60 replies to this topic

[2016Champions]

I'm not quite sure what you're asking....I think we have a great shot at making the finals ourselves.  The playoffs are a long ways off--injuries, trades, and team chemistry have to play out before we have a realistic idea of the challenge before us.  Even then, playoff seeding will be a factor.  I've got high hopes and think we can get into the finals with a little luck.  Once there, having the extra big body of Asik will be a difference maker in my opinion.  I think he can guard either of Hibbert or West effectively.  This could leave Dwight free to play help defense and alter/block lots of shots.  Even if he is only used as "an extra 6 fouls" that will be huge.  With no Asik, after Dwight there is not much to put up against their huge front line.  Of course, that presumes one of our PF's doesn't figure out NBA defense by then....so many questions!!!

No disrespect to the Pacers who are a defensive juggernaut with decent offense, but we're better than them imo. 

[thejohnnygold]

I love that you feel that way.  I'm not so sure.  They are deep, talented, well coached, and are very strong at our weakest position--power forward.

 

A lot depends on how much Granger brings to the table as well as Hibbert.  If Granger is even 80% of what he was and Hibbert can improve then I think they are going to be tough to beat over 7 games.  They have some depth on that roster too.

 

Of course, the same goes for us--If lin and Bev each take steps as well as Parsons and Harden while Dwight returns to form we are looking really good.  Presuming somebody can play PF for us we will be on the same level as them.

 

Right now, it's hard to say.  We'll be re-visiting this throughout the season--I have no doubt about that

[2016Champions]

I love that you feel that way.  I'm not so sure.  They are deep, talented, well coached, and are very strong at our weakest position--power forward.

 

A lot depends on how much Granger brings to the table as well as Hibbert.  If Granger is even 80% of what he was and Hibbert can improve then I think they are going to be tough to beat over 7 games.  They have some depth on that roster too.

 

Of course, the same goes for us--If lin and Bev each take steps as well as Parsons and Harden while Dwight returns to form we are looking really good.  Presuming somebody can play PF for us we will be on the same level as them.

 

Right now, it's hard to say.  We'll be re-visiting this throughout the season--I have no doubt about that

They have a weakness too, and that weakness is a lack of penetration from the guards. Paul George is a defensive stud but offensively he's not even in Harden' s league. Pacers rely way too much on the double teams their big men draw, but with the Dwight's interior defense I'm not worried one bit. From what I saw Terrence Jones isn't a bad interior defense either, he can make West work very hard for his points without double team help.

[rocketrick]

I very much agree with the above--well said Drew.  As I've said before--I think the Pacers are going to the finals this year.  Having Asik on board (despite our pre-season dominance over them) will be very valuable should we get there.

 

It's pretty bold to predict that it will be the Pacers who win the East this season. They certainly will contend, but with a healthy Derrick Rose playing again, don't count out Chicago and their tough minded Head Coach Thibodeau who challenged the Miami Heat 2 seasons ago. New Jersey Nets also have a chance if they can figure out things with all the veteran talent there this season. The Miami Heat are not going to just simply fade away. Somebody is going to have to knock them out over the course of a 7-game series. As always, key injuries to any team could decimate their opportunities to challenge for the crown this season.

[thejohnnygold]

It's pretty bold to predict that it will be the Pacers who win the East this season. They certainly will contend, but with a healthy Derrick Rose playing again, don't count out Chicago and their tough minded Head Coach Thibodeau who challenged the Miami Heat 2 seasons ago. New Jersey Nets also have a chance if they can figure out things with all the veteran talent there this season. The Miami Heat are not going to just simply fade away. Somebody is going to have to knock them out over the course of a 7-game series. As always, key injuries to any team could decimate their opportunities to challenge for the crown this season.

 

Totally agree--the East is very top-heavy.  I also think the Knicks and Wizards will give a couple of those top teams a run for their money in the playoffs.  Still, I like the Pacers.  They've had some great post-season experience the last two seasons and I think this is their year to break through.  Unless Michael Beasley and Greg Oden find a way to be better than their usual selves the Heat did not get better.  Meanwhile, those other three teams did.  I think Indiana will put Granger in a Manu-type 6th man role and allow him to lead the second unit with Scola, Mahinmi, Copeland and Watson--which doesn't sound like much, but I think should be quite effective as a second unit.

[timetodienow1234567]

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Oden ends up playing 10-15 min a game in the postseason. I don't think he will help out much in the regular season though.

[Buckko]

Wouldn't surprise me if he destroys his knee in the first game, then again I expect that sooner then later.

[rockets best fan]

Totally agree--the East is very top-heavy.  I also think the Knicks and Wizards will give a couple of those top teams a run for their money in the playoffs.  Still, I like the Pacers.  They've had some great post-season experience the last two seasons and I think this is their year to break through.  Unless Michael Beasley and Greg Oden find a way to be better than their usual selves the Heat did not get better.  Meanwhile, those other three teams did.  I think Indiana will put Granger in a Manu-type 6th man role and allow him to lead the second unit with Scola, Mahinmi, Copeland and Watson--which doesn't sound like much, but I think should be quite effective as a second unit.

I think Indiana can take out Miami this year also, but they are unlikely to see them unless Chicago wins the best record for the east. if Indiana has to go through Chicago to get to Miami they will have fallen short because I don't think they can beat Chicago. After watching us play them overseas................they are a top level defensive team, but just a slightly above average offensive team. usually very good defensive teams really hate being played in their own style. we did that to them and they were unable counter what we did to them. Last year when we played them in the regular season Hibbert went all world on us......28 points 13 rebounds. with D-12 able to shut Hibbert down we reduced them to a jump shooting team which is not their strength. Chicago has Noah who should be able to do Hibbert much the same as Howard did. the key to stopping them is shutdown Hibbert. that's why they need Granger to find his old form. without him and a shutdown Hibbert they can't keep up offensively

[Buckko]

If you shutdown Rose however, you shut down the bulls offense.

[rockets best fan]

If you shutdown Rose however, you shut down the bulls offense.

true, but that is a much more difficult task

[Buckko]

But, not impossible, that's why you need at least 2 superstars to win it all.

[rockets best fan]

But, not impossible, that's why you need at least 2 superstars to win it all.

while 2 stars do make the task easier it's not absolutely necessary. very good teams constructed around one supreme talent have ripped off a few too.

[Buckko]

Not in the last 10 years and if you are going to refer to the 2011 Mavericks, then I disagree because they didn't just have Dirk, but many potent offensive weapons who could create their own shot which the Bulls lack. Modern defense has made it impossible for you to win with just one guy.

[rockets best fan]

Not in the last 10 years and if you are going to refer to the 2011 Mavericks, then I disagree because they didn't just have Dirk, but many potent offensive weapons who could create their own shot which the Bulls lack. Modern defense has made it impossible for you to win with just one guy.

who was Dallas's second superstar? Yes they had some very good players around Dirk, but he was the only superstar. your statement said you can't win it without 2 superstars......I'm saying Dallas just did a couple of years ago that which you said can't be done

[Buckko]

Dallas had many players who could create their own shot and could step as Allstar caliber players when need be like the 04 pistons but I just don't see that, Noah is the only other player that can run an offense but still can't create his own shot.

[rockets best fan]

Dallas had many players who could create their own shot and could step as Allstar caliber players when need be like the 04 pistons but I just don't see that, Noah is the only other player that can run an offense but still can't create his own shot.

true Dallas had players who could create their own shot, but besides Dirk which one was superstar caliber?

[Buckko]

Kid terry Marion all could step up to give Allstar numbers on any given night. Bulls don't have players like that.

Edited by Buckko, 28 October 2013 - 10:51 PM.

[Cooper]

What makes 2011 Kidd terry and Marion better than Deng Noah boozer and butler?

[2016Champions]

What makes 2011 Kidd terry and Marion better than Deng Noah boozer and butler?

Good point! It's funny how advocates of Roses MVP like to cite his "lack of help" lol. That MVP should have gone to Dwight

Edited by 2016Champions, 29 October 2013 - 01:17 AM.

[rockets best fan]

Kid terry Marion all could step up to give Allstar numbers on any given night. Bulls don't have players like that.

   you're kidding right. Kidd was only a shell of his self and Terry and Marion were role players. at the time Dallas won the championship Dirk was the only player playing at all star level. as for your issue with the bulls that was countered by Cooper and I agree with that view.