The prep test

The Bulls have struggled at times, but have kept their heads above water with a 6-7 record.  With other teams around them slipping and firing coaches left and right, I suppose 6-7 isn't that bad. Here's the East standings:

GB   1.  Miami --   2.   Detroit 9.0   3.   Boston 13.5   4.  Washington 14.0   5.  Cleveland 15.0   6.  Chicago 15.5   7.  Indiana 17.0   8.  Philadelphia 18.0   9.  Orlando 19.0   10.  New Jersey 19.5   11.  New York 21.5   12.  Toronto 23.0   13.  Milwaukee 24.0   14.  Charlotte 37.5   15.  Atlanta 40.0

While looking inconsistent early in the month, including losses @Milwaukee, @Clippers, and at home against the Hornets, the next two games are huge: A road game against the Celtics followed the next night at home against the Pacers.

We've come to the point in the season where it's time to realistically talk about playoff seedings. Even the players (and Skiles!) have been doing it. The Bulls Report has beaten me to the punch, however:

It's conceivable not only that the Bull could pass the Cavs and take the 5 slot, but also that they could slip into the 4 slot, past the Wiz. There are even some people talking about getting the 3 slot by passing the Pistons and winning the division. That seems a little optimistic.

I'd like to land in the 4 or 5 slot, playing either Washington or Cleveland. I think in a 7-game series, the Bulls would do well against either team. We want to avoid the 6 slot as it looks like the Celtics will be the 3 seed, and they've been tough to beat all year.

It's true, the Bulls have had their problems against Boston, losing 2 of 3 this season. And that was before the team re-acquired Antoine Walker. Since getting Walker the Celtics have been absolutely on fire, and no doubt both teams know that if the playoffs started today they'd be facing eachother.

To be honest I think that Bulls fans shouldn't be scared of a 7 game series against the Celtics. While they have been on a roll, and sport a really impressive mix of veterans and rookies, I think that the Bulls' defense can tilt an entire series in their favor. As long as it's consistent, they should be in every game. Then hand the ball over to Gordon of offense and see how him and the rest of the kids respond to playoff pressure. Friday night's contest will show if they can do it for one game.

The following game is at home against the Pacers, who despite losing Jermaine O'Neal for the rest of the season are still clawing to a spot. Between them, Philly, Orlando and New Jersey, I don't see a single team that will overtake the Bulls in the standings. A statement can be made Saturday to show that the Bulls can hold on the #6 spot. If that follows a win the night before in Boston, it shows that maybe the top 5 should start looking out.

Point-Counterpoint

Reasons the NCAA tournament has me pining for the NBA playoffs:

• It is the best basketball in the world played by the best players in the world.
• Give me EJ, Kenny, and Chuck over ESPNtalkinghead, DickieV, and Digger any day. Steve Lavin is very good though.
• Come on, all the big talent skip college, and the marginal talent would if they could.
• Have you watched the tournament lately? The basketball is just poor. Say what you will about the lack of quality shooting in the NBA, but man I saw some ugly stuff this weekend. Exciting yes, but u-g-l-y.
• The gushing over college coaches. I just don't like the idea of having them as the stars, especially when they are glorified used car salesmen. To loosely paraphrase Bill Simmons, any profession where Tim Floyd is considered quality can't be that impressive.
• I hate scrappy underdogs. Get off the court and stop spoiling my bracket.
• A seven-game series builds up so much tension and allows for so much strategy that in a close one you cannot top the excitement. I would take a couple weeks of Kings-Lakers in 2001 over 2.1 seconds of Christian Laettner.
• "Let's get it started!". Just kidding, I'm sick of that song too.
• Sure the NBA's schedule spreads out the playoffs so it lasts about 7 months, but at least you get to see all the games on TV.
• I don't want to see Mike Wilkinson's girlfriend 20 times a game, let alone his mom too.
• You cannot call a timeout when you're jumping out of bounds because you do not have possession of the ball when you're out of bounds.
• The possession arrow is stupid too. Even Vitale wonders about that one.
• Cinderella, Big Dance, Dancing, Slipper....I get it, cute.
• Face it, once your bracket's toast you stop caring about who wins anymore, unless it is to root for others' brackets to blow up as well. Or to root against Duke.
• Speaking of Duke, that AmEx ad with Coach (not a coach, a leader) K makes me vomit in my mouth. And why does he sign his credit card "Coach K"? 
• Seeing the Women's tourney scores. Stop confusing me sportsticker, relegate that stuff  to the 5 or so fans not watching the Ellen Degeneres show at that moment. (that's right, I am not above making a tasteless lesbian joke)
• Arguing over seeds and crying over who didn't make the tourney, and then seeing those 'snubs' get beat in the first round of the NIT in front of 300 people. That's right I'm talking about you, the suckfest formerly known as Notre Dame.
• Both playoffs feature Kevin Harlan, so that's a push.
• Man do I hate Bobby Knight. I would just love for him to coach the Trailblazers for a week, his antics would have him in the hospital with about 15 sets of handprints around his neck.
• Automatic bid for the LittleSistersofThePoor conference. Have fun playing North Carolina or Kansas and getting a beatdown. Er....against Kansas you have a shot...
• A coach saying how much he loves his mid-major job and never admitting that a move to a power conference school for a power conference contract is actually kind of enticing.
• The veiled shots at the NBA when talking about kids who stayed 4 years and are now enjoying the tourney experience. They neglect to mention that in the NBA you get to experience the Gold Club in Atlanta.
• That 3-point line is I think only 12 feet from the basket. Jack Ingram can launch from there.
• I would complain about CSI promos, but then again TNT uses highlights and splices them with movie trailers. Remember that one where Van Helsing got blocked by Dikembe Mutumbo and then Helsing subsequently shot him in the shin with a crossbow?
• Billy Packer.
• Ok so don't you feel a little guilty seeing these supposed 'students' play on national TV with millions of dollars changing hands from all sides with the name of an institution of higher learning placed across his chest?

Reasons why I (and America) still love the NCAA tournament, and justifiably so:

• I call him Gamblor.

Carnival update

Carnival of the NBA #4 is up at Hornets247.com. Click, scroll down, and look for the tent:

Pop quiz hotshot:

What position do the Bulls defend the best?

Would you believe it's the 2?

Position	oPER
PG	16.2
SG	12.8
SF	14.3
PF	14.7
C	14.0

One theme of this season here has been the need for a 'big' guard to help the smaller Bulls guard rotation of Hinrich, Duhon, and Gordon on the defensive end. As we know while Hinrich came into this league as a point guard, and still occupies that position when Duhon is not in the game, he is responsible for guarding the other team's best scorer. Usually among the two guard positions that is the SG, and thus this opposing PER of 12.8 (remember the 'average' player is a 15) is a testament to how great of a defender Hinrich has become.

Two of the Bulls past 3 games have been against Seattle, meaning that Hinrich had to guard Ray Allen. Here's how he fared:

3/11 - @Seattle

	Pts	TS%
Hinrich	10	28.2%
Allen	17	42.6%

3/15 - @Chicago

	Pts	TS%
Hinrich	7	23.3%
Allen	17	41.2%

And for reference, here are the season totals:

	Ppg	TS%
Hinrich	15.4	49.1%
Allen	23.8	55.1%

Statistically, Hinrich did a fantastic job against Allen, frustrating him to the point where Allen started questioning his tactics . But the toll was obviously taken on the offensive end, where tired legs from chasing around one of the premier players in the NBA undoubtedly contributed to Hinrich's poor shooting. I've said it many times here, the Bulls ask Hinrich to do way too much on both ends of the court.

As great as the Bulls defend SGs, they are at their worst against the PG slot. Coach Scott Skiles has already pointed out how far Gordon needs to come in his defense. The numbers, in addition to verifying those statements, also calls into question the defensive prowess of Chris Duhon. Not only are PGs doing their best against the Bulls, it is at that position where the Bulls give up the most in terms of net production, at -4.3 points in PER. In these terms the SG spot is again the Bulls best position, at +2.1.

 By looking through the trade and free agent market and trying to find the prototypical 'big' guard to help the Bulls defense (and Raja Bell is looking like the best choice), perhaps Hinrich will still be used against the opponent's best guard. But with another defender in the rotation, the guy Hinrich isn't guarding won't be facing the basketball equivalent of a matador anymore.

---

I'm leaving for Vegas Thursday afternoon, and more than likely there will be no posts by me until next Wednesday. If I never return you can either assume that I have pawned my plane ticket home, jumped out of a hotel window after seeing the Illini lose, or have won big and stayed out to realize California dreamin'.

The search for guest-bloggers has not been 'exhaustive' to say the least. I'll try better the next time, I swear. Make sure you check out the links on your left for all your NBA action. A special nod to the Bulls Report, who have been keeping up with the wins and losses better than I have lately.

See ya next week, a little bit poorer but hopefully wearing a smile full of Vegas memories.

Carnival of the NBA #3

Sure there was a 1-week layoff, but the Carnival keeps rollin. Again if this is your first time and want to know what the Carnival is about, click here. On with this week's selections from the NBA blogosphere...

--This week I'll lead off with Forum Blue and Gold, since Kurt was nice enough to email me and mention his post on Reggie Miller's case for the Hall of Fame. This week there's a post in favor of an expanded NBDL as part of the new NBA collective bargaining agreement:

It would have advantages for NBA teams. Lets use the Lakers as an example. I have called for Sasha to get more playing time, taking some away from Tierre Brown. The reason is not Sasha is better than Tierre, he’s not at this point. But he needs some court time — and some weight — to see what he really can be and he’s not getting that at the end of the bench.

I've been advocating this for a long time...

--Over at Knickerblogger.net guest-blogger David Crocket has compiled a list of players to look for in the NCAA tournament. With the Knicks' having acquired extra first-round draft picks at the trade deadline, Knickerblogger has faith in Isiah to pick to the right prospect this June...

--Speaking of the draft, Raptorblog has an assessment of first-round pick Rafael Araujo:

Anyway, Hoffa may be a disappointment so far this season, but y'all need to stop calling him a bust. That word gets thrown around like it ain't no thang, but I know a bust when I see one and Hoffa ain't it. I remember The Aleksandar Radojevic Era – all 24 minutes of it. That, my friends, was a bust. Perspective is important.

I think we all have our favorite high-profile busts, mine may be Marcus 'the Black Hole' Fizer...

--How 'bout them Celtics? Celticsblog.com said at the time that bringing back Antoine Walker was a good move, and looks like they were right...

--Meanwhile another Atlantic Division team that made a big acquisition was the Sixers, although unlike the Celtics they've been fading in the race for the playoffs. NBAFanBlog.com is all over it, questioning whether Chris Webber will always remain a loser...

--At Supersonicsoul.com they've been searching for a nickname for Reggie Evans, and approved my suggestion. And you gotta check out this Benoit Benjamin story...

--At the San Antonio Spurs Blog, there's confidence that there is no way the Suns can beat the Spurs in a seven-game series:

But that type of offense doesn't work very well against the Spurs. Because, well, the Spurs do play defense. They get back in transition and they don't allow many three attempts. Phoenix averages 23.9 3P attempts per game. Against the Spurs they average 16.0 (and remember one of those games went into overtime). You think that's a coincidence? Here's a clue. It's not. The Spurs allow 15% fewer three point attempts than the team second in that category. Now, take into account the Spurs have the largest margin of victory. That should lead to more three point attempts. But it doesn't. Why? Because the Spurs make it a point to prevent 3PA. You don't have to be inside the locker room to know this. Just watch how aggressively they run at shooters. Watch how they play the pick and roll. Look at the numbers.

Also make sure to check out the ongoing experiment on betting *on* the Atlanta Hawks, an idea spawned by his dislike of the aforementioned Antoine Walker...

--Most Valuable Network has expanded their NBA coverage, and Dave Isaacs has roundup of the new additions. One of those is All that Jazz, which was formerly known as Jazz Blog. It's good to see that they are targeting some established bloggers to join the fold...

--Another MVN blog, The Cavalier Act, anticipates the return of Carlos Boozer to Cleveland. While realizing with Boozer's disappointing year that the Cavs may be able to use money earmarked for Boozer more wisely, Cavs GM Jim Paxson is not off the hook for his many blunders, including the Boozer contract fiasco...

--For the best place to find NBA photos, BlazerTalk has great shots of nearly every Blazer home game. Naturally alot of visitors here will want to check out the pictures from the Bulls/Blazers game...

That's all for this week! Again, if you read or write a post that you want mentioned, send me an email.