Chicago Bulls: 5 Reasons They Would Have Beaten the Mavericks in the NBA Finals
Chicago Bulls nation is watching the NBA Finals, scouring the net for NBA trade rumors and scouting reports on draft picks to better the team. However it's inevitable that when your team goes down in the playoffs in any sport, you start to think of how they would've fared in the next round.
Usually, there is some comfort in being able to say "so and so would have beat us anyway".
For Bulls fans, I don't think this is one of those years. The Bulls and Heat played as close a five game series as is possible.
As I watch these NBA Finals, I can't help but think, the Bulls would have defeated the Mavericks and here are the five reasons why.
Reason 1: Mavs Perimeter Defense
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Take a look at Dwyane Wade's offensive output. Did whatever ailment Wade had during the Bulls series miraculously heal up or is it the defenses?
I go for the latter, though Tyson Chandler is a shot blocker and has always protected the basket, he is the Mavericks only strong opposition in the paint. Brendan Haywood has been hurt and has only played 22 minutes the entire series.
On the perimeter, Jason Kidd, JJ Barea, Jason Terry and DeShawn Stevenson don't compare to Derrick Rose, Keith Bogans and Ronnie Brewer (notice I left Kyle Korver out). That is the biggest reason Wade has gone from averaging 19 points per game on 40 percent shooting in the Eastern Conference Finals to averaging 29 points on 57 percent shooting against Dallas.
Now imagine those same perimeter players trying to curtail Derrick Rose. Rose would've had a field day on Dallas.
Reason 2: Defending Dirk
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Dirk is an amazing scorer so you will never stop him. With guys like him you attempt to throw different looks at them to take away their rhythm and get them to operate out of their comfort zone.
The Bulls have so many players on their roster with the ability to do just that. Starting with Joakim Noah, Noah has the length and athleticism to guard Dirk out on the perimeter.
Though Dirk has gotten better with playing physical, he still prefers the finesse approach. This puts Noah in his best defensive space, he struggles with the physical low post players.
From the bench, Taj Gibson also would be an option to check Dirk (notice I left Boozer out of this slide).
Either from the bench or the starting five, the Bulls have an effective option to hold Nowitzki as well as can be expected. Then you always have the help defense, that the Bulls are so good at providing.
I didn't even mention the Bulls best defender—Luol Deng.
In the NBA Finals you are seeing the difference. Dirk and the Mavs have struggled when he is pressed to find teammates out of the Heat athletic double teams.
Take a look at Nowitzki's numbers to see the difference, he is having a good to great series averaging 28 points per game on 46 percent from the field. Compare that to the Western Conference Finals when he averaged 32 points per game on 56 percent from the field.
Its all about defense and the Bulls and Miami play the best defense in the league.
Reason 3: Carlos Boozer's Comfort Zone
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Carlos Boozer has spent the majority of his career playing in the Western Conference. His game hasn't yet adapted to the style difference, maybe it never will.
At any rate, Boozer's inequities would not be on display nearly as much in a series against Dallas.
First of all, he wouldn't be allowed to get within 10 feet of Dirk on defense and the Mavs. Another of Boozer's biggest issues are shot blockers, The Mavs only have one real shot blocker—Tyson Chandler.
The Mavs defense would allow Boozer an opportunity to gain a rhythm with his 15 foot jump shot and a lot of the criticism we're hearing about Boozer would be a memory.
Reason 4: Kyle Korver Could Hide On Defense
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The Mavericks don't have enough off the dribble players to expose Kyle Korver. Miami put Korver's man in pick and roll with either Wade or LeBron to expose Korver.
The only off the dribble threats the Mavs have are Barea, Terry and possibly Stevenson (as was mentioned with Boozer, Korver wouldn't be allowed within 10 feet of Nowitzki).
Korver like Boozer has experienced great success in the Western Conference and I believe he would've had a good series against the Mavs.
Reason 5: Dirk Nowitzki's Supporting Cast
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In the Finals Nowitzki's supporting cast has looked very similar to the one Rose had to deal with when facing Miami. Take a look at the postseason numbers, Dirk is averaging 28 points per game, Terry 17, Shawn Marion 12, Kidd 10 and Barea eight.
For Chicago, Rose averaged 27 points per game, Deng 17, Boozer 13, Noah nine and Korver seven. The similarities are staggering, but look even deeper.
Though Terry is averaging 17 points per game in the post season, he is only averaging 14 per game in the Finals on 38 percent shooting.
Compound this drop off with his defensive struggles, it's similar to Korver's issues. Leaving Chalmers wide open in the corner in Game two was ridiculous, and they actually won that game.
Noah and Marion both make the top five scorers lists for their teams, but both are energy players who really can't get their own shots.
The same way Miami is able to shut down Dallas' attack, the Bulls, would have the same success.
Conclusion
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My conclusion is mostly based on the defense (which is the reason I believe Miami will win this series). I believe the Bulls would have beaten Dallas in six games had they advanced.
Defense still wins championships, when that's a stalemate, it comes down to clutch offensive performers. That was the difference in the Bulls and Heat series.
The Mavs can't match the Heat defensively, nor would they match the Bulls. Too bad we'll never really know.
