2011 Playoffs: (1) Bulls vs. (5) Hawks

[kibaxx7]

Bulls in 6 games.

[Lean]

Bulls in 6 games.

Spurs in 6.

[[Q]]

i wouldve said hawks in 6 but with hinrich out for most of the series, i'll say in 7. the hawks match up well with the bulls (with hinrich in the lineup) so we'll see how it goes.

i still don't understand why the bulls are such heavy favorites to win this, especially with their occasional struggles vs the pacers and boozer's no-show

[benji]

I've talked to my sources and they believe the Bulls need to shoot better than 6/23 and Derrick Rose needs to shoot better than 0/7 in later quarters.

[Axel The Great]

Do your sources get paid as much as Joe Johnson?

[atlwarrior]

Who needs Derrick Rose when you have Earl Watson?!

Edit: Correction C.J. Watson

[Andrew]

i wouldve said hawks in 6 but with hinrich out for most of the series, i'll say in 7. the hawks match up well with the bulls (with hinrich in the lineup) so we'll see how it goes.

i still don't understand why the bulls are such heavy favorites to win this, especially with their occasional struggles vs the pacers and boozer's no-show

The fact they were one of the best teams during the regular season (with the league's best record) probably has something to do with it. Beating the Hawks by an average of 25 ppg in two of their meetings during the regular season also contributes to most people believing the Bulls might just have a shot.

[shadowgrin]

Derrick Rose says sweep.

[atlwarrior]

Jameer Nelson said he would meet D-Rose in the Second Round before the playoffs started but since the Magic lost before that could happen, the Hawks gave him tickets to the game to make sure he gets to meet D-Rose in the second round.

http://www.gacksports.com/42892/hawks-leave-tickets-for-jameer-nelson-at-will-call/

[Andrew]

That was considerate of them. Well played, Hawks.

[Lamrock]

Hawks played their absolute best in the first half and only led by one. Bulls are up now. Four straight conference semifinal sweeps methinks.

[atlwarrior]

Hawks played their absolute best in the first half and only led by one. Bulls are up now. Four straight conference semifinal sweeps methinks.

Spoke to soon. Huh? This series is going 7 games. I can feel it. The Hawks are not going down that easy.

Edit: Joe Johnson 30 pts 10-16 shooting and 5-5 beyond the arc. WTF!

[benji]

Derrick Rose doing his best Russell Westbrook impression by botching a three, getting the rebound and blowing a near wide-open layup.

[Andrew]

Possibly a little rust from the seven day break? Not the start to the series I was anticipating.

[kibaxx7]

Joe Johnson 30 pts 10-16 shooting and 5-5 beyond the arc. WTF!

+

Now on 34, 12-18 FGs, 5-5 3s. Wow!

[Lamrock]

I will happily eat my words. lolwtf

[benji]

Don't worry, the MVP's got this.

[Lamrock]

Rose limping after failing to foul. Could this game have gone any worse for the Bulls?

[Andrew]

At least Boozer kind of showed up. 11/27 from Rose isn't going to cut it though.

[jenroe962002]

I Don't Expect that win from the Hawks.

[Lamrock]

Would almost be more encouraging if Boozer didn't... Wouldn't be surprised if Bulls end up taking this in 5, but I think Heat-Celtics is probably the real ECF

[shadowgrin]

Possibly a little rust from the seven day break?

Rose limping after failing to foul. Could this game have gone any worse for the Bulls?

I smell lingering injury from that game with the Pacers.

[Andrew]

Could be some of that too. I was hoping the break would give his ankle the time it needed to heal up a bit.

[shadowgrin]

Hope it doesn't end up like that of Grant Hill. Coming back too early from an injury.

[atlwarrior]

The Bulls will be fine. I've noticed their recent struggles early in games though.