How the Bulls can defeat the Orlando Magic.
#5 Derrick Rose needs to own Jameer Nelson
When discussing the top PGs of the game, Jameer Nelson's name rarely
comes up. However, he was having an all-star season in 08-09 before injury
derailed him, and he stepped up and played like a star in the 09-10
playoffs. Don't sleep on Jameer having a great series. While Derrick
is the more talented player by far, Nelson can step it up.
Rose should win this matchup, but we can't take Nelson lightly. He's a
solid defender who will make Rose work, and if Rose sleeps on defense,
Nelson is more than capable of making us pay. A focused effort by
Rose should be enough to make sure we win this matchup big, but it needs
to happen or else we have no chance. Given that I think this is highly likely it only makes #5 on our list.
#4 Attack the basket to get Dwight in foul trouble
Sure he's sent Rose to the hardwood in dangerous plays a few times, but
we can't let that deter us from attacking the basket against Howard
constantly. Jump into his body, force the issue, make him foul you.
Howard has a habit of collecting fouls, and let's face it, the Magic
aren't that special when Howard isn't on the court. Seriously, sit
back and think about it, their next best player is Jameer Nelson or
Vince Carter. Put Howard in foul trouble to make him play tentative or
ride the pine, and the Bulls have a massive talent advantage on the
court.
#3 Abuse Rashard Lewis.
Look Rashard Lewis is about as soft a PF as you're likely to find in the NBA. He's really a three/four combo who's become a stretch four because Dwight Howard is so big and nasty that Orlando can get away with playing only one legit big man. Carlos Boozer's a tough, strong physical dude. He needs to lay the wood to Rashard Lewis. I want Rashard Lewis in the fetal position when this series over.
It seems like a task Boozer should be up to, we can pound the ball inside against Lewis, and if Howard comes over to help then Boozer's a skilled enough passer to get the ball to Noah who's athletic enough and skilled enough to make Howard pay for leaving him alone if for a second.
#2 Vince Carter was half man, half amazing, but he plays defense like half a man
Vince Carter's on the decline overall anyway, but he especially wilted in the playoffs last season putting up a 13.4 PER. He still may have his moments where his shot-making kills us, where he appears unguardable, but those moments will be few and far between if Luol Deng never stops running.
Vince Carter doesn't have what it takes to chase someone around all day through screens on defense. Especially if we run some through Carlos Boozer or Omer Asik and lay him out. Luol plays best on offense while on the move anyway, but he can also mitigate the potential damage of Carter on offense by wearing him out on defense. Carter will be 34 when the playoffs roll around and has already shown the signs of losing a step.
#1 Team defense rules the day
I'm putting my faith in Thibodeau that this gets done. The Magic are like the 60s Packers, you know what's coming, it's just a matter of whether you can stop it. Dwight Howard is getting the ball down low where he's the toughest man in the NBA, then he's dunking on you, going to the foul line, or throwing the ball out to a three point shooter.
That's it. That's the offense. Everything else is moving the ball through inferior players that you can stop. Two of their next best players are just made up of quit (Lewis/Carter). To defend, we'll need to mix up coverage on Howard while making sure we rotate well to cover the three point shooters. If it was as easy to do as it is to say then the Magic wouldn't be a top three team in the NBA though.
That said, if there's one man in the NBA who I want on my team to design a defense to specialized defense to stop one team, it's Tom Thibodeau. He's stoppled LeBron James, and I think he can design a defense to stop Dwight Howard.
Final Thoughts
The more I think about this matchup, the more I think that if these two teams meet in the playoffs, the Bulls have a 50/50 shot win this matchup (assuming everyone is healthy on both sides). I'm not going to call the Bulls favorites, but the Magic are fairly one dimensional, and we have the zen master in stopping a one dimensional offense designing our defense. Our offensive players provide annoying matchups for their defensive ones, and at the end of the day, the Magic don't have a closer, and I think the Bulls will.
Filed under: Miscellaneous
Tags: beat the magic, carlos boozer, chicago bulls, derrick rose, dwight howard, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, orlando magic, Rashard Lewis, vince carter
Magic is a team when their 3-point shooting is clicking will be tough to stop and can beat anyone and I believe Stan Van Gundy will devise good game plans. But that said, last year with Boston they got some games because I think Boston let off some pressure after going 2-0 or 3-0.....Miami will hurt them too by driving inside but Howard/Nelson is deadlier against Miami than Noah/Rose in a way. Nelson can shoot from outside and Howard can physically beat up centers.
Usually for some reason, teams seem to do well in new arenas which Orlando will be. I think Vince will have a decent year because this is probably his last hurrah as a key player and he needs to get a new contract.
He was always over-hyped because he was from UNC and he looked athletically like MJ and people wanted the next MJ to appear. Plus, he is the over-thinking type who probably put a lot of pressure on himself. But, I think he will be better than last year..
I have stated before that the Magic is not that impressive if you take Howard out of the game and try to slow down the three point shooting. In order to beat the Magic and every other team in the league it will always come down to defense and rebounds. Again... the wild card to winning will be coach This and everyone staying healthy. DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!!!
The Magic seem to be trending downward, and that trend should continue this year, while the Bulls are set to take a huge jump forward.
With TT on board, I fully expect the Bulls to beat the Magic should they face them in the playoffs, unless Howard magically turns into Wilt this season.
I don't think Vince Carter will be on that team in the playoffs. While its true taht expiring contracts are not as valuable as in years past, Vince's deal will have value to at least 1 team. The Magic signed JJ to be the SG of the future, and their management isn't stupid, they know Vince isn't going to help them win come playoff time. JJ & Pietrus can share time at the 2, allowing Lewis to play some time at the 3, which will allow the up & coming Ryan Anderson some more burn.
I imagine they would have tried to move Carter last year, but couldn't find a taker. This year I think they can.
I think the Bulls match up quite well against Orlando (at least on paper). Our starting 5 can definitely play with their's and our bench matches up as well. Duhon and Richardson vs Watson Bogans, Taj could start on a some teams and Korver can knock em down. And lets not forget about K Thomas - that's right, i said K Thomas. Next time Dwight decides to foul Rose like he did twice last season, KT will make him think twice!
Five keys for the Bulls to(be a team that) beat(s) the Magic:
1) Having launched 1,350 to 1,400 or more reg. season threes.
2) D-Rose having upped his FTA's to six minimum and 3PTA's to 270 or higher(at 35% min. or higher).
3) Boozer, Taj, and Joakim staying healthy.
4) Tom Thibodeau installing his defense, and turning out to be a head coach who can command his players respect(something different then good repore as an assistant/the kindly but sometimes tough uncle role).
5)Similar to 2), but Derrick learning how to draw and create contact(see Chauncey Billups), and deciding he wants to be one of the top scorers in the league(25ppg and up).
And as for Orlando, I don't care what people think about Hedo when they lost him, and received Carter there were many NBA guys(analysts/former players) who thought this was a bad move. Carter's FG% and FTA's were the lowest they'd been in years before he came over. And now in his first year with the Magic his FTA's were the lowest per game of his career, and the first time in his career with back to back below 45% FG's. I'd be shocked if he didn't have another down season either similar to last year's or even worse. And someone needs to smackdown Howard for that sh*t last year with Rose being floored twice.
I disagree. All it takes is 1 team that doesn't have a massive exception. Orlando will be motivated to sell, and does have some assets. Gortat & Bass are talented and not getting enough minutes. I'd mention Ryan Anderson, but part of the reason for shipping off a Carter would be to get Anderson some more PT
Bulls hire Adrian Griffin ASST Coach
I like this match-up for a lot of reasons.
Everyone knows that when the Magic are hitting threes, they are going to win. But when they aren't, they are very beatable.
I think we win the Rose vs. Nelson, Boozer vs. Lewis, and Deng vs. Richardson match-ups.
I think Brewer vs. Carter is a good match-up. Carter is the only other option on their team to create something out of nothing and I like having Brewer causing him to work on both ends of the court.
I also think that Noah vs. Howard is a good battle. Howard has the strength advantage, as he does with everyone, but If I had to pick a guy to go against Howard, Noah would be in my top 2-3 choices. I think Noah has about a good a chance as anyone to slow down Howard's athleticism and power.
As much as I like our new bench, I still think Orlando's bench is better. They really have a deep and talented bench. Redick is a tough match-up and Gortat is a good backup.
If the Bulls become what we're hoping they become, I'll be more willing to take on the Magic than to face the Celtics or Heat.
I really like our chances against the Magic, I'd say that even though they'll probably finish with a better record I'd consider us slightly favoured in a head to head match up.
The key point you mention is foul trouble on Howard. That they rely so much on Howard for everything really puts them in trouble if we can get him in foul trouble, and we have the right types of players to do that.
Really if Howard goes to the bench, we then have the best 4 players on the court. Some people will probably complain about that judgement, but I'd take all of Rose, Noah, Boozer & Deng ahead of anyone else on the Magic: Carter and Lewis are both declining, and despite his reputation, Nelson's numbers are closer to Kirk Hinrich's than an all-star. So basically I think we only have to hang close to them while Howard is out there and look to win the game when he's on the bench. I think if TT is the defensive genius he's got the reputation for being, then hanging close seems realistic.
Correctly judged he wouldn't be good going forward??
Doug Orlando is trying to win now. The better fit for their team was Turkoglu. Saying he would have had the same season with Orlando he had with Toronto is not a given by any means. Five years five shcmears, they needed him now regardless if the two or three outyears were a decline/loss. Many people felt Turkoglu was a better fit regardless of the numbers. Are you going to deny that many credible NBA analysts/former players etc. voiced this?
I'm glad you can always forsee the future. Would it kill you to one time just go back to IMO instead of rebutting my widely supported view as though you are fact, and I the poster am fiction.
And as for Rudy woe is Rudy the International pro teams are not the NBA. I don't care what kind of money they want to pay 'the white Larry Bird" or whatever the hell it is they call him/view him as. He had one decent season not one very good season in the NBA. Last year was sub par. He has not proven himself here as a very good player in my view. Putting up those sad numbers this year, and in my mind being unproven as a good NBA player I don't feel sorry for him at all. If he had a couple of very good years that would be a different story. he's got to prove himself here, and 23 mniutes a game is not an excuse. He needs to earn his money/prove it here, or go back to Europe. His untold millions of money lost don't match up to his performance in the NBA by any means.
So slamming my comments on him, and assuming he just had a bad year while Hedo overachieved I'm glad you are so discerning/wise. Hedo's only 31. Orlando should have kept him over Carter, and Rudy does not deserve/has not earned that money yet IMO.
Larry Bird is white.
Melo...it's as simple and as complicated as that.
If the Bulls' brass truly want to compete with the ELITE teams (Lakers, Celtics, Heat and Magic) of the NBA, they will find away to trade for Carmelo Anthony.
Outside of that, they don't have the weapons to beat those teams in a 7-game series.
As currently constructed without Melo, they can compete with Boston and Orlando.
They cannot hang with the Lakers or Heat yet.