2011 NBA Playoffs: 11 Questions the Chicago Bulls Must Answer for Finals Run
The doubters are everywhere, ready to vilify the Chicago Bulls. Some of the nay-sayers, you can assume (though you would be making an ass of yourself), speak negatively of the resurgent franchise out of a natural inclination towards bitterness. Others question the Bulls playoff mettle, their saber-metric loser MVP in Rose, among other things. While you can dismiss the words of the wounded, some writers, both of the web and analog cultures, have raised legitimate arguments against the Chicago Bulls' title contention.
Don't get it wrong, I bleed Chicago Bulls red (even though technically every human does, but you get my drift) just as much as the next avid fan. However, this does not dismiss valid claims made by various journalists and highly opinionated fans. These claims, while mostly speculative, ignite fury within the most raging of Bulls supporters, but I must say that some of them made me ponder and led me to questions of my own.
The following list are questions that I have compiled. I answered some of the questions outright, but others are more theoretical. Discussions, if you will.
Expect to see slides you simply do not agree with. Spark a debate, question me. Don't be shy. And why 11? In the words of the Nostalgia Critic, because I like to go one step beyond.
11. Will Regular Season Success Get to the Bulls' Heads?
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I say no, but history would have me believe otherwise. Over the last 12 years, the number 1 seed from the Eastern Conference has won the NBA title once. ONCE.
Oh no, cries Bulls fans! Does this mean that we should have blown a few games to have a better probability of winning it all (according to the history of the last 12 years)!? Oh of course not, don't be silly. This is one statistic that is as meaningless as the PER (just saying, the playing is done on the court, not the stat sheet). So no, the wins will not get to the Bulls head when considering conventional wisdom. What the other number 1 seeds in the Eastern Conference have done, why they failed so miserably, means nothing to the 2010-11 Bulls. Besides, I blame the Lakers and Spurs.
Throughout the course of the season, Thibodeau has not let up on any of his players, regardless of their importance in his grand scheme. I imagine he will drive home the fact that they are about to enter a new season, where regular season wins only determine playoff positioning. I have full confidence that the Bulls will not let 62 wins blow their heads up to the extent where they become absent in the playoffs.
10. Will the Bulls Bench Mob Go on Parade?
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The Bulls have one of the deepest teams around, thanks in large part to a very productive bench.
This "team within a team" provides valuable sparks throughout a game; they can either ignite the scoreboard or lock down the opposing team. They are not just fill-in players: each brings to the table something different than their starting counterparts.
CJ Watson, according to statistics, when he is on the floor, the team has a better defensive rating than when he is off of the floor (though this stat might be exaggerated due to his minutes played, which pales in comparison to Rose). Ronnie Brewer leads the team in steals, and Kyle Korver leads the team in 3P% (with more than 50 attempts). Taj Gibson plays better defense than Boozer, Omer Asik lives up to the saying "you can't teach 7 feet," and Kurt Thomas is a veteran leader and a defensive anchor.
Together, they have logged averages of 16.1 mpg, 36.6 ppg, 8.4 apg, and 22.2 rpg. Those are more than solid numbers, and given that they provide much more than the stat sheet says, their success is dependent on consistency. If the Bulls want to make a legitimate run to the top, they have to activate their bench powers. The Bulls have good starters, but even the largest star dims down.
9. The Best Offense Is a Good Defense?
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I am going to be a bit unfair in my following description, but I think it will sum things up a bit.
OK, so last year, who had the best defense? You guessed it, the Charlotte Bobcats. And what happened to them in the playoffs? Yes, I know, they were not a title team then and they surely aren't now. So back during the 2007-08 season, who had the best defense? The eventual champion Boston Celtics did, with Kevin Garnett winning DPOY that year.
The saying that "the best offense is a good defense" can be switched around as well. To me, a championship caliber team has a good balance, which means it is hard to rely solely on one facet of a game to achieve the ultimate goal. However, it is not impossible.
I'm not ragging on the Bulls offense, because it is 11th in offensive rating. Not to mention, Rose is blooming into the next...not going to say it. We'll get to that later though. Also, they are 8th in offensive rebounding and 4th in defensive rebounding. Being 9th in assists is also not too shabby considering that many people write off Rose's ability to find teammates despite his assists total (this is why some people foolishly think Rondo is better).
However, offense is not what will be the deciding factor for a title run. The defense will, and history has shown that it can either be an important component or a non factor. The Bulls need to make sure it falls in the former category. I do not believe they will burn out like the 2009-10 Bobcats because their offense is much better, but they have to remember to retain a good balance in their overall game.
This is a hard question to answer, so come up with your own ideas.
9. Will the Shooting Guard Situation Pose a Problem?
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Everybody knows Keith Bogans as the major "weak" spot on an otherwise solid starting five. However, contrary to popular belief, I find Bogans to be an effective player.
Alright, so by definition, a shooting guards main purpose is to score the ball. Given Bogans' 4.4 ppg, I would say that, according to Wikipedia, he is not doing his job. However, I find him to be a good enough mix between Kyle Korver (fourth most three pointers taken on team, .380 average) and Ronnie Brewer (defense, enough said), and the fact he only plays 17.8 mpg makes me think that he is only the starting guard because Thibodeau is smart enough to use all three for different game-time situations.
I say Bogans starting status is a product of good coaching, so I cannot outright state that he is hurting the Bulls. Stat geeks argue that over the history of the NBA Finals, no team has won with a starting guard averaging less than ten points (correct me if I have misspoken, maybe it is the last ten years). If that's the case, they're in trouble. But I sense a change in the wind due to an unorthodox method being implemented instead of the norm. Innovators often trump replicators, and I believe that what Thibs is doing is all according to a plan.
So no, I don't think any major problems will present themselves at the shooting guard position. They have the tools and know how to use them.
8. Will Jordan's Shadow Loom Large over the Bulls?
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Oh yes, I went there.
Silly question, right? How can a man's legacy already etched in gold possibly impede on the progress of the current Bulls squad?
Well, it's not the man that could prove to be the problem: it is the city, Chicago, and their highly demanding sports fans. It is the fact that they are playing in a town where perfection is demanded and expected of the elite teams, and if you do not live up to expectations, they will chew you up and spit you out (just ignore Cubs fans for a second). OK, so Chicago is not Philadelphia, but to say that Chicago has a love for their sports teams would be an understatement.
Maybe a better question would be this: can the Bulls handle the pressure? In my eyes, they can. Rose is one of the more stoic professionals in the game, and at a young, hungry age, has yet to test his playoff mettle. Can you imagine how much he wants to go out there and compete? I don't sense a lot of nervousness, just the urge to compete. What about Boozer? He wants to go back to the Conference Finals for another shot at getting that elusive title. He is 29, so his time is now. Luol Deng too. Every Bull wants to plunge their horns into the hearts of their opponents, and will show up to show everyone out.
Collectively, the Bulls seem to have the fire and desire to win. The Palace that Jordan Built has a statue of the true king right outside, a reminder of expectations and the rewards for meeting them.
The pressure is on, however. I believe that they can handle it, but this is what I assume, and I've already said what happens when one assumes.
7. Will Lack of Playoff Experience Ultimately Be the Bulls' Downfall?
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So Kurt Thomas is a veteran defensive anchor, as I've stated. However, only he and Brian Scalabrine have been to the NBA Finals, and I think we can safely say they did not play large roles for their teams (Kurt for the 1999 Knicks, Scalabrine for the 07-08 Celtics).
Other than that, nothing spectacular. Boozer has been to the Western Conference Championship along with Ronnie Brewer, Luol Deng to the second round, and that's about it. Others have made playoff runs of varying depth, and Rose has never made it past the first round.
The question is not easy to answer because it is simply loaded. Many will say that experience determines whether or not a team is ready enough to win a championship. This makes sense on paper, but you have to think about this: if it takes experience and playoff know-how, how did the first champion win? Well, by playing better basketball. And that's the secret. If they play better than the other guys, then they will win. Simple. I don't care what the historic stat-books say because that was then, and this is now. Derrick Rose has nothing to do with Charles Barkley or the fact that the Celtics are the basketball equivalent of the Yankees (though much less hated).
NBA history is fond of repeating itself, but year to year, changes occur. Kobe had to start by beating Miller, Jordan had to start by beating Magic, the Celtics and Lakers had to start by...well, they beat everybody. Oh wait, I'm thinking of Russell and Havlicek. What I'm saying is that champions are made champions by beating those thought to be unstoppable at their time AND by simply playing better basketball. If the Bulls disregard the books and focus on beating the other team, they should be golden. Eventually, history could have them as the next unstoppable force, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Experience is a good determining factor for skill and readiness level, but it is far from everything. Just look at the talent the Bulls possess, and you will see why they might just add another chapter to their storied franchise.
6. Do the Bulls Have to Worry About Help from Above?
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Controversial issue, I know. But I have never been too afraid to state what's on my mind at any given time.
A potential lockout is looming right around the corner. The reputation of the NBA because of it will falter, and people who have for a long time been Kobe admirers might just not like to see the sight of an old man running up and down the court as a shell of his former self. In times of NBA viewer-ship crises, a revitalization has often been utilized (possibly intentionally), often in the form of making a big market franchise even bigger and a new star to assume the face of it. When we got tired of Bird and Johnson, in came Jordan. When his time passed, in came Kobe, and about midway through his career, LeBron took his talents to Cleveland straight from high school. And then he left for the Heat, whom won a championship in 2006. Not to mention the big three in Boston of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce. Coincidence they ended up on the most successful franchise in NBA history?
Anyway, what do most of these people have in common? At one time or another, they were the face of the NBA. Sometimes individually, sometimes shared with another superstar. Stars often make themselves, but who is to say that they don't get propelled into fame sometimes?
No, I won't go into detail about Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals. We all know what happened there. Instead, think about why sports analysts often use the term "superstar calls." As in, the more you drive to the rim, and the bigger the star you are, the more likely you are to get to the charity stripe. If the league were not perpetuating these stars for selfish gains, why even coin the phrase? Shouldn't calls be made equally, and not based off of on-court assumptions? In baseball, does Albert Pujols get a "superstar pitch?"
I love Rose, but is he the next superstar who is going to be given a ladder every time he goes for a dunk? He is going to the line much more, but give credit to his increased ability to draw the foul. Also, the same argument was made for Wade, when his team came back from a deficit to win the NBA title. He went to the line at an amazing rate. However, the Heat never won after this, so...BS?
This is tricky, and I am all into theories, but there is no concrete evidence leading to Stern forcibly ushering players into the spotlight so that the game can generate more revenue. It does sound feasible, but as of now, it is only a theory.
I pray that the Bulls, whether they win or lose, do so on their own terms. I believe that they should be worried about this as well. Public perception may be damned to some, but not all. Rose does not want to be the next hated superstar because of outside interference. If they're going to win, they better do it legitimately, otherwise give Stern the pink-slip. And I say this because the Bulls are a large franchise already, and in the shadow of Jordan...maybe they're letting a Rose bloom in the light? That was lame.
5. Can the Bulls Compete with the Likes of James, Howard, Stoudemire?
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Short answer, yes.
The Bulls have beaten the Heat with LeBron twice and the Magic with Howard twice versus one loss. However, they are 0-2 versus Stoudemire, but at that time he was an MVP candidate.
However, it is not that easy. I am sorry Bulls fans, but come playoffs, our record will mean nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada. I hate to say it, but the playoffs is the time to shine, and everything that happened once, twice, or three times might never happen again.
LeBron is the scariest player in the league for a reason. His stats are video game material, his athleticism in unparalleled, and his awareness is unmatched. He is the best player in the league, better then Rose by a mile. But, we're not going to potentially play LeBron in the play-offs: we might be playing the Miami Heat as much as we might be playing the Magic.
Well then my question is misleading, right? Should have just stated team names and not individuals? You might be right, but in the end, these are the players to worry about on the teams to worry about. Thibodeau will have to take his time to execute specific plans for these individuals, taking care in watching videos and the like in preparation for minimizing their damage.
While I say yes, this might not be the truth. Given James' skill, Dwight Howard's cartoon shoulders, and the duo of Stoudemire and Anthony, each can easily give the Bulls a run for their money, or worse, a run right out of their building and into their respective homes.
Personally, I can't wait to see what happens.
4. Will the Bulls' Inefficiency to Close Out Games Well Hurt Them?
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Almost blew a lead versus the Suns. Almost blew a lead to the Raptors. Almost blew a lead to the Magic. Almost blew a lead to the Heat (seems like all three times). Almost blew a lead to the Knicks last night (though that was more tame). And many, many more.
You know what people don't seem to mention, not even the Bulls themselves? That the key word is "almost." Those close games, they still won. What's more? They beat Houston on a comeback engineered by Rose, and almost came back against the Pacers when Rose hit three consecutive free throws to force overtime. Yes, there are games they lost late, like when they played the Carmelo Nuggets (buzzer beater) and when Rose missed a game tying free throw versus the Clippers. But the best success stories, especially in movies, always seem to start with failure.
To me, I believe that the Bulls learn more through edging out wins where they had the significant lead at one point. It shows that they might let a team come back, but sure as hell will not let them win most of the time. I like that. It's more instinctual, shows grit and determination that a blowout can't. These wins build character, because instead of using your reserves as victory cigarettes, you play 48 minutes of ball, maybe even longer. This builds chemistry, togetherness, intangibles.
Those gritty, "ugly" wins might in the long run help them more, because now they have a full knowledge of those situations. They might sleep on a team, but in the end the Bulls are the ones laying the opposing force to rest. So distress all you want about the blown leads, but from where I sit, I like them. Plus, who can argue against bonus basketball? Would you rather see Rose attempting to shoot a teardrop over someone with :05 remaining during a one point game? Or Scalabrine receiving MVP chants on the road?
However, all this extra playing time by the starters can prove to be detrimental in a way...
3. Will Injury Problems Persist?
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Ronnie Brewer injured his thumb playing against New York. While some didn't even blink, I was devastated. Not only is he our best defensive player (well, maybe second), but without him, Korver will see more minutes. On defense. Crud.
Joakim's thumb and ankle are both messed up. Against the Knicks, he had to leave the game after seemingly twisting it on the foot of another. Ouch! Did I mention he has already missed a significant amount of time already? But he did not go to the locker room after the incident, so I guess it was not too bad.
Boozer? Missed a few games with a sprained ankle (Kwame Brown, you better watch out), not to mention the first 20 or so games (maybe less) with a broken wrist.
Luol Deng has played many minutes, but remember the past few years when he was injured seemingly all the time. I know he's "Glue-All," but if he can't hold himself together, how can he possibly hope to hold a team together? He has played many minutes, too...
Rose had to miss a game due to ulcers, and has lately been on the recipient end of big hits that have left him writhing in pain.
Making matters worse, they've played a formidable amount of minutes due to the aforementioned close games. Even the most stable Toyota needs to go to the shop sometime.
Where does it end?
The Bulls have an undeniably efficient team, but if they're injured, how can an athletic team like the Heat lose to them?
It's hard to deal in absolutes when it comes to sports, so I can't say injuries will play a large part in the Bulls' title run. Ronnie Brewer said he won't miss the playoffs, and Joakim seems to be alright. But I worry that the injury bug might bite them.
2. Is Derrick Rose the Person They Say He Is?
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For the record, I could have made the title a pun on his surname, but it's overdone and I am tired of reading them, even though I just did a lame one earlier.
Well, is he? I don't know, ask Derrick Rose, preferably while he is right in the middle of performing in the NBA Playoffs (don't actually do that, you'll distract him). That is when we will see if he is.
Rose knows the regular season means nothing now. Who he is, as a leader, player, cheerleader, will all be tested once he takes the floor against the Pacers. The Bulls depend on him for success, and this is the year that will test his mentality and instincts.
I said the regular season does not matter anymore, and I was right. From a statistical standpoint. Where it does matter is when you look at the highlights and try to determine what a player is best at in terms of leading his respective team to victory. Besides attracting a legion of haters to spite his name and disparage his MVP candidacy, Rose has a tendency to finish games on the winning side, often closing the game to seal the deal. Call him Mariano Rivera.
During the Playoffs, his shooting percentage, drives, and other stuff will not be looked at under a magnifying glass unless he exceeds or falls short of expectations. What will matter is how he closes tight games, something he is used to given the Bulls' propensity for throwing leads away. See what I meant earlier? Practice makes perfect.
I cannot answer this question. Nor can you. We can debate, but that's it. Only Rose knows. Que the postgame interviews.
By the way, please stop saying he is the next Jordan America. In taking Magic's format, there will never be another Jordan, ever. Unless Stern makes one.
1. Do the Bulls Have the Right Stuff?
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Superstar go to guy? Check.
Three point specialist? Check
Stingy defender? Check
Low-post man? Check
Great rebounder? Check
Great bench? Check
Great coach? Check
Benny the Bull? Check
NBA Title? Hm...
Yes, the Bulls have the right stuff to win. But this doesn't mean they will. The Bulls don't have an important piece now, but they can by season's end: the mentality and experience to perform in the Playoffs. This is the year to do it, too. Who knows what's going to happen next season.
As much talent as they have, their mentality is the only thing that is unchecked. In order to win, they need to prove to themselves that they are good enough, then other teams follow suit.
The Playoffs are near, and it is time to cinch it up and hunker down. Let's hope the Bulls can prove to the world that not only are they legitimate contenders, but in an elite class of their own. Let's see if their blood is as red as their fans.
And, as always, go Bulls!
