Archive
Glimpse into the 2011 NBA playoffs
Victor Baldizon/NBAE/Getty Images
This season’s version of the NBA playoffs have already featured the elimination of the western conference’s top seeded San Antonio Spurs, a 46 point game from the Orlando Magic’s All-Start center Dwight Howard and a 40-foot three-point bank shot from the Atlanta Hawks sixth man scoring machine Jamal Crawford that helped eliminate Howard’s Magic. The Boston Celtics swept the injury depleted New York Knicks while Kevin Durant lead the Oklahoma City Thunder over the New York Knicks, I mean Denver Nuggets. The championship contending Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and defending champion Los Angeles Lakers also advanced to the second round.
At the beginning of the season I predicted the south beach marriage of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh would lead the Miami Heat to a championship this season. That prediction was looking pretty bad when the Heat started the season 9-8 and lost their first three match-ups against the defending eastern conference champions, the Boston Celtics. However, the Heat won their last regular season game against Celtics pretty convincingly and now lead the squad from Bean town 2-0 in their eastern semifinal best of 7 series.
The Heat have looked super human and the Celtics have looked their age. While Miami moves up, down and over the court at will, the Celtics have looked…..old. Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are all fighting injuries while Rajon Rondo has looked disinterested on defense the past two games.
The Heat will capture this series in 5 games and will defeat the Chicago Bulls in the eastern conference finals. As long as Carlos Boozer continues to play poorly, the Bulls will have no chance to reach the NBA finals.
Noah to start for Bulls against Raptors – AP
Sidelined for more than two months by a torn ligament in his right thumb, Joakim Noah will return to the Chicago Bulls’ lineup when they visit Toronto on Wednesday.
Noah says he’s “just excited to play basketball again.”
Coach Tom Thibodeau says the center’s conditioning will dictate how much he plays the next few games but hopes to have him playing starter’s minutes as soon as possible.
At 38-16, the Bulls are leading the Central division and challenging for the top seed in the Eastern Conference even though injuries have prevented Noah and Carlos Boozer from playing much together. This will be Noah’s first game since a win at Toronto on Dec. 15.
He had surgery shortly afterward, but the Bulls went 22-8 in his absence.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Bulls G Rose day-to-day with injuries – AP
Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose is listed as day-to-day after suffering multiple injuries in a win over the Indiana Pacers. Rose has a sprained right wrist, a bruised right elbow and a sore right hip after Monday’s game. He will be in Toronto for Wednesday’s game against the Raptors.
Coach Tom Thibodeau said that he anticipates Rose will play, but if he can’t C.J. Watson will start at point guard.
Rose, a right-hander, did not participate in Tuesday’s practice beyond taking a few left-handed shots in front of reporters.
X-rays on the wrist were negative. Rose said the hip was actually more sore than the wrist or elbow.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
In a prime time for point guards, Rose stands out
The NBA has a history of being a big man’s league. The early domination of players of like George Mikan, Bob Pettit, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain made it impossible for any team in the league to succeed with out size. The trend continued into the 1990s when players like Shaquille O’Neal, Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning became anchors for their respective teams.
The 90s were also dominated by big shooting guards. Micheal Jordan, Mitch Richmond and Allan Houston used their strength to create space and dominate their opponents. As time has progressed, the game has gotten bigger and faster.
The new trend in the NBA over the last decade has been the development of superstar point guards. The recognition for these smaller floor generals started when Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash won back to back MVPs in 2005 and 2006.
As point guard greats like Nash and Jason Kidd have gotten older, young guns like Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Russell Westbrook and Derrick Rose have entered the peak of their careers.
The player who has made the biggest jump this season has been Chicago Bulls superstar Derrick Rose. Rose is averaging a career high 25 points and 8 assists per game. The biggest addition to Rose’s game has been a reliable jump shot. Rose is shooting 40% from the three point line and hit five threes against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. The addition of free agent forward Carlos Boozer to the Bulls has helped Rose get, take, and make more jump shots. The form and consistency on Rose’s jump shot shows the commitment he made to getting better in the off-season.
Rose’s development instantly makes the Bulls a threat to the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics, the superstar heavy Miami Heat, and the Superman powered Orlando Magic. Plus, he can still do this…
Source: Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls agree on five-year contract – ESPN Chicago
Source: Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls agree on five-year contract – ESPN Chicago.
Reports are indicating that free agent Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer and the Chicago Bulls have agreed on a five-year contract for approximately $80 million. The agreement between the Bulls and Boozer could play a big part in where free agent forward LeBron James decides to play next season.
