Round 1, Game 4: Chicago 84, Indiana 89 - #HOP (Hold on, Playa!)

Despite any sort of evidence heading into the series, and now mounting evidence to the contrary, many Bulls fans heading down to Indianapolis, more than happy to relieve Pacers fans of their Game 4 playoff tickets. Wearing red, and bringing their signs that they likely stayed up to make, they were fairly confident that they would be dancing on the grave of the Pacers playoff season.

But as Sky21King might say on Twitter...#HOP

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Round 1, Game 3: Chicago 88, Indiana 84 - Foster's Greatest Hits

Before Game 1, the consensus was that Chicago's talent would outshine and overwhelm Indiana despite the Pacers playing relatively well under Coach Vogel. In two games, many Bulls fans and NBA fans expected a largely dominant performance by the Bulls over a Pacers team that everyone expected to be overwhelmed in its first playoff experience in years.

Instead, the Pacers have come up, and executed a game plan that has left the Bulls looking less than spectacular. In fact, the Pacers have been particularly physical, especially when Derrick Rose comes into the lane. Jeff Foster, in fact, has gone from less than memorable journeyman forward/center, to a player that Bulls fans will heartily boo like James Posey for his playoff behavior.

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)


Time after time, the Bulls would attack the lane, and get hammered and hit. Some fouls were hard, and clean. Basketball moves to attack the ball, prevent the shot from going up. But the occasional foul, would include some extra non-basketball contact. Bulls fans and announcers started to wonder, how would the Bulls respond?

How did they respond?

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Round 1, Game 1: Chicago 104, Indiana 99 - "Like a crazy, stalker ex-girlfriend..."

(Image courtesy of Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

The game that I thought would happen in Indianapolis, happened much sooner than I would have liked. Indiana was out-coaching, out-executing, and worse of all, out-hustling Chicago for a good portion of 3 quarters. Indiana was getting the dribble penetration and the open looks they were hoping to create by running their 1-4 pick and rolls. Casual fans were asking who Darren Collison was, and thinking that Tyler Hansborough has been playing this way all season. For every run that Chicago tried to put together to get back into the game, Indiana answered with one of their own.

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2011 NBA Playoffs: The Race to 16 Wins Begins...

No matter what happened in the regular season, everyone goes back to 0-0.

The first to 16 wins, comes home with one of these:

Going into the season, we had reasonable expectations for the season. Perhaps home-court advantage for the first 2 rounds in the playoffs. Maybe a favorable bracket that sees the Bulls sneak into Conference Finals. Questions were raised. Can Rose play at a high level? Can Boozer stay healthy? Can Noah continue to bring the same intensity? Can the Bulls win with Bogans as a starting guard?

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2011 NBA Playoffs Prediction Analysis

Yesterday was the quick gut prediction. Here's the "thinking" behind it.

Eastern Conference

#1 Chicago vs #8 Indiana - Chicago in 5

For all intents and purposes, you can try to break it down by numbers or try to point out how much better Indiana has been playing since the coaching change. Chicago is simply more talented and better coached. The true battle here is whether the Bulls can put out a consistent amount of effort and intensity, especially early in games given their propensity to coast during games.

Games 1 and 2 will likely not be close games at all. Either Game 3 or 4 will be a lower intensity effort by the Bulls, and a likely loss, followed by a Game 5 closeout.

#4 Orlando vs #5 Atlanta - Orlando in 6

Each team has question marks, with Orlando having fewer ones than Atlanta. I expect this series to be a lot scrappier than you would normally expect as Atlanta has the size and athleticism to match up with Orlando. There hasn't been a playoff team that I can think of with more regular season 30+ pt losses than Atlanta, so I don't like their chances to win the series.

#2 Miami vs #7 Philadelphia - Miami in 5

To the casual observer, this should be a sweep for Miami. With a full healthy roster, I would have picked Philadelphia to steal an additional game. They'll put up a valiant effort, and get overwhelmed late in games in this series. Great job extracting a lot out of this group this year, Doug Collins, but you would have had a slightly better chance against the Celtics instead.

#3 Boston vs #6 New York - Boston in 6

Anytime you can get Boston and New York to play each other in the playoffs, means that it will be a great series from a fan hype perspective. Tough defensively all year before the Perkins trade, the Celtics traded one of their defensive cornerstones, and then proceeded to be...just as tough defensively? What has dropped off is their offensive efficiency. Fortunately, the Knicks are terrible defensively so this will likely be good for what ails Boston. Amare and Melo should be able to steal a game at the TD North Garden, but will also drop a game at home.

If Boston somehow gets a healthy Shaq in for about 15-20 minutes per game in this series, things will get out of hand in a hurry.

Western Conference

#1 San Antonio vs #8 Memphis - San Antonio in 6

The injury to Ginobli affects this series, but it shouldn't heavily affect San Antonio except in late game situations when they need someone that can create their own shot. Memphis has been playing well, despite the absence of Rudy Gay. Hollins has coached well this year, but I don't see many scenarios where he'll outcoach Popovich into a series win. I expect some narrow wins in the series, but overall a relatively drama-free series.

#4 Oklahoma City vs #5 Denver - Oklahoma City in 6

Oklahoma City is a very different team now that Perkins can man the center, leaving Ibaka to be able to roam the paint. Offensively, swapping Green for Harden introduces its own efficiency. Green frequently exhibited Artest-like tendencies to shoot when he thought it was "his turn". Individually fantastic, Durant (despite lower shooting percentages this season) and Westbrook don't run a lot of 2-man plays, but it somehow works out.

Denver has been re-energized with the trade of Carmelo Anthony. They would be a nightmare matchup for most Western Conference teams with the exception of...Oklahoma City. There is no go-to player on Denver, meaning that there isn't a single player that you can focus on to shut them down. Conversely, without a go-to player, which Denver player will have the cajones to take (and make) shots in late game situations. Remains to be seen.

This will be the most dramatic series in the West, with a lot of lead changes. Oklahoma should outlast them in 6.

#2 Los Angeles vs #7 New Orleans - Los Angeles in 6

If Los Angeles had a healthy Andrew Bynum, and with New Orleans down David West, this easily would have been a sweep. Given Bynum's health issues, and Los Angeles' April erratic-ness, I have a feeling that this series will go a bit longer than most would expect. Additionally, I think that Chris Paul will shed his season-long fear of pushing himself hard on his surgically repaired knee. The Hornets have been solid defensively all year, which will keep them relatively close in this series.

No reason for Lakers fans to worry in this round, Los Angeles will finish them off in 6.

#3 Dallas vs #6 Portland - Portland in 7

If Dallas rose to the #2 seed, they would have had an easier time against New Orleans. Without Butler, Dallas' margin for error is much smaller, and this fact will get exposed in this long 7 game series. This series won't get interested until it gets to Portland, and then we'll start seeing more intense games. Portland's depth will eventually outlast Dallas' lack of depth even with shortened rotations.