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

By FanSided Staff

Feb 12, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (16) shoots the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (16) shoots the ball against Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 5, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) prepares to shoot the ball between Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (16) and forward Taj Gibson (22) in the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) prepares to shoot the ball between Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (16) and forward Taj Gibson (22) in the second quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Kyrie and LeBron Will Have To Shoot More Jump Shots

The other good thing about having two big guys who have 7’ foot wing spans is that it forces Kyrie Irving and LeBron James to shoot from the outside more often than not. Not that LeBron and Kyrie are bad jump shooters, it’s just that they are more efficient when headed towards the basket rather than away from it.

Fortunately for the Bulls, the outstretched arms of Gasol and Noah will provide a shield in the lane that will be very difficult to break. Of course when one of them comes out, Taj Gibson will enter the game. So if the Cavs were planning on feasting in the paint when the Bulls starting front court takes a break they can think again.

Kyrie isn’t necessarily the best when it comes to being denied the lane. Way back when in February, where the Bulls and Cavs met in an Eastern Conference regular season match up, Kyrie was forced to shoot jumper after jumper with an outstretched hand in his face all night. He went on to shoot just 6-for-18 from the field in the Cavs loss. Now 33% from the field isn’t terrible. But when you consider it’s a good 12% less than his average, eye brows start to raise as to why the Bulls are so effective in defendingthe point guard.

I would point my finger to the Bulls big men once again. If they aren’t dishing out dimes and creating a solid flow on offense, they are playing excellent help defense. Especially with Kevin Love out for the series, the two will be able to play more help defense than normal because they don’t have to be worried about the stretch 4 knocking down any threes.

Cavaliers Response: This is going to be a problem for LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, but it’s not one that they can’t handle over the course of a series. Without Love or J.R. in the first game, the Bulls might get big heads about them and think that a Game 1 win means something. All it means is that they’ve exposed themselves to being figured out over seven games, and if more jump shots are forced, then that’s something Kyrie and LeBron will adjust to. Read more reasons why Cavaliers will beat the Bulls here.

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