National Basketball Association playoffs

[HollywoodLeo]

(2) Boston over (7) Chicago in 5 games - Anyone who believes the Bulls will make this a close series is a little bit delusional. You think Paul Pierce isn't playing with an extra chip on his shoulder now that KG's out and everyone's counting out Boston?

Paul Pierce can have an entire bag of Lays smothered over both shoulders, it won't negate the fact that KG's out and that that drastically hurts Boston's chances.

That being said, Chicago shouldn't even be a playoff team and Boston takes the series.

[browntown653]

I'm not saying KG being out doesn't hurt their chances, but I expect Pierce to (as he always does) step it up a notch in the playoffs.

[Kingdom]

Browntown thinks Glen Davis is going to DOMINATE. Big Baby DOMINATION.

[Porter]

[Kingdom]

I mean, his nickname is Big Baby, it's not like he's called Big Ass Kicker or Big Mother ****er with Funny Shaped Calves, although..

[Buckcheeks]

(4) Portland over (5) Houston in 7 games - The Blazers depth will help deny TMac another playoff series win.

What does Tmac have to do with anything in these play-offs?

[Buckcheeks]

Under @ Kash.

[cjkalt]

Browntown thinks Glen Davis is going to DOMINATE. Big Baby DOMINATION.

Glen Davis will be good however the real replacement for KG, LEON POWE, will totally DOMINATE. He gets no respect but he has been averaging a double-double starting for KG, the only reason the Celtics struggled a tad down the stretch was that KG AND Powe were hurt, but Leon came back and looked really good the last couple games.

Celtics-Bulls Series Preview

Celtics Offense vs. Bulls Defense

The Celtics rank sixth in offensive efficiency, second in team field goal percentage and first in 3-point shooting. They play at one of the slower paces in the NBA, however the ability for them to go on quick runs and turn close games into blowouts is a key trait of this team. The way this normally happens is for the Celtics to use their superior speed to make things happen. The best way for Chicago to try and avoid these runs is to stop the speed of Rajon Rondo who is the catalyst for the high octane Celtics. Another early key is to prevent Ray Allen from getting hot. Boston will run multiple screening action to get Ray Allen's jumper going, stopping this play could potentially turn the Celtics into just the Paul Pierce show which is when they are slightly vulnerable. The problem for the Bulls is that Pierce proved to be the best clutch performer in last year's championship run which can make defense tough late in the game and shot clock. Those types of makes can be deflating so you have to go into it with the mindset that Pierce will make the shot and get ready for your offensive chance. Chicago is a bottom-half-of-the-league defensive team, ranking 18th in defensive efficiency and 20th in rebounding, so the Bulls will have to be creative with their schemes and matchups to try and contain Allen and Pierce.

Chicago Offense vs Celtics Defense

For the Bulls to win their best chance is to try and repeat the March 17th win over the Celtics 4 times, With the 9th fastest pace in the NBA they will try to run, run, run and try to score in transition cause they are one of the most inefficent offensive teams finishing 18th in offensive efficency. Although they are fourth in the league in 3-point shooting, the Bulls take lots of quick, bad shots, and a poor shooting percentage on those will play right into the hands of Boston's defense, which is No. 1 in the league in field goal percentage defense, No. 2 in rebounding and No. 3 in defensive efficiency. The key for Boston like Chicago is to stop the point guard Derrick Rose. The difference between these 2 PG's is that Rose wants to score 1st, score 2nd and pass 3rd. The Bulls will try to ball screen for Rose and then let him drive from pretty much any angle. They will either look for the drive, or Rose sometimes will kick it to an open Salmons or Kinrich for 3, or kick it in the other post for Miller. That being said Miller isn't used enough and the vast majority of the Bulls points are from their guards and playing man to man is most effective.

As mentioned in my previous post I think the Celtics are too good of a defensive team for the quick shooting Bulls to win over a 7 game series, I think they will get hot for a game and take 1, but thats it.

Prediction: Celtics in 5

[Kingdom]

Bulls went 3/17 from three, and managed to win. Not writing Boston off but shit, you can't lose to the underdog when they only get 2 threes from Gordon, Salmons, and Hinrich. Yeesh.

[Kingdom]

What does Tmac have to do with anything in these play-offs?

He'll have a miserable series as a cheerleader, probably spraining his back jumping up to cheer at some point.

[cjkalt]

Bulls went 3/17 from three, and managed to win. Not writing Boston off but shit, you can't lose to the underdog when they only get 2 threes from Gordon, Salmons, and Hinrich. Yeesh.

The Celtics had 0 3's from Ray Allen who is one of the best 3 pt shooters ever, the reality is that the Bulls were just hot from mid-range which I expected to happen once in the series, just happened to be game 1 with Tyrus Thomas hitting every jump shot he chucked up.

Not good to lose game 1, but the Bulls just picked today to not miss, the C's will be fine cause they will shoot better from 3 too, as the C's were the #1 3 pt shooting team in the regular season.

[Kingdom]

So where was that Leon Powe domination at? Out to lunch?

[Kingdom]

Portland, worst performance ever. Well maybe not but... the clippers could play better.

[Kingdom]

maybe not.

[DirtyKash]

Portland needs Tracy McGrady to come back.