Ferrell, who is in the Big Easy shooting a movie with Zach Galifianakis about “political rivals who are seeking the same congressional seat” (must see), got especially clever with the visiting Bulls’ lineup, introducing Joakim Noah as “a Scorpio and a terrible dancer” and announcing that Luol Deng “collects rare birds and has a pet dolphin named Chachi.”

Watch the entire thing from CSN Chicago:

The Bulls ended up winning 90-67.

Will Ferrell doing the intros at last night's Hornets-Bulls game. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

In Part 1, I analyzed the ongoing debate between Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose – and two different styles of point guard they represent.

In Part 2, I picked apart two myths we are hearing everywhere that are based on flawed logic – namely, that the Indiana Pacers will be good and that old teams will have a harder team with the shortened schedule than other teams.

And now, in Part 3, I will discuss an Eastern Conference superstar who could be poised to make the leap to legend – Carmelo Anthony – and provide my prediction for which team will represent the East in this year’s Finals.

Carmelo Anthony: Current Star, Future Legend

You already know about LeBron.  Nothing matters this year unless he wins a championship.

And oh yes, he has to play well during crunch time of that championship run.

Unfortunately for him, I don’t think that happens for him this year.  Why?  Because of Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks.

Image credit: AP via Business Insider

So let’s talk about Carmelo.

• How good is he?
• Will the Knicks actually be good this year?
• Do they stand a chance in the playoffs?

First of all, how good is Carmelo Anthony?

For some reason, basketball – more than any other sport – leads itself to having us rank players in some grand list.  Even though you really can’t compare Carmelo to guys like Derrick Rose or Dwight Howard, we try to every year.

So what do we know about Carmelo Anthony?  I think we know two things: he’s the best scorer in the league, and he’s one of the most clutch players in basketball.

As a scorer, he simply has no holes.  If you put somebody small on him, he will post up and murder you.  If you put somebody bigger and slower and him, he will get to the rim easily.  He can shoot threes.  He can shoot from the midrange.  He can create his own shot.  He can catch and shoot.  He can get to the free throw line.

Basically, he’s LeBron James, only a 1/2 step slower, but with a jump shot that is 20x more consistent.

When it gets to crunch time, nobody has an answer for him.  Not even LeBron James can guard Carmelo – he can just do too many things.

So where does that leave the Knicks?

Amare’ Stoudemire admitted yesterday that he feels like this is the third team he’s been a part of in his year and a half in New York.

It’s a good thing for him that it’s also the best team.

Now let’s not get carried away – the Knicks definitely have some holes.  If Baron Davis isn’t good, they won’t have a PG.  They have a DANGEROUS lack of depth.

However, they have, without a doubt, the best front line in the league.  They also have the best scorer.

So then, do they stand a chance in the playoffs?

It completely depends upon who they play.  Ironically, I think they match up REALLY well against the Heat and really poorly against the Bulls.

Let’s walk through five incredibly conceivable scenarios that would have to take place for New York to beat Miami:

1. Let’s say the Heat grab the one-seed and New York ends up 4th or 5th (not inconceivable at all, right?).
2. The Knicks could ABSOLUTELY beat the Heat in Round Two.  Their biggest weakness (point guard) won’t matter at all against the Heat, because they share the same weakness.  And actually, if Baron Davis returns to the old Davis at all, that could be a matchup that New York wins (the second part is somewhat inconceivable, but the first part is incredibly conceivable).
3. Carmelo could definitely outplay, or at least outscore LeBron in a playoff series (very conceivable).
4. The combination of Tyson Chandler and Amare Stoudemire would destroy Bosh/Haslem/Joel Anthony (COMPLETELY conceivable).
5. Basically, the series would come down to Dwyane Wade.  And in the playoffs, when it’s harder and harder to get to the rim, if Wade shoots poorly, the Knicks could win in six games at MSG. (Semi-conceivable…right?  I know…now I’m reaching.)

Unfortunately, the Knicks can’t really match up with the Bulls.  They have no answer for Derrick Rose.  Luol Deng would annoy Anthony to no end.  They have the bigs to play with Amare and Chandler.  And their depth would kill them.

So how does this year’s Eastern Conference shape up?

In round one, the Heat sweep the Hawks, the Bulls sweep the Magic, The Celtics beat the 76ers in five, and the Knicks beat the Pacers in five.

In round two, the Knicks STUN the Heat in six games, and the Celtics narrowly lose to the Derrick Rose-led Bulls in seven.

In the Eastern Conference Finals, Rose has his way with the Knicks and averages 42 as they win in five, moving onto The Finals.

So yes, just like every other year in the 90s, I’m predicting the Knicks edge out the Pacers before beating the Heat in an awesomely competitive playoff series, before losing to the Bulls.  Again.

Not only will we get to see the many stars the league has to feature, but it’s going to be the first time in a long while. You can bet that the players are just as excited as the fans, and it’s time to get back to the sport we all know and love.

Photo source: Bull City State of Mind

So while you’re enjoying the turkey, cranberry sauce, or even fruitcake (for those of you with horrible taste), don’t forget to have the tele on to witness ‘Bron throwing one down or to watch CP3 make his season debut in Lob City. And just to make sure you don’t miss a beat, below I have the complete TV schedule alongside my preview for each of the games!

Also be sure to follow me on twitter for the latest in all things NBA!

Without further ado, here is my official analysis & TV schedule for your NBA Christmas!

NBA Christmas Day TV Schedule:

Christmas Day Games: Previews & Analysis

Game 1: Boston Celtics @ New York Knicks

Once again the matchup of Boston v New York comes to life in the world of sports, and once again on an NBA Christmas!

What makes it so much different this time around? Two teams going in opposite directions.

The Boston Celtics come into this game with a lot of negatives in their path, one being the loss of one of their younger players in Jeff Green for the entire season and another being the clear fact that this is the last shot that Boston’s trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have at a title. While Rajon Rondo will still be the same great point guard we know and love, and Boston will continue to display great team defense, does the ‘Big Three’ have enough in the tank to play 66 games in 123 days?

It’ll certainly show against the Knicks, who have three of their best players in the prime of their career: Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Tyson Chandler.

The Knicks are coming into this game with something to prove to the world: we are ready to compete for an NBA Championship. Heck, even head coach Mike D’Antoni believes it. So who’s to say they can’t?

The scoring is always going to be there from Melo & Amar’e, and now with solid defenders like newly acquired Chandler and rookie Iman Shumpert, the Knicks’ chances are better than ever.

A defensive appetizer for your Christmas day!

Game 2: Miami Heat @ Dallas Mavericks

Every premier event has it’s main event. Well ladies and gentlemen, main events don’t get any bigger than this, especially on Christmas day!

A rematch of the 2011 NBA Finals on the first day of the 11-12 regular season, what more is there to say?

Image source: AP via SI.com

For the Heat, this game means everything. It’s a chance to prove to the world that they yet again have the will to fight against adversity; it’s a chance at redemption against a Dallas team that took them out in 6; and it’s a chance to begin a season many are calling historic with a victory.

The Heat are back at their title chasing, and this time they have a very strong season under their belt. The signing of Shane Battier gives LeBron & Wade some extra help on the wing and a great presence in the locker room. Chris Bosh is back with some added weight, and the rest of the Heat roster is ready to rally around the ‘Big Three’ once again. Is this the year we finally witness this Heat team win a ring?

They hope so.

For the Dallas Mavericks this is all about proving to the world that the Heat didn’t lose the NBA Championship, but rather that Dallas won it on the back of all-time great Dirk Nowitzki and the great supporting cast. The only difference now is Dallas has a new look. Losing Tyson Chandler, Caron Butler, and JJ Barea is going to hurt this team, but by adding Lamar Odom, Vince Carter, and Delonte West, Dallas now seems to have a much stronger hold out on the wing, especially defensively.

For both teams this will be a statement game, and the start at another run for a title. Let the festivities begin.

Game 3: Chicago Bulls @ Los Angeles Lakers

Two teams that have much to prove to the world, the Chicago Bulls and LA Lakers, both faced ugly playoff exits last year after very strong seasons. So can they begin their campaigns for title chases this year with a victory?

For the Bulls, it’s very evident that they still have the bad taste in their mouth from the Eastern Conference Finals loss against Miami. So now it’s up to D.Rose and company to come back hitting the ground running, and it should be much easier this time around as they finally got what they were looking for in Richard Hamilton: a seasoned 2-guard, capable of creating his own shot, spacing the floor, and helping Rose out on the wing. Not only did they acquire a solid addition, but they’re coming back with a healthier Carlos Boozer, an improved Joakim Noah and Luol Deng, and now have the hurt of a big ECF loss to drive them.

This might be enough to propel them into another Eastern Conference Finals.

But standing in their way on Christmas are the Los Angeles Lakers.

Now, much negativity can be said about this Lakers team; they’re all dazed from the way things went this past off-season, they won’t be able to adapt to Mike Brown’s new system, or Kobe Bryant isn’t healthy enough. While all of these can be factors throughout the season, let me remind you that this roster is still very good. Kobe Bryant will always bring 25-7-7. I don’t care what bone in his body is broken, this man can hoop. Pau Gasol is still one of the top power forwards in the league, and I expect Andrew Bynum to come out very strong. He’s gained weight, worked at the post-game this past off-season, and is straight up sick of hearing the ‘injury-gossip.’ What a treat for Kobe & co. to have the opportunity to shut the haters up on Christmas.

So expect a great matchup between two championship contenders.

Game 4: Orlando Magic @ Oklahoma City Thunder

Another great treat from the wonderful David Stern (cough). Two of the league’s most exciting, and talented stars go head to head. Dwight Howard and Kevin Durant are always must-watch-TV, especially at the start of a season. But unfortunately both stars don’t have teams playing at the same level.

For the Orlando Magic, this past off-season has been disrupted by numerous trade rumors for their big man, Dwight, and the rumors will continue until No.12 is eventually traded. While Dwight continues to say how much he loves the city and community of Orlando, it’s becoming quite evident that the players he is surrounded by won’t give him another chance at a championship anytime soon.

So enjoy Dwight in a Magic uni while you can, because it won’t last much longer.

As for the Thunder, expect them to come out surging against a morale-low Magic squad. Kevin Durant continues to get better, scary I know, and is accompanied with one of the more ‘together’ rosters in the league. Russell Westbrook has been working on his outside game this off-season, as has James Harden, while Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka have worked on their post-game. Let’s not also forget that this is a Thunder team that fought all of the way to a Western Conference Final, and the fact that they are coming back even better?

Scary. NBA Finals scary if you ask me.

Game 5: Los Angeles Clippers @ Golden State Warriors

To end your NBA Christmas, Stern and his little Elves dished out a game that they thought would be a bit more low-key than the rest. Little did they know that after they had made this schedule, the league’s best point guard in the league would team up with Blake Griffin and the Clippers.

Image credit: Mel Blackmon/CBS via CBSLocal.com

The Clippers literally went from a potential lottery team to a possible NBA title contender. Now don’t have a heart attack, the key word here is possible.

The trade that shipped off Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon and numerous draft pick  landed the Clips CP3. In separate signings, LA was able to acquire swingman Caron Butler and ‘Mr.Big Shot’ Chauncey Billups to accompany Chris Paul at the 2-guard. On paper this Clippers team looks solid: the league’s best point guard, and I believe the the best power forward in Blake Griffin, and a solid supporting cast consisting of DeAndre Jordon, Chauncey, Caron, Eric Bledsode, etc.

But as we’ve seen in the past, on paper doesn’t always turn into rings.

On the other side of this game are the Golden State Warriors. While they now have newly appointed head coach Mark Jackson, they still have more work to do. Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis should put in some good work against CP3, but the main issue lies down on the block and on the bench. Golden State attempted to land Nene, Tyson Chandler, and even Marc Gasol. But to come up empty-handed, leaves the Warriors with nearly the same roster as last season.

Expect the Clippers to start the season having a field day in Golden State.

Thanks for reading, and happy holidays NBA nerds!

Nowadays I play the 2K series for my basketball fix, although without the extreme tenacity that I once devoted to gaming.  Even though the real life NBA is embroiled in a bitter labor dispute, that can’t stop me from enjoying going 80-2 while averaging a triple-double in “My Player” mode.

The main gimmick of this year’s game, in lieu of any relevant basketball happenings in the real world, is the “NBA’s Greatest” mode, where one can play as any of a large group of historical teams and players.  As such, the commercial released a couple weeks ago focuses on the argument of who is the greatest team ever assembled.

Check out the extended version of the commercial and read my thoughts below.

Fittingly, the commercial begins with Michael Jordan pronouncing his very own 1996 Chicago Bulls the greatest.  They could have stopped right there and been correct, but that wouldn’t make for a very compelling advertisement.  And it also wouldn’t provide me with fodder to demolish the other 58 seconds of the spot.

Next some guy tries to throw the 1995 Knicks into the discussion.  Later he tries to convince us by naming Ewing, Starks, Mason, Oakley and Doc Rivers.  Just stop, Knicks guy.  You’re making an ass of yourself.

The 1989 Pistons weren't the greatest ever, but they might have been the toughest ever.

Next up are the Bad Boys Pistons of 1989, who at least won the title.  Considering they did it against a depleted Lakers team (Kareem was 42 and Magic and Byron Scott missed time with injuries) that could hardly be classified as “Showtime” and went “only” 63-19 in the regular season, they can’t be the greatest ever.

The guy who claims the 1986 Celtics has a valid argument.  The Celtics were 40-1 at home that year and ran through the playoffs with ease en route to their third championship of the ‘80s.  He is wrong about the Celtics beating the Lakers, though.  They did in ’84, but lost to the Lakers in ’85 and ’87.  They beat Houston in ’86.

Celtics guy is pretty much insufferable through the whole commercial, yelling about how no one can beat Bird, McHale and Parrish (even though every year but 3, someone did) and how they would have been a dynasty if Bird hadn’t ruined his back paving his mother’s driveway.  I’m pretty sure something makes me hate Boston a little more every time I turn on the TV.

Side note: I know I recognize Celtics guy from somewhere, but I can’t place it.  If anyone knows please leave a comment below with his name or what else he’s been in.

The nerdy guy from Dodgeball and Grandma’s Boy tells us about the Lakers, blah blah blah.  Lakers nerd can barely get the words out, though, before Celtics guy (incorrectly) shouts about the Celtics beating the Lakers.

The Trailblazers fan is Portland personified; he’s got the whole hipster thing going on, with the slacker beard, old school Blazers tee, glasses and backwards Blazers hat.  He’s also pretty entertaining, especially when giving us “double Mutombo” fingers.  Of course his argument makes more sense if you’re asking who the greatest team ever for one quarter was, not the greatest team ever.

Here is where shit gets crazy.

We get the highly publicized Drake to say the present-day Miami Heatles are the greatest ever, which would be like if Drake considered himself the greatest rapper ever.  What?  He DID say that in a song?

Sorry, Drake.  You’re a decent rapper, even if you do seem kind of emo for an MC.

But let’s be honest with ourselves.  The Heat haven’t accomplished anything yet, and Drake would have a hard time cracking the top-5 of Wu-Tang (I say Meth, Raekwon, Ghost, GZA would be in front of him, in that order).  If he thinks that a team dunking its way to the Finals and then choking is the greatest ever, well, he must be nuts.  Or a 2004 Lakers fan.

Luckily, Brian Wilson of the San Francisco Giants weighs in, dressed in a full Larry Bird costume and sitting on the pelt of a cheetah.  He even has a blond wig to go with his comically absurd beard.  I keep thinking Wilson’s “I’m super-crazy and eccentric, and at every opportunity I will demonstrate that” schtick is going to wear thin on me, but nope.  I’m still 100% on board with him and his beard.

Wilson delivers the funny line about Bird laying it up “like a real man,” and while it’s funny, it’s only partially accurate.  Check out this awesome compilation video, with one of the best soundtrack choices possible:

Drake looks like even more of a doofus when he declares “South Beach is king” and the commercial cuts to Mark Cuban, still nuzzling the Larry O’Brien trophy like Eddy Curry nuzzling a gallon of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.  Cuban dismisses Drake with nothing but the shaking of his head.

Next we see some game action and hear an Eminem song.  The game looks awesome, and the song pumps me up a little bit, so mission accomplished there, 2K folks.

As I said, the greatest team ever debate was answered in the first 5 seconds.  Michael Jordan comes back at the end to end the argument by showing his 1996 ring, with “72 Wins – Greatest Team Ever” carved into it.  Discussion over. The commercial, while entertaining at times (and maddening at others), is largely ineffective.

Final Grade: C-

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Follow me on Twitter @keithmullett 

Read more commercial reviews at Commercial Grade

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Image credits: soundproofmagazine.com, foxsports.com

After the shock passed yesterday and I avoided anything Bulls-related for a little while, I realized that while this series was the most frustrating Bulls performance to watch, the team has made a huge turnaround in one season.

They managed to finish first in the league at 62-20. That alone is an amazing accomplishment.

This team was entirely switched up in the off-season. For the players to come together and play so well as a team so quickly isn’t an easy task. The record also tied Thibodeau for most wins as a rookie coach and was a giant improvement from finishing 41-41 last season and clinching only the 8^th seed.

Derrick Rose becoming the youngest MVP and Thibodeau grabbing Coach of the Year are just further proof of what the team has done all season long.

Image source: PictureSports.com

While it’s easy to sit here and rant about all the mistakes the Bulls made and the horrible refereeing in the series and so on, I find it more productive to look at the big picture of things. And Bulls fans, it’s not over. This is just beginning. The future is bright in Chicago.

The fact that Rose is only 22 years old and has even more potential to reach is reassuring enough. Rose is more motivated with the sting of a playoff collapse to improve on his weaknesses. But as we saw in the playoffs, Rose can’t win the championship by himself. While the dubbed “Bench Mob” stepped up at times to relieve Rose offensively, along with Luol Deng, there were long stretches of head scratching plays and offensive droughts. The Bulls have the chance and need to acquire a number two to Derrick Rose over the summer.

Miami exposed Chicago’s weaknesses more effectively than any team I’ve seen this season. They caused entire collapses and shut down Derrick Rose. Going into the off-season the Bulls, and the rest of the world, know exactly what to work on.

The Bulls are young and need more consistent experienced players. While Carlos Boozer was supposed to be that for the team, the playoffs showed he’s a) already maxed out his potential and b) can’t be counted on to consistently provide hustle, scoring, or defense. His $80 million dollar contract doesn’t help with cap room either. Chicago could trade Boozer in a package deal with a guard like Ronnie Brewer and/or draft picks. The struggle for Chicago will be getting someone to take on Boozer’s hefty contract.

Chicago has options. And they’re determined to redeem themselves. As many players and analysts have said, you have to feel the pain of loss before you get the pleasure of a championship. Chicago is young and the inexperience as a team in the post-season got the best of them. If the Bulls can make a move to get help offensively in the off-season, there is no doubt they will have a shot at a title next season.

As Rose told reporters after the game five loss Thursday, “I’m going to get better; I’m not worried about that. It’s going to make me hungry.”

The league has lost its luster for many, and if Miami wins the championship this year it will only hurt the league more.

The NBA has always had the motto of pain before pleasure. You had to feel the sting of a loss in a big playoff run and build off that. Being from Chicago, the Bulls have always been a strong example of that for me. The 1989 Bulls experienced a heartbreaking loss to Detroit’s “Bad Boys” keeping them out of the finals before going on their championship run in the 1990’s. They were young and had talent but not the experience as a team quite yet.The Bulls are one example, but there are many others.

Miami could change all that.

In the course of a season, Miami has turned the NBA into a circus. One full of flashing lights, smoke, TV specials, and tears. They’ve taken away the legitimacy of hard teamwork and instead show that if you get enough All Stars together you can bypass the team-building and go straight for the championship. Miami winning turns the meaning of basketball upside down.

Maybe it’s just the traditional Chicagoan in me that can’t stand the thought of it, but hard work and teamwork is how you become champions. Granted, Miami experienced a lot of loss during the season and grew tremendously, but the message a Miami title will send is still a negative one.

Lebron James is the perfect example of this.

The playoffs have shown even more that Lebron is the best player in the NBA. He has the ability to guard all positions, score, and hit the clutch shot over and over again. He single-handedly dismantled the Bulls and Derrick Rose at the end of Game 5.

That said, nothing frustrates me more than seeing someone so talented and versatile fall back on flopping and complaining at every call that doesn’t go his way. The refs are guilty of being enablers to this, along with reporters and companies like ESPN. Dwyane Wade and James fell like cardboard any time a single hand, or fingertip, came near them.

Image source: ThatsEnuff

The league needs to take a closer look at some of those moves during long-range shots.

James has the body and the ability to go hard. When he actually does, he does not hesitate more than two seconds before complaining on any no call. Someone as talented as him should simply play the game. Don’t flop, go to the hoop. If you don’t get the call, you keep playing. It’s why Rose was MVP over James. Rose was humble and played team basketball while growing as a player at the same time.

While this is partly a rant of a freshly wounded Bulls fan, it’s also the concern of a basketball fan. By further making the NBA a production that babies its stars instead of promoting hard work and talent, the game is being ruined. The league needs to keep the tradition alive.

It was a series of diving for loose balls, blocking shots, and rotating on defense; maybe not something that casual NBA viewer would have appreciated, but something a true NBA fan would appreciate.

The Bulls-Heat battle not only showcased amazing defense, but three of the best players in the game were also on display in Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron James. These men are three of the world’s greatest offensive-threats, accompanied by solid role-players, whose shared final goal was an NBA championship.

But here’s the catch: two of those three players play for the same team, and that proved enough to take down the lonesome Rose.

With a team eclipsing the 100-point mark only twice in the series, it was quite clear that these were the best defensive teams in the NBA, as both teams, from day one, were devoted to the defensive end. This obviously paid dividends, considering the Heat and Bulls reached the Conference Finals.

Miami’s defensive relies on the rotations on the perimeter, and the ability to intercept passes, and turn those into fast-break scores. I’d even go as far to say the Miami’s rotational-defense is one of the best we’ve ever seen.

As for Chicago, they continued to showcase amazing team-defense. Unlike Miami, the Bulls don’t have two or three amazing defensive-stoppers; what they have is an entire team dedicated to stopping the opposing team. Their man-to-man defense is brutal. Just ask Dwyane Wade, who went 32-79 in the entire series.

It’s amazing what Tom Thibodeau has done for this team. Taking an eight-seed from last season, and bringing to one of the best defensive teams this league can offer — while winning claiming the East’s best record – is simply amazing.

While the Bulls proved they’re going to be a defensive-force to be reckoned with for years to come, let’s not forget that they lost this series. Their defense was in check; their coaching was fine; and their bench and supporting cast played up the hype.

So one might ask, what is there left for the Bulls to do?

Nothing…right now.

The summer of 2010 changed it all for LeBron James. The nation’s perception of him changed; the criticism was brought to a level which is unmatched in recent history; and the term ‘South Beach’ became widely hated in the NBA world. While all of this is clear, there is one clear result that comes from the much criticized ‘Decision’: the Miami Heat have changed the way the game is played.

It’s becoming obvious that the Heat come into every series with a distinct advantage over every team, and that is the star-power which is exerted on the opposing team’s defense. Star-power meaning LeBron James & Dwyane Wade, which turns into athleticism, outside-scoring, opportunities at the free-throw line, defensive-stops, and the many qualities the two brought to Miami.

It was truly shown in this series against Chicago. Now don’t get me wrong, the Bulls had a great acquisition in the off-season with Carlos Boozer; in fact he was much needed in this series against Miami’s third-option, Chris Bosh. But once again, the series didn’t end like Chicago wanted, and that is because of one thing only: Chicago’s lack of a second-perimeter threat.

No offense to Luol Deng, Keith Bogans, or Kyle Korver, but the Chicago Bulls just don’t have it. The MVP Derrick Rose was spending a lot of energy in this series, and most of the time his efforts proved to be futile. Whether it was because he was getting different looks of Miami’s tandem, or because he had to carry the load on the perimeter, Rose seemingly attempted to do everything at once — whether it was shoot the numerous three-point attempts he missed, attack the rim, or set up teammates for open shots. And all of this was only on offense. Rose was simply asked to do too much.

Chicago had the great defense, great coach, and the star. They even had an amazing bench. But didn’t we witness the same type of game from the 2008-10 Cavaliers? A singular star, great defense, and a solid supporting cast? Yes, we did.

Any other year in NBA history, the Bulls had a much greater shot at making the NBA Finals. But this isn’t an ordinary NBA season. The Miami Heat have changed the game completely, and are forcing NBA teams to do more work in the off-season than accustomed to.

So either Chicago adds a second-threat that will enable them to come close to Miami’s perimeter duo, or the Bulls will have continued playoff failures against this Miami Heat team.

While the two teams may be in similar holes, there is nothing similar when comparing the two situations.

In one corner we have the Western Conference Finals, currently led by the Dallas Mavericks over the Thunder. The Mavericks have not only shown that they are the holders of one of, if not the, most lethal offensive weapon in the game in Dirk Nowitzki, but they’ve also shown us that they have one of the deeper benches in the league. With the versatility, speed, length, and scoring that comes off of the pine, it isn’t hard to see why OKC is down.

As for the Eastern Conference Finals, we have three of the game’s best wing players on this earth. For the Miami Heat we have the Dwyane Wade and the LeBron James. Enough said, right? Not so fast. If you’ve been paying attention to anything sports related, you wouldn’t have been able to miss the recent offensive outpouring put on by Chris Bosh. So not only is the tandem of LeBron & Wade a headache in itself, but Miami has Bosh and a few role players who canalso draw attention to themselves. This is why Chicago finds themselves in a hole.

Therefore, with two young, but contention-ready teams finding themselves in a hole, what should they do? Can either team afford another L on their plate? Most definitely not, but hopefully I can provide Thunder and Bulls fans some insight as what your team can do to help even the series, and possibly still take it.

The Thunder need a spark

The Thunder not only find themselves down 1-2 in this series, but they let two big things happen that will surely hurt their confidence going down the stretch:

One being that they let Dirk Nowitzki blow up in their face with one of the best offensive outputs in recent memory. First off, he went 12 for 15 in Game 1, with an incredible 24-0f-24 from the charity stripe; consequently, by the end of Game 1 Dirk Nowitzki finished with 48 points, and a golden 80% field goal percentage. Not only did this prove that no single player on the Thunder can match Dirk from the block nor the perimeter, it showed that the Thunder were against one of the greater plays on this earth.

Another key element that might cause issues for the Thunder in this series has to be the loss they brought to Oklahoma City. The fans in OKC are supposed to be known for being the team’s Sixth man — with all due respect to James Harden –  and they are supposed to be known as some of the NBA’s best fans ; however it sure as hell didn’t seem like it for Game 3.

The Mavs at one point were leading the Thunder by 23 points! That shouldn’t be happening in a Conference Finals that is featuring the “NBA’s best crowd,” should it? Luckily the Thunder were able to cut into the large margin, but in the end still suffered defeat.

So, what can the Thunder do to make sure the Mavericks bench won’t won’t go off, or to make sure another home-blowout won’t occur?

The key to this series has been and always will be Kevin Durant.

In Game 1 Kevin Durant’s 39 point explosion was easily overshadowed by an all-time performance put on by Dirk. That is clearly something that Kevin cannot overcome, unless he were to put on an all-time performance. Scratch Game 1.

Game 2 is when it became apparent that the Thunder will go as far as Kevin Durant takes them. Now let me assure you, Kevin Durant didn’t have the best shooting night for last Thursday in Dallas; but watching him on the court, in huddles, and his demeanor throughout the game, you can almost feel the entire Thunder’s team emotions in him. I might even go as far to say that James Harden had a great night due to what Kevin Durant told him before tip-off, which resulted in OKC’s only win of the series.

As for Game 3, it seemed to be a combination of both. Kevin Durant did have an off-shooting night for the second consecutive game, but he also was the reason Russel Westbrook sparked for 30 points. If you heard his post-game comments in Game 1, you’d understand.

Not only has it become obvious that Durant is the pinnacle of this Thunder team on the court, but emotionally he portrays OKC as a whole. Whether you agree or not, you’ll soon realize it more and more.

And one last obvious point has to be the Thunder’s defense: In a series that has scoring output coming from all directions, which includes more Mavs players than Thunder, it’s obvious that OKC’s defense needs to step it up. They did a nice job of it in Game 3, as Dirk was held to 33% shooting, but they must continue to do so against Dallas’ bench. J.J. Barea can’t go off for 20 points anymore, and Dallas’ bench can’t continue to score 30 more points that the Thunder’s.

If these keys are followed, OKC can easily comeback in this series.

All together now

The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat have been putting on an incredible show for us NBA viewers. Especially if you enjoy games that feature low-scoring, convert about 75% of their energy on the defensive end of the court, and play with heart on each play. This series has to easily be my favorite out of the two. But hey, maybe some lockdown-defense isn’t your thing; that’s why Dirk is out west blowing up.

In all fairness, the Chicago Bulls have quickly found themselves in an 1-2 hole much like the Thunder. While the Bulls did steal Game 1 in impressive fashion, they could not find a way to avoid tying their season high for consecutive losses: 2. Crazy, right? The key to this series much unlike out West, is the on the offensive end of the floor.

In Game 1 the Bulls simply outplayed Miami. Whether it was the ability to destroy them on the boards; the ability to cut LeBron and Wade from the rim; or the amazing bench play that we expect from Chicago; the Bulls showed up in areas Miami couldn’t. End of story. But sadly that is the only win Chicago has been able to take from Miami, and there are a couple reasons as to why.

This first point proved to be very noticeable in Game 3, as Chris Bosh made the Bulls pay. He did it with hustle, heart, and some nifty mid-range moves. While most of the credit can very deservingly go to Bosh, the Chicago Bulls defense has a part to play in this as well.

For those of us who examine defense like myself, you can notice that the Bulls play a different type of defense against the Heat. What they do is run a somewhat of a 3-2 defense at times to be able to cover a large portion of the floor, but here’s the part that makes their defense different:

Whenever LeBron or Wade are both on the floor, Chicago likes to keep the 2-2 in motion like most teams; yet, the big difference in this 3-2, is that whomever is guarding the Heat’s big-man — whether it be Joel, Magloire, or Haslem — they like to send to LeBron or Wade, depending on who is the ball handler. While this defense is very effective at times against the tandem, it leaves Chicago vulnerable if a certain No.1 for the Miami Heat decides to get his fair share in.

That is exactly what happened in Game 3, as Chicago’s bigs were forced to do a lot of work whenever LeBron or Wade had the ball. The rotations, the energy spent, and the continuous movement, would hurt players like Joakim Noah, or Carlos Boozer, when it came to actually guarding their man (Chris Bosh).

But in my opinion, this next point is the main reason Chicago finds themselves down right now.

Again, when Chicago took Game 1 from the Heat, they did it right. The scoring was distributed very well, as Luol Deng came up big not only on guarding LeBron, but scoring on him. Derrick Rose also had a very efficient night on the offensive end. Even the bench outplayed Miami offensively, with 23 points compared to the Heat’s 15.

The point here is when Chicago gets multiple scoring efforts from one or two players not named Derrick Rose, the Bulls start to look like the team that won 62 games this season.

Game 3 was a perfect example of this. Amidst Chris Bosh’s headline night, the Bulls had a player on their end contributing just as well, and maybe even better. Carlos Boozer finished with 26 points, 17 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Now, I look at those numbers and can’t help but admire work like that. Unfortunately for Chicago, this was another of those “non-impact” games, as while Boozer did put up a nice heap of statistics on the screen, it didn’t impact the Bulls that much.

Well, why is that? Like I said before, in order for the Bulls to be successful, they need scoring contributions from more than just Derrick Rose. And that is what they got last night from Boozer.

However, league MVP Rose put up 20 points last night with 8-0f-19 shooting, yet he contributed just 2 measly points coming in the important 4th quarter. Surely that was the main problem the Bulls in Game 3. If that isn’t enough, Derrick Rose had a game low -13  in the +/- rating.

While Game 3′s loss can easily be put on Rose, the main issue is that when the Bulls don’t do it together as a unit, the result is a loss. When the Bulls do it as a unit, the results is a W. It’s as simple as that, my friends.

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Thanks for reading, and hopefully I helped shed some light for you Bulls and Thunder fans!  Make sure you also follow me on twitter!

Not only are both of these teams in the upper echelon of the current NBA, but they also feature three of the league’s most amazing players. And both teams use one key ingredient as their backbone:

Defense

It has been a proven formula that defense wins it all. Ask the Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, and the Los Angeles Lakers. So it comes to no surprise that two of the league’s strongest teams are both defensive specialists.

Whether it is by locking down the paint, harassing players on the wing, or just putting on an overall team defense clinic, you can bet it will be all on the table in this series.

Note: Be sure to follow me on Twitter for continuous playoff updates!

Eastern Conference Finals TV Schedule: Chicago Bulls v Miami Heat

Here’s the schedule for the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals in it’s entirety:

• Sun 15th in Chicago 8:00pm  
• Wed 18th in Chicago 8:30pm  
• Sun 22nd in Miami 8:30pm  
• Tue 24th in Miami 8:30pm  
• Thu 26th in Chicago 8:30pm  
• Sat 28th in Miami 8:30pm  
• Mon 30th in Chicago 8:30pm  

So the question is, which defense will win this war? Will the defensive tandem of LeBron and Wade disrupt Derrick Rose and his supporting cast? Or will Chicago’s ability to clog the paint and harass the wings with length win this war?

I might be able to shed some light.

Chicago Bulls vs Miami Heat Preview

Season series: Chicago Bulls won 3-0

Any series that features Derrick Rose or LeBron James or Dwyane Wade is worth the watch, correct? This series features all three. For those who love a battle of superstars and flashy moves, this series has it.

With the Chicago Bulls currently possessing the NBA’s MVP in Rose, you can assure yourself that they will bring it to the Heat. But don’t think it’ll be that easy for Chicago either. We just saw how LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were able to spell trouble for a hindered Celtics team in five games as well. Now they’re running on all cylinders and gunning for the Bulls.

But the question is not just which stars will shine the brightest. The role players have proven to be huge factors for both teams in the playoffs thus far, and coaching decisions have introduced some key variables as well. And how about the crowds? We’ve seen some electricity from Chicago’s fan base, and even the late-arriving Miami crowd has begun to ignite more than we’ve seen.

So while this series is headlined by the star power, it’s actually about so much more.

Does the season sweep matter?

With these teams having met a total of three times during the NBA’s regular season, you know it’d be foolish not to look at how these two teams fared against one another.

In the first game, LeBron James did not play and neither did Joakim Noah. While it was huge for the teams to miss both, we learned in the first game that Rose and Carlos Boozer could keep up a fight against Wade and Chris Bosh. With clutch defense down the stretch and a strong performance from Rose, the Bulls took a close first game.

Then came the second game, which showed a lot to me as an NBA analyst. I learned that Boozer can definitely shut down Bosh (who went 1-18 in this game) and that Derrick Rose can score at will against the Heat’s defense. The second game was close, but the Bulls took yet another from Miami.

So with two games stolen from the Heat, how would LeBron and Co respond in the third game?

The final game of the season series proved to be worth the watch. We had each of Miami’s Big Three scoring over 20 points and putting in efficient performances. As for the Bulls, Derrick Rose went for a strong 27 points, and his supporting cast played strong as well.

What is the one thing that separated the two in this game? Greater defense by Chicago, especially on Miami’s final possession when LeBron took it to the rack with 15 ticks left and the game tied. He was guarded by Noah, who most would assume LeBron could beat on his way to the rim, but that proved false. Noah stuck to LeBron, forced a difficult layup, and LeBron’s miss gave the Bulls a 3-0 series win against the talents from South Beach.

So with the Bulls having taken three from Miami, what does that say for this series?

While the Bulls did play a great season series against Miami, all three games were won by a total margin of eight points.  Another factor that comes into play has to be Miami’s chemistry. Since the playoffs have started, we’ve definitely seen much improved and more cohesive play out of Miami. LeBron and Wade seem to have figured out how to take turns at fighting a team’s D, Chris Bosh has found his comfortable niche, and Miami is playing with a newly found confidence.

While the Bulls deserve credit for the season series, don’t think it’ll be as easy this time around — especially when it wasn’t that easy in the first place, despite the pristine 3-0 record.

The backbone: Defense

No other way to put it people.

The key to winning it all in the NBA is defense, as it has been for years. This is why both of these teams made sure defense was their backbone upon entering the regular season. You can’t be disappointed by the results either, as both finished at the top of the NBA standings.

But which defense will come through and take it in the Eastern Conference Finals?

For the Heat we’ve witnessed what a powerful defense can do. Shutting down the great Boston Celtics in five games is as impressive a feat as there is in today’s NBA. But what is it that they did that really hurt the Celtics?

While the Heat have one of the better defensive ratings in the NBA, led by coach Erik Spoelstra and his dedicated to hard work on the defensive end of the court, much of the credit must go to LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Their presence on the court is enough to jitter an opposing player’s mentality. It is not just because these two are among the greatest to ever play the game, but because they’re both committed to bringing it defensively. The reasons these two are so efficient defensively is their speed, strength, and ability to cover a large area on the court. No two players on any team match the defensive ability these two present.

Don’t get me wrong; with players like Joel Anthony and Mario Chalmers, the Heat have a some pieces of a solid defensive supporting cast as well. But the reason Miami is at the top defensively is the duo of ‘Bron & Wade.

And how about the league’s best defense in Chicago? Why are they so good on the non-sexy end? Is it Thibbs? Is it because of the MVP? Or is it just an overall team effort?

The reason Chicago is in this position, playing for a spot in the NBA Finals, is not just because Derrick Rose is a great scorer or because Carlos Boozer is a solid complementary piece for Rose. It’s because Chicago has been committed to defense from the get-go; and unlike Miami, Chicago has solid defenders from top to bottom on their roster..

Any strong argument for Tom Thibodeau winning the Coach of the Year award has to be based on his ability to instill a defensive mentality into the minds of every player on his roster.

It also helps when you have players like Luol Deng on the perimeter, a guy who can hassle slashers with his length. How about Keith Bogans? His defensive intensity has been known in the NBA for a while, and he should prove to be some trouble for Wade.

Then when you have big-bodied Carlos Boozer down low, it is enough to bother a player like Chris Bosh, who doesn’t like to play under the rim. As for Joakim, he’s probably the second best defensive big man in the NBA right behind Howard.

And Derrick Rose? Well his speed alone is enough to keep up with any guard in the NBA.

Chicago’s bench is also filled with length and height. You have Brewer and Gibson, both of whom possess good length, and you also have annoying defenders like Asik.

Enough cannot be said about how good of a defensive team Chicago is, and that is why I give them the edge over Miami in this category. While the Heat are a very strong defensive team, the Bulls are the best. Enough said.

The Stars Align

And finally we come come to the biggest factor in the Eastern Conference Finals: the stars.

After Miami’s much criticized offseason, they were left with the strongest combination of stars in the current NBA and probably the most star power we’ve seen on one roster since Kobe and Shaq’s Lakers. The assemblage of Wade, LeBron, and Bosh proved to be difficult to handle in the regular season, and it has been even harder for the opposition to handle in the postseason. Being pitted against these three in a seven-game series is almost the equivalent of basketball Hell. The team I thought would best match up against Miami, Boston, already fell to them in the second round. Unquestionably, the Heat will give Thibodeau, Derrick Rose, and the top-seeded Bulls a run for their money.

But you’d be foolish to think that Miami will have it easy against Chicago.

Derrick Rose is the league’s MVP, and he is deserving. His speed makes defenses question themselves, his ability to orchestrate an entire offense is only matched by a couple around the league, and his improved jumper has sealed his position as one of the NBA’s best and most dynamic players. The pressure that he takes off his entire team makes the Bulls that much better.

But you’d be crazy to think Rose is Chicago’s only star.

Carlos Boozer was brought in to be Derrick Rose’s Robin. However, due to a tear in his toe, Boozer hasn’t been fully effective until just recently. His last game to close out the Hawks was quite impressive though, as he posted 23 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists while going 10 0f 16 from the field. If this is a sign of things to come from Boozer, the Heat have something to worry about..especially Chris Bosh.

While most won’t consider Joakim Noah a star, I believe he is. While I hate the type of guy he is, I love the type of player he is. The one word I think of when it comes to Noah is ‘annoying’, whether it’s his ability to relentlessly attack the glass, force you into bad looks at the rim, or just roar whenever he gets a putback dunk. Noah is one of those players that might not put up the amazing stats all the time, but he will always leave his imprint on the game.

So while Chicago does have its own strong trio of stars, they cannot compare to the star power LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh bring. Boozer certainly has the ability to outperform Bosh in this series, but Wade and LeBron alone are on another level.

Bulls v Heat Prediction

So what should NBA fans expect from this series?

First off, you need to expect some high scoring performances from LeBron, Wade, and Rose. No matter how strong each team’s defense is, these three will break out at one point or another in every game. You can also expect some bursts from Boozer and Bosh, but not as often as the previous three.

While both teams play amazing defense, and both teams have the mentality and heart to steal an NBA Finals berth, there are a couple of things that give one team the clear edge in this series.

Chicago’s lack of another player who can be explosive and create his own shot will hurt their chances in this series. At some point, Chicago will need to go out and acquire a 2-guard that can combine with Rose to come close to matching what LeBron and Wade bring to the table. Another key component is Chicago’s “first-times”, as I like to call them. A first-time head coach, a first-time ECF for Derrick Rose, Boozer, and Noah, and the first time this team will be tested defensively in a seven-game series.

As amazing as Derrick Rose is, and as great of a team as the Bulls have been, I’m calling their season over in this series. Yes, the Miami Heat get what they came together for: a berth in the 2011 NBA Finals and a chance at a ring.

Prediction:  Miami Heat in 6

In her post with the “Rose Before Hoes” T-shirt, Spain says the following:

I can’t decide if I would laugh at or with someone if they were wearing this…

Well, I’ll tell you this: I wouldn’t. I would clap for that person and ask them where I could buy one. Of course, I’m not a Bulls fan and I don’t live in Chicago, so that won’t be happening.

But still, I can appreciate the clever wordplay of Bulls fans here. In case you don’t get it, the shirt repurposes the phrase “Bros Before Hoes”, which has been popularized over the year by countless rap artists. “Bros Before Hoes” is, of course, a reminder to all men that your friends should always come before relations with women and/or yardwork. Clearly for anyone wearing this shirt, Derrick Rose also now comes before both of those activities as well.

Probably because of moments like these:

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Well Chicago, it’s time to slow down before sounding the alarms.

If this series has taught the Bulls anything, it’s that they can come back from some very bad situations. Yes, the Bulls have made stupid turnovers and struggled in more ways than one, but that isn’t the point.

In Game 1, Chicago was down 10 late in the game and rallied to win it 104-99.

In Game 2, the Bulls saw their lead cut to 90-88 when A.J. Price hit free throws. Yet, Luol Deng’s free throws, Derrick Rose, and tight defense brought the Bulls to a 96-90 win.

Game 3 had the same sloppiness as the first two, along with a very quiet performance from Rose prior to the last 17 seconds. After that, Rose hit the game winner and Chicago’s defense held out for another victory.

And even in the 89-84 loss to Indiana on Friday, the Bulls came back fighting until the very end after being down double-digits.

Bottom line: when they need to, the Bulls can close. And what we have watched during the Bulls-Pacers series so far is nowhere near Chicago’s potential.

The argument can be made that the Bulls aren’t ready to go far in the playoffs based on the last four games against Indiana. But in the NBA, it’s all about the matchups. It’s the reason the Bulls can lose to Toronto one day and beat Miami the next.

The Pacers have studied Rose and the Bulls hard. They’ve successfully exposed weaknesses, and the two teams match up well against each other. Watching the series, it’s pretty clear that the Bulls aren’t playing their hardest. But in the first three games, did it really matter? They came out with the win. Even letting one game go to Indiana isn’t the end of the world.

Next round, Chicago will come out explosively because they have to. Each round the Bulls will play harder and harder as more gets placed on the line. We’ve seen it all season with the different matchups. Chicago can dismantle and destroy top teams but lose to Indiana in overtime.

So Chicago fans ready to jump off the bandwagon again: relax. Because this team isn’t going down that easily.

Going into Game 4 and beyond, the Bulls have some lessons to learn.

If the Bulls listen to one song before tip-off it should be “Let’s Get Physical”.

There is nothing more frustrating than watching Jeff Foster and Tyler Hansbrough beat on Derrick Rose all game long while the Bulls let the entire team take it to the hoop for layup after layup. While the Bulls defense did make some good stops, they have to start making players pay. They need to show that they want it as bad as the other team. Opponents should be scared to drive the ball.

The Bulls also need to learn to keep their confidence and composure.

After last night’s game, they should feel pretty confident about coming out with a win. In the second half, Rose was extremely quiet with only one field goal-the shot that clinched the game. Carlos Boozer played the same way, only going 1-9 in the game until a monstrous dunk with four and half minutes left in the fourth. The team as a whole shot under 40% in Game 3, and in the previous two games they were down the majority of the time.

Yet, somehow, the Bulls have turned it on when they have needed to, hitting crucial shots and tightening their defense at critical moments. That confidence and ability to consistently come out of a rut will be key in the tougher series to come.

Offensively the Bulls need more consistency going forward. Rose was unusually quiet last night, though no one should expect that to repeat itself again. The team still needs a number two to consistently provide them with a boost when Derrick is struggling, double-teamed, or beat on like this series. While Kyle Korver has proven, especially last night, that he is a solid game closer, scoring 12 points in 19 minutes, other players need to step up.

Carlos Boozer was someone I had expected to fill that number two spot. He has the body and experience  to make a difference, yet in Game 3 he went 1-9 until a notable dunk, and he also made stupid fouls. Luol Deng is another contender for the two spot, and in Game 3 showed why he’s been a topic of conversation all season, finishing with 21 points. But can he provide that kind of offensive spark consistently throughout the playoff run?

Going forward the Bulls know what they need to work on. This series is a wake-up call. Every little weakness has been exposed by the scrappy, determined Pacers, and Chicago needs to learn from that.

Regardless, it’s time to bring out the brooms at Conseco.

And no one works harder than Derrick Rose.

The end of Game 1 puts anything the Pacers or doubters say about Rose to shame. While their defense was solid and Rose went 0-9 at the three-point line, the likely MVP candidate found a way to do work.

It’s rare to find a point guard with the consistent inside game Rose possesses. Not only does he go for the shot and foul, he actually gets the “and one”. This season I find myself more shocked when Rose misses the no-look with his left hand over three defenders than when he makes it.

Rose, who had a playoff career-high 39 points, was a contributor of 14 of the Bulls’ last 18 points through scoring or assists. Kyle Korver’s three pointer with 48.4 seconds to go was key to the win, but Korver only got such a good look because of a solid set up from Rose.

All the Pacers could do was foul Rose hard, which they did multiple times. But even that didn’t stop the point guard from taking it to the hoop over and over. It’s that kind of determination that makes all the preparation and smack talk Indiana did seem ridiculous.

Rose proved that while it’s clear there is no consistent number two Bulls player to his clear spot as number one, teams are going to have their hands full.

At the conclusion of Game 1, this was not lost on Indiana, especially not Danny Granger, who had trash talked Rose prior to the game.

“He’s like the crazy stalker ex-girlfriend,” forward Danny Granger told reporters. “Every time you tell her you don’t want to talk to her, she shows up at your door again.”

In the end, despite Indiana’s best efforts, it was Chicago who came out with the win and Rose with the 39 points, 19 of those at the free throw line. And at the end of the series, it will be Chicago who comes out on top.

It’s no secret that Derrick Rose is the key for a long Chicago playoff run. Even with Indiana’s preparation and their comments on the Bulls’ star, the Pacers had no answer near the end of the fourth quarter. Derrick Rose literally did whatever he wanted. When Rose realized he wasn’t hitting three-pointers he drove. When they tried to foul hard, he went harder.

Say what you want about the Bulls and their reliance on Derrick Rose, but the reason this city isn’t too worried is because of his performance yesterday. No matter what answer or strategy Indiana tried to stop the Bulls, Rose found a way to not be stopped.

As Pacers point guard Darren Collison said, “He’s not the MVP for nothing.”

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Derrick Rose photo credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images via IndyStar.com

Despite finishing with an overall record of 37-45 (up against the Bulls 62-20), Danny Granger told ESPN not to count out the series just yet.

Granger’s comments against Derrick Rose are, in general, petty. Chicagoans might get upset and see Granger as some guy running his mouth, but in reality he’s helping his team. The Bulls have plenty of motivation and momentum going into the series. The Pacers don’t have much. Granger is creating his own inspiration to give his team the drive to play tough and competitive. But is that enough? Let’s take a look.

Granger believes the Pacers match up better to the Bulls than other teams in the East, including the Boston Celtics. But the Pacers are not without their weak spots. Granger, who averaged 20 points this season, is an offensive threat to Chicago, but the matchup with strong defender Luol Deng will restrict his capabilities as the “go-to guy”.

The Pacers do have the advantage inside, especially with the health-struggling Joakim Noah. Indiana’s Roy Hibbert has a few inches on Noah and is the team’s leading rebounder, averaging 7.6 a game. With the physical advantage on Noah, veteran player Kurt Thomas should match up better and get playing time.

The Pacers offense will rest not only on Granger, but on Tyler Hansbrough, too. While he started out the year as more of an energy factor than a scorer, Hansbrough has steadily improved to the point where he is impressively averaging 16 points and 7 rebounds. He could be the spark Indiana needs.

While the Pacers have made it known they plan to focus on Rose defensively, the matchup with Darren Collison and Rose favors Chicago. Even with help on defense, Rose has shown he can get past just about anyone.

Despite have obvious number two guard issues, Chicago and its “Bench Mob” will take the Pacers out of their comfort zone and give Chicago the offensive advantage.

With two defensively-minded teams, the series should be low scoring. In the end, Chicago’s depth will outdo the Pacers’ attempts to expose their weaknesses. Even with Noah’s re-aggravatined knee slowing him down, and Brewer’s injury, Chicago’s talent will simply be too much for the Pacers to contest.

In addition to scoring just 7 points on 1-18 (yes, 1-18) shooting from the floor, with a few of those shots being point blank bunnies that Bosh doinked, the third member of the Heat’s “Big 3″ may have turned in the worst flop in the history of basketball; and that is not hyperbole. Scroll to the bottom of the this post where I have embedded the video. It is pathetic.

Needless to say, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were not going to stand for Bosh’s ineptitude and pansy-ass defense. They got on him immediately after the game was over, and MSF was there to capture the entire exchange. It’s all there in today’s new photo story Two and a Half Men.

If the image above is not loading, click here to view it in a new window.

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And here is the epic Bosh flop: