NBA Playoffs 2015: 10 reasons Chicago Bulls will beat Cleveland Cavaliers

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Oct 31, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) blocks the shot of Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

No Love from Kevin Love

I’ll come right out and say it. Kevin Love not being in the lineup is a huge advantage for the Bulls. Despite being the Donny to LeBron and Kyrie’s respective The Dude and Walter, Love is a huge piece to the Cleveland Cavaliers roster. He forces the defense to stretch the floor, is an excellent rebounder, and is he most consistent post defender the Cavs have.

Don’t get me wrong, any team that involves LeBron James will be the most difficult challenge the Bulls will face in the Eastern Conference. But with the absence of Love, the Bulls may just have a fighting chance.

The Bull’s All Star big man in Pau Gasol is going to have an absolute field day in the post. Who is going to guard the double-double machine once Tristan Thompson goes to the bench? If LeBron does that leaves Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose to be defended by the rest of the Cavaliers team that is growing thinner and thinner each day.

Not to mention that the Bulls’ rebounding woes will evaporate with the disappearance of Kevin Love.

Allowing too many offensive rebounds has been somewhat of an Achilles heel down the stretch for the Bulls. But with Love gone, they just patched that problem right up without having to do anything at all.

Unless Tristan Thompson can somehow grow into a full time starter caliber player in the next week or so, I can see the Bulls taking full advantage of the absence of Love. Gasol is going to get his numbers in the post. The Bulls are going to rebound just fine. And the Bulls are going to take the Cavs by storm in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Cavaliers Response: The loss of Kevin Love is going to be a pain, but the Cavaliers have players who can step up for him and replace his production in a variety of ways. It’s not going to be an easy task, but it’s something that is going to be possible thanks to some of the veteran talent the Cavaliers have on the bench. Who will those players be? Check out the 10 Reasons Cavaliers Will Beat Bulls to find out. Read more reasons why Cavaliers will beat the Bulls here.

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