Cavs are GS and the Clippers. If Kyrie can keep health they should beat the others - provided Atlanta doesn't find its game.

[Heavincent]

Meh, just another crappy Eastern series.

Bulls are pretenders and have been for years.

[DMAVS41]

Meh, just another crappy Eastern series.

Bulls are pretenders and have been for years.

:applause:

[Micku]

People used to the finesse of the Western Conference may scoff at this series, but this was old-school, tough basketball from both sides. The Bulls finally wilted tonight, but it took 5 1/2 games fought tooth and nail, for every inch. Ugly offense is often the result of excellent defense and those are two very good, hard-nosed defensive teams.

I also keep hearing people saying "blow it up" when it comes to the Bulls... I don't really get it. They have a very young, incredibly talented and hard-working two-way player. Rose is still young and if he's able to maintain this level of play for the foreseeable future, he's an asset. Maybe not the perennial MVP or even All-Star player that everyone envisioned four years ago but a very good player. Mirotic could turn into the kind of stretch-four every team needs. Taj Gibson is still only 29 and he's a very solid rotation guy on a good team.


I guess I'm one of those ppl that is spoiled by watching a bunch of Western teams this year, but while I do agree that sometimes defense would result into ugly offense, but this wasn't it. I dunno if it was the injuries that caused them to perform this badly, or the offense just breaking down, but it was ugly offense. To compare:

The Spurs and the Clippers series had great defense and offense all around and it was beautiful to watch. They had great coaches that knew how to run an offensive set, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. They knew when there was a mismatch and tried to exploit. You could NOT make a mistake in that series otherwise the opposing team would take advantage of it. And even if you defend a certain player very well, the other player would sometimes make it anyway. The only thing you could just nod and say "You couldn't defend that any better."

The Bulls vs Cavs series was just ugly. The offensive sets from the Bulls were bad. Sometimes setting too much for iso. Just letting Rose do his thing even when he missed like 3 shots in a row. Maybe this exposes Thibs a little bit on his offensive sets? I dunno. Some of these players just missed open shots and layups. There was a few sloppy plays. This wasn't old school basketball hard basketball, unless you are talking about the early 00s when the East had bad offense all around.

This series was hindered by injuries and their shot wasn't falling in. Was there great defense to be seen? Sure. But this was a grind out type of series where both offense was bad. It's been a while since I've seen a series like this.

And I agree that the Bulls shouldn't blow it up. But imo, they missed every opportunity. This was disappointing. I thought they had more talent, and have the advantage with the Cavs 2nd and 3rd best player being injured. Gasol got injured too, but I feel like they still should've beaten them. And their offense got too stagnant at times. As you said, they are not fluid as the West teams, but you've got Rose and Butler...create something instead of isos.

Regardless, the effort was there! As you mentioned, you've got to give them credit for that. It's unlike the Rockets where they just gave up sometimes. It was an ugly yet entertaining series.

[Droid101]

Cavs/Bulls were easily the weakest teams left in the playoffs. One of them had to drop.

[Black and White]

:applause:

Seriously speaking, every west team outside of the Mavs and possibly Pelicans would have run train on the Bulls

[HylianNightmare]

Blow it up

[Heavincent]

I guess I'm one of those ppl that I'm spoiled by watching a bunch of Western teams this year, but while I do agree that sometimes defense would result into ugly offense, but this wasn't it. I dunno if it was the injuries that caused them to perform this badly, or the offense just breaking down, but it was ugly offense. To compare:

The Spurs and the Clippers series had great defense and offense all around and it was beautiful to watch. They had great coaches that knew how to run an offensive set, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. They knew when there was a mismatch and tried to exploit. You could NOT make a mistake in that series otherwise the opposing team would take advantage of it. And even if you defend a certain player very well, the other player would sometimes make it anyway. The only thing you could just nod and say "You couldn't defend that any better."


Yeah it's a myth that Western teams don't play great defense. Warriors and Spurs are the two best defensive teams in the league.

[HOoopCityJones]

This was the Bulls series to lose, Cavs had too much against them and this Team didn't go for the throat.

[Mr. Jabbar]

grats on your team advancing op, this was a good series, in a special olympics kind of way but still :applause:

[Graviton]

It was a hard fought series, but also disgusting display of actual basketball skill. Thibs has even worse offensive sets than Brooks, how can you keep doing the same shit over and over and hope it works.

[ApexPredator]

One shot basically won the series.



This. LeBron collapses when all seems lost, and it is hard enough when any team is down 3-1, so that shot was huge.

[DMAVS41]

Seriously speaking, every west team outside of the Mavs and possibly Pelicans would have run train on the Bulls

Both Mavs and Pelicans would have been 50/50 to beat them to be honest. I'd favor the Mavs actually...especially if they had homecourt. Playing in the East really over-rates a lot of teams.

The Cavs are good, especially when healthy...the Hawks are pretty good as well.

After that...just a bunch of teams that wouldn't be anything more than first round fodder or teams that miss the playoffs.

[Pointguard]

Maybe this exposes Thibs a little bit on his offensive sets? I dunno.
Really.

[Micku]

Yeah it's a myth that Western teams don't play great defense. Warriors and Spurs are the two best defensive teams in the league.

Exactly!

It was just ugly basketball. I do appropriate the effort, but I'm not applauding for another series like that. I am spoiled by better basketball in the West.

[LAZERUSS]

I remember the '04 Pistons barely edging out the Nets in the second round, and then winning game six against the Pistons in the EDF's by a 69-65 score. Virtually every "expert" tabbed the Lakers to easily beat them in the Finals.

If it hadn't been for a miraculous Kobe shot, the Lakers would have been swept, and were completely shelled in the clincher.

[Heavincent]

Both Mavs and Pelicans would have been 50/50 to beat them to be honest. I'd favor the Mavs actually...especially if they had homecourt. Playing in the East really over-rates a lot of teams.

The Cavs are good, especially when healthy...the Hawks are pretty good as well.

After that...just a bunch of teams that wouldn't be anything more than first round fodder or teams that miss the playoffs.

Early season Mavs with Nelson, healthy Parsons, Crowder, Wright, and better chemistry would beat the Bulls. They were a mess late in the season though.

I think I would take the Pelicans too. Would probably go 7.

[DMAVS41]

Early season Mavs with Nelson, healthy Parsons, Crowder, and Wright would beat the Bulls. They were a mess late in the season though.

I think I would take the Pelicans too. Would probably go 7.

We were a mess late, but also still had some life. Playing a terrible Bulls team would have made us look a lot better than playing a real basketball team. Our biggest weakness was defense obviously...and air guards the Bulls well.

50/50 series in my opinion.

[raprap]

Definitely the most entertaining series of the conference semis. Imo. Of course the brand of basketball played wasn't pretty, but at the entertainment standpoint, it was the best out of the 4.

[Black and White]

Both Mavs and Pelicans would have been 50/50 to beat them to be honest. I'd favor the Mavs actually...especially if they had homecourt. Playing in the East really over-rates a lot of teams.

The Cavs are good, especially when healthy...the Hawks are pretty good as well.

After that...just a bunch of teams that wouldn't be anything more than first round fodder or teams that miss the playoffs.

I agree with the bolded, more so the Pelicans than the Mavs simply because of the chemistry issues, but looking at how stagnant the Bulls are offensively, I think the Mavs could have just outscored them though.

[comerb]

I honestly thought that one was of the worst series I've seen in the last decade. It's only saving grace was a couple of buzzer-beaters. Neither team is particularly good defensively which is when you kinda expect that style of basketball in the playoffs. It was just straight shitty basketball.

[RedBlackAttack]

...neither team is good defensively, apparently. SMFH.

[LAZERUSS]

...neither team is good defensively, apparently. SMFH.

Agreed.

Again...how about the '04 Pistons, who struggled to score in the 70's in the EC playoffs...and then pounded the heavily-favored Lakers in the Finals.

[Jameerthefear]

Agreed.

Again...how about the '04 Pistons, who struggled to score in the 70's in the EC playoffs...and then pounded the heavily-favored Lakers in the Finals.
How about the shut the **** up?

[LilEddyCurry]

I have been trying to tell Poido for a long time that the Bulls are a regular season team. He cannot take those homer goggles off. Bulls play every regular season game like its a game 7. :facepalm

[Flower_]

Best Bulls team in years they said!
Cavs can't do shit against Bulls without Love they said!

4-2 for Cavs I said!

[tamaraw08]

I remember the '04 Pistons barely edging out the Nets in the second round, and then winning game six against the Pistons in the EDF's by a 69-65 score. Virtually every "expert" tabbed the Lakers to easily beat them in the Finals.

If it hadn't been for a miraculous Kobe shot, the Lakers would have been swept, and were completely shelled in the clincher.

I guess you could say esp when the Lakers lost Karl AND Horace Grant to injuries, leaving them with Slava Medvedenko foolishly sending Sheed to the FT line repeatedly. BTW, It also became easy when Kobe shot under 30%, forcing like 15 Jumpshots/game. :rolleyes:
Im not implying tha Lakers could have won but so many factors affected the Lakers chances.

[TheMan]

Now I know exactly how Cavs fans felt in the late 80's/90s when they couldn't get past the Jordan Bulls :(

[tamaraw08]

Bad series primarily because both Kyrie and Rose weren't themselves. Suspensions that weren't really part of this series were part of it. Gasol got injured and it exposed Thibes limitations hardcore. The Bulls had some interior passing during the year but rarely run cuts and counters, and rarely post effectively nor willing to use his bench advantage.

On the good side, the Cavs found out about how deep they were. Shump and JR kept focus and played very well. And their defense can be top level. I hope Lebron doesn't tire out. To me the most dangerous teams for the Cavs are GS and the Clippers. If Kyrie can keep health they should beat the others - provided Atlanta doesn't find its game.

Great point about Thibs and lack of cuts/offensive continuity etc.
about Shump and JR, I think Cavs should help pay some of the 12 Mil the Knicks are paying him. I mean, my gosh, gift wrapping 2 really good starters for a bag of peanus?
Send the Zen Master another championship ring if the Cavs win it all.

[tamaraw08]

I have been trying to tell Poido for a long time that the Bulls are a regular season team. He cannot take those homer goggles off. Bulls play every regular season game like its a game 7. :facepalm

I guess so esp when your coach can't adjust offensively. Same old iso's and no motion, limited picks etc.

[Hamtaro CP3KDKG]

If u think that was a great series u prolly havent watched much basketball

[Pointguard]

I remember the '04 Pistons barely edging out the Nets in the second round, and then winning game six against the Pistons in the EDF's by a 69-65 score. Virtually every "expert" tabbed the Lakers to easily beat them in the Finals.

If it hadn't been for a miraculous Kobe shot, the Lakers would have been swept, and were completely shelled in the clincher.

Yeah, you can't tell sometimes. And that defense Detroit played against the Lakers looked flawless out West. If Lebron doesn't get tired... .

[Pointguard]

Great point about Thibs and lack of cuts/offensive continuity etc.
about Shump and JR, I think Cavs should help pay some of the 12 Mil the Knicks are paying him. I mean, my gosh, gift wrapping 2 really good starters for a bag of peanus?
Send the Zen Master another championship ring if the Cavs win it all.
We didn't even get first round picks for them. Shump was an all time elite defender with the Knicks two years back and JR won them one game and had big influence on a second game. With the first rounders the Knicks didn't get, the Cav's got Mozgov with.