Posts Tagged ‘Chicago Bulls’
Thursday, May 26th, 2011
By Brandon Pemberton
I have been one of the biggest critics of Dirk Nowitzki over the years and I have no problem admitting it. Whether it was he and the Mavs being up 2-0 in the 2006 NBA Finals and losing four straight to lose the title, or winning the MVP, along with 67 games, only to be knocked out of the 1st round of the playoffs by eighth seeded Golden State in 2007. It was hard after those two seasons not to label Dirk “soft” and as one of those guys who came up short in big spots. I thought he relied too much on the 3-point shot when he could post guys up on the block and use his size.
This year in the playoffs Nowitzki has taken his play to a new level and it’s amazing to see him play this well. In my eyes he was already a first ballot hall of famer and the greatest foreign player the NBA has ever seen, but he is on a flat-out tear. In fifteen playoff games, he is averaging 28.4 ppg and 7.5 rpg, while shooting 51% from the field, 51% from the three point line, and 93% from the foul line. I have to say, in my lifetime, this has been one of the better playoff performances I’ve seen.
There has been a transformation of sorts in Dirk’s game. He relies less on standing at the three point line and shooting spot up jumpers like he did in his previous years. He now operates in the mid-post area and abuses defenders by using his 7 foot frame and high release to score with ease. His array of fall-away and off-balance shots he has mastered is like nothing the NBA has ever seen. There has never been another player at his size with this style of game in NBA history, with his ability to put the ball on the floor, shoot, and face up from 16-20 feet out. He has even become a better rebounder and puts forth more effort on the defensive end as well.
Now that he has led the Dallas Mavericks back to the NBA Finals for a second time, he has the chance to mark his place as one of the NBA’s all-time greats with a win over the Miami Heat or the Chicago Bulls. I would love to see him finally win a title personally, but if the Heat holds on to win the East, it’s going to be tough. But let it been known, Dirk is playing the best basketball of his career and will give the Mavs a legit chance at winning it all.
Brandon Pemberton, Blogger for War Room Sports
Tags:All's Fair in Sports and War, Brandon Pemberton, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, MVP, NBA, NBA Finals, Soft, The War Room, War Room Sports
Posted in General, NBA | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011
By Aquil Bayyan
Boston Celtics Defeated
I just want to take a minute to talk about some interesting observations I’ve made as the NBA playoffs come down to its final four teams. Many people, including the War Room Generals, picked the Boston Celtics to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals this year. Unfortunately for them, they were sent home in 5 games by the Miami Heat. In noticing the manner of which the Celtics were easily bounced by the Miami Heat, I began to wonder, analyze, pontificate, cerebrate (which means to think, not celebrate), cogitate, evaluate, and even speculate, about what happened to the Boston Celtics this year.
Exhibit A:
Tom Thibodeau used to be an assistant coach and defensive mastermind for the Boston Celtics who went to 2 of the last 3 NBA finals, winning 1 and going pretty far in the playoffs without Kevin Garnett in 2009. He is now coaching my Chicago Bulls and has led us to 62 wins, the best record in the NBA, and won the NBA Coach of the Year award in the process. All I have to say is…Tom Thibodeau is still coaching right now.
NBA Coach of the Year, Tom Thibodeau
Exhibit B:
The NBA player we all know and love, and who probably gets way more attention than he should; Kendrick Perkins. While we all agree that his skill set is weak and that he is not really as tough as advertised, he has helped his teams to 3 of the last 4 NBA Conference Finals and he still talks to Raon (I left the “J” out on purpose) Rondo every day, for what it’s worth. All I have to say is…Kendrick is still playing right now.
The most important player in the NBA?
Exhibit C:
Nate Robinson; you all probably forgot that he was playing for the Thunder until you saw J.J. Barea cross his face off and fish-fry-bake “Lil Nate” in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. I remember in last year’s playoffs when “Lil Nate” would come into the game and give the Celtics a lift off the bench, hitting key three pointers, finishing in the lane, all while jumping around, pounding his chest, and screaming while getting the fans fired up. All I have to say is…Nate is still playing right now.
“Lil Nate”
Exhibit D:
Brian Scalabrine, now you may laugh and wonder why I am even talking about a player who averaged 1.5 points, 1 rebound, 0.5 assists, 0.2 blocks, and 0.2 steals for the Celtics last year, and followed that up with similar solid stats with my Bulls this year. You can never underestimate the impact of an NBA player in a suit or warm up who has 0% chance of getting into the game, cheering his teammates on. All I have to say is…Brian is still cheering right now.
The best dressed cheerleader in the league
All this thought has caused me to wonder if the Celtics would still be playing if this coach and these three players were still a part of the team. I guess we will never know.
Aquil “Quil” Bayyan of The War Room, for War Room Sports
Tags:All's Fair in Sports and War, Aquil Bayyan, Boston Celtics, Brian Scalabrini, Chicago Bulls, Eastern Conference, J.J. Barea, Kendrick Perkins, Kevin Garnett, Miami Heat, Nate Robinson, NBA, NBA Coach of the Year, NBA Finals, NBA Playoffs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Rajon Rondo, The War Room, Tom Thibodeau, War Room Sports
Posted in General, NBA | No Comments »
Monday, May 23rd, 2011
By Brandon Pemberton
Coming off of a 34 point performance last night in a 96-85 win over the Chicago Bulls in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals, it’s pretty obvious to me that Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh is playing with confidence and has found his place on this team. Early in the season, Bosh looked lost, passive, and out of place on the floor. He was often criticized for his timid play and lack of rebounding. Playing in Toronto, most people hadn’t really seen him play much unless you are a big fan of hoops and had the NBA League Pass.
Bosh was used to being the man for the Raptors, having the offense run through him and everyone else playing off him. While he averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds per game and made six All-Star performances, he’d never won a playoff series and he never was a legit superstar player. A player like Lebron James or a Derrick Rose type, who has enough talent to carry a team to high places with fair talent around them. There were plenty of basketball fans that thought Bosh was that kind of player but he wasn’t, and hasn’t been that kind of guy.
Now, playing with two legit superstars who have the ball in their hands the majority of the time, Bosh had a rough time early in the season finding his role on the team. The injury to Udonis Haslem made things even worse for him, as the team needed him to play a more physical role, similar to what Haslem would play. The Heat struggled with chemistry and Chris was one of the [main] culprits.
As the season progressed, Bosh and the Miami Heat have gotten better on the offensive end of the court. The Heat use him in pick & roll situations, which fits his game perfectly as he has one of the best mid-range jumpshots in basketball (big man or not). He also has been playing well, finishing off passes from James and Wade and hitting the offensive glass. In the three games against the Bulls, he’s averaging 25 ppg and grabbing 7 rpg as well. You can see the confidence that he lacked during the season as each playoff game goes by.
Finally, I’ve never been the biggest Chris Bosh fan and after the WWE type celebration he, Lebron, and Wade partook in [after signing], it made me dislike him even more. Add in the fact that he’s a fake tough guy and it irks me when he scowls and yells on the court, but I have to admit that he is playing well and will be one of the key reasons the Heat win it all this season.
Brandon Pemberton, Blogger for War Room Sports
Tags:All's Fair in Sports and War, Brandon Pemberton, Chicago Bulls, Chris Bosh, Derrick Rose, Dwyane Wade, Eastern Conference Finals, Lebron James, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA League Pass, The War Room, Toronto Raptors, Udonis Haslem, War Room Sports, WWE
Posted in General, NBA | No Comments »
Friday, May 20th, 2011
By Devin McMillan
Stop Flip-Flopping
I need to address the “quick to judgment” nature of the society we live in…and though this notion applies to MANY aspects of our everyday lives, I’ll keep it in sports. Why is it that every night in sports makes the general public forget about the night before? For instance, why do we (and when I say “we”, I mean YOU)…why do we jump to conclusions after every single game we watch? For instance, the whole world castigated the Chicago Bulls for their struggles in both the Indiana and Atlanta series’ while concurrently lauding the Miami Heat for the efficient manner in which they dispatched the 76ers and Boston Celtics.
Then, after Game 1 of the Heat-Bulls series, everyone now wondered how the Miami Heat could ever possibly match up with the juggernaut, 85 Chicago BEARS-like defense of the Chicago Bulls. Heat “wagoneers” were quiet, Bulls fans were crowing, the world was in immediate disarray. I even heard several “experts” hinting that the series might be over after Game 1 and after the first quarter of Game 2, they were almost completely convinced.
Then the other 3 quarters were played (like they usually are in a basketball game). The Bulls couldn’t score on the Heat’s stalwart defense, Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller made significant appearances, Dwyane Wade was…Dwyane Wade, Lebron James scored a few clutch buckets, and the Miami Heat successfully snatched back control of the series by winning a game on Chicago’s home court. The world was again turned upside down. All I heard the day after Game 2 were Heat “wagoneers”…excuse me… Lebron protective cup holders…speak tales of legend in lure of their King. I heard the SAME “experts” who had so adamantly proclaimed the day before that the series was over, now questioning the Bulls’ chances of winning the series. Didn’t we just crown them Eastern Conference Champions after the prior game…GAME ONE? On top of all that, I didn’t hear from any Bulls fans all damn day after Game 2.
So for all of YOU PEOPLE who flip-flop with the wind, IT’S A SEVEN GAME SERIES and it’s tied up at ONE! Please folks, let’s allow it to play out and let’s refrain from making new CONCLUSIVE judgments after every single game…after every single quarter…after every single bucket. Fans, “stans”, die-hards, and shameless wagon jumpers alike; try to see a bigger picture and stop basing your “moxy”, your fear, your sports knowledge, and anything else you have going on in those little brains, on one game. Shut up and let them play PLEASE!
Devin “Dev” McMillan of The War Room, for War Room Sports
Tags:85 Bears, All's Fair in Sports and War, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Devin McMillan, Dwyane Wade, Eastern Conference Champions, Indiana Pacers, Lebron James, Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Philadelphia 76ers, The War Room, Udonis Haslem, War Room Sports
Posted in General, NBA | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 18th, 2011
By Brandon Pemberton
One of Taj Gibson's TWO highlight reel dunks in Game 1
The Miami Heat came out flat in game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Bulls and the play along with the final score showed. Lebron James (15 points, 5-15 from the field) and Dwyane Wade (18 points 7-17 from the field) were flat out brutal, while Chris Bosh carried the team with 30 points and 9 rebounds. When I watched James after the game 7 win against the Celtics on the ground resembling a player who had just won an NBA title, I thought to myself, “he is acting like the season is over and they’ve won it all”. And he and his team’s play was a disgrace on Sunday night.
Yeah we all noticed that James and Wade played badly, but there was plenty of blame to go around. The Bulls were the more physical team on both ends of the court and the Heat allowed Chicago to grab 19 offensive rebounds, which lead to 31 second chance points. The Bulls also forced the Heat into 16 turnovers and held them to only 10 fast-break points.
The Bulls’ bench clearly outplayed Miami’s, outscoring them 28-15, providing solid defense and mistake-free basketball. Taj Gibson scored 9 points off the bench, including two highlight reel dunks, one of them on Dwyane Wade. Ronnie Brewer gave the Bulls some good minutes, drawing the assignments of James and Wade.
Look, I know it’s a seven game series and all, but the last thing you want to do is go down 2-0 and leave yourself in a spot where you have to win four out of the next five games. I expect Lebron and D-Wade both to come out more aggressive and assertive, looking to go to the rack more and get the Bulls into foul trouble. There were too many occasions where they settled for jump shots instead of putting pressure on the defense by driving the ball. It would help if the Heat could get some scoring from the bench, but at this point I don’t know if it’s really possible. Mike Bibby, Mario Chalmers, and James Jones would help out greatly if they can hit the open shots available to them.
I’m looking at the Vegas line on this game and it has the Bulls (-2) as the home favorite. That’s a Miami line if you ask me so I will take the Heat minus the 2 to cover and win the game. If they don’t…they are screwed and the Lebron hate will be all over the place.
Brandon Pemberton, Writer for War Room Sports
Tags:All's Fair in Sports and War, Boston Celtics, Brandon Pemberton, Chicago Bulls, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Eastern Conference Finals, James Jones, Lebron James, Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat, Mike Bibby, NBA, Ronnie Brewer, Taj Gibson
Posted in General, NBA | No Comments »
Thursday, May 12th, 2011
By Brandon Pemberton
All throughout the regular season, people have questioned the Miami Heat’s ability to close out games and they had a legitimate case. At one point during the season the Heat had one of the bottom 5 records in the league in games decided by five points or less. Countless times they were unable to hold leads in the fourth quarter and down the stretch most of the shots were taken by Lebron James.
When the Heat decided to bring the trio of Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, and Chris Bosh together, everyone fed into the instant hype and said they would threaten the Bulls 72-win season from the 95-96 campaign. I knew they had talent but it would take time to mesh and I really didn’t like their bench on paper. They had a problem early in the season winning games against the top teams in the league and even had a moment after a tough loss where Head Coach Erik Spoelstra said “there were plenty of emotions in the locker room, and some crying”.
Well it’s the playoffs and they are playing their best basketball at the right time and have won their first two rounds of the playoffs each in five games. D-Wade has taken his fair share of shots down the stretch and has closed games, and James has made some timely shots to close games as well. At this point of the season the Heat clearly have it figured out and with the Lakers knocked out of the playoffs, Miami is the clear favorite to win the whole thing, in my eyes.
In games four and five, Lebron James hit shots in the clutch that finished the Celtics off. In game four, Lebron scored 11 straight points for his team to send the game into overtime. And in the series clinching game five with the scored tied at 87-87 with 2:33 left to play, James scored his team’s final ten points and sent Boston home for the summer.
Lebron James and the Heat are now four games away from playing in the NBA Finals and four more away from hanging a banner in the rafters. There is plenty of Lebron and Heat hate going around, but Ray Charles could see that they are clearly the favorite to win it all and the excellent play of Lebron James is the reason why. People, put the hate to the side and just watch this man play. Prospectively, there is nothing he can’t do on the court and it’s not hard for me to say that he is now the best player in the league.
Brandon Pemberton, Blogger for War Room Sports
Tags:All's Fair in Sports and War, Boston Celtics, Brandon Pemberton, Chicago Bulls, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Erik Spoelstra, Lebron James, Miami Heat, NBA Finals, The War Room, War Room Sports
Posted in General, NBA | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, May 10th, 2011
By Brandon Pemberton
In game four against the Atlanta Hawks, a game that the Chicago Bulls lost 100-88, Derrick Rose scored 34 points on 32 shots. Yes Rose is the league’s MVP and the best point guard in the world, but he needs help on the offensive end. That help should come from two sources, Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng.
The Bulls signed Carlos Boozer to a 5-year deal for 75 million dollars last off-season to be the 2nd scorer and post player they needed to take the next step and be a legit title contender. Boozer missed 23 games this season due to a hand injury that happened when he fell at home. He put up 17.5 ppg and 9.6 rpg, which are right at his career averages. But in the 2011 playoffs, his production has dropped off as he’s putting up 10.7 ppg and 9.1 rpg. He says he injured his right big toe in game 5 of the first round series against the Pacers, but he was playing horribly even before the injury. Boozer never was a defensive player to say the least and he needs to produce, bottom line.
In game 1 of the series against the Hawks, Luol Deng had a good game scoring 21 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. In the three games since, he’s scored 14, 7, and 13 points respectively, putting Derrick Rose in the spot where he’s taking more shots than he should. While Deng is not a superstar nor a star player, he is a legit 2nd or 3rd scoring option on a good team. Deng can score in a bunch of different ways and the Bulls need him to provide scoring in the 16 to 18 point range nightly, along with the great defense he plays, if the Bulls are to have a legit chance to make it out of the East.
If Boozer and Deng can get it together and play up to their ability along with Derrick Rose leading the way, the Bulls can win this series against the Hawks and find themselves one step away from the NBA Finals.
Brandon Pemberton, Blogger for War Room Sports
Tags:All's Fair in Sports and War, Atlanta Hawks, Brandon Pemberton, Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls, Derrick Rose, Indiana Pacers, Luol Deng, MVP, NBA Finals, The War Room, War Room Sports
Posted in General, NBA | No Comments »
Thursday, March 31st, 2011
Tags:Chicago Bulls, Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons, Hall of Fame, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Basketball, NBA Champion, Rebounding, San Antonio Spurs, The War Room, War Room Sports
Posted in General, NBA | No Comments »
Monday, November 1st, 2010
Tags:Basketball, Blake Griffin, Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks, Deron Williams, Hoops, Jason Kidd, LA Clippers, NBA, The War Room, Utah Jazz, War Room Sports
Posted in General, NBA | No Comments »
Monday, November 1st, 2010
Tags:Basketball, BJ Armstrong, Chicago Bulls, Hoops, Michael Jordan, NBA, Scottie Pippen, The War Room, War Room Sports
Posted in General, MLB, NBA, NCAA, NFL, NHL | No Comments »
