The Chicago Bulls won Game 1, but there is long way to go in this series that promises to go 6 or 7 games .
The Chicago Bulls played a great game and now have home court advantage over the Kevin Love-less Cleveland Cavaliers. Derrick Rose was fantastic scoring 25, including 3-6 from the 3 point line. Pau Gasol killed the Cavs knocking down the now dreaded mid-range shot for 21 crucial points. Jimmy Butler held LeBron down, put up 20 and hit a timely 3 down the stretch. But, there are still plenty of reasons to be skeptical the Bulls can actually win the series.
1.) Derrick Rose was playing on three days rest
Derrick Rose has averaged nearly 25 on two or more days rest so far in the playoffs. On only one day, Rose is at 14. The rest of the series will be played on one day rest with the exception of game seven. Rose scored most of his points from the perimeter showing great lift on his jump shot with those fresh legs. Chasing Kyrie Irving around, plus doing everything the Bulls ask him to do running the offense is bound to wear Rose down as the series grinds on.
2.) The Bulls bench was non-existent
Lets start with Nikola Mirotic who only played two minutes. Mirotic is the Bulls best scorer of the bench yet Tom Thibodeau chose not to use him. Taj Gibson played 28 minutes, but still looked like he was battling knee soreness and had his leg rolled on in the second quarter. Aaron Brooks only played nine minutes indicating Thibodeau will continue to play Rose 40 minutes a night, again asking a lot. Kirk Hinrich was the choice over Tony Snell who did not play at all. One of the Bulls’ edges is their depth in versatility which they did not use in game one. Make Irving chase Brooks around, throw multiple looks at LeBron. Use Mirotic to spread the floor. Not using the bench more would be a mistake over a long series.
3.) J.R . Smith sat out
This series will really start come Game 3 in Chicago. Even if the Bulls win Game 2, the tenor of the series will change dramatically if the Cavs get a win with Smith back on the floor. Smith will allow Cleveland to spread the floor further. Iman Shumpert was able to score 22 shooting 10 3-pointers. Smith will have opportunities to put up his own share and score 10-15 points the Cavs desperately need.
4.) LeBron James will play better and make adjustments
Everyone knows the true coach of the Cavs is LeBron. So how does LeBron adjust to the Bulls pick and pop that killed them with Pau Gasol getting numerous open shots. Maybe James will guard Pau and recover quicker than the Cavs bigs were able to and make Pau play more in the post where James is still more physical. LeBron is also not going to score 19 and have six turnovers again despite the defensive prowess of Jimmy Butler. LeBron is not only the best player on the floor, but he is also the smartest and will not panic from one loss.
5.) Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson
Both of the Bulls bigs are still battling physical problems that won’t get better until the offseason. Noah was especially bad in game one missing a wide open lay-up that made Scottie Pippen feel pain all over.
Noah is 1 for his 12 at the free throw line and bank-missed his last attempt. The Cavs might want to consider #hackanoah if the Bulls continue to shoot as well , 50 percent from 2, 55 from 3. Noah guarding Shumpert allowed the normally 8-point scorer to get 22 firing 10 3’s. It is asking a lot of Noah to both rebound and protect the paint, but also recover to Shumpert. That plan needs adjusting. Gibson was better than Noah, but was still -13 when on the court. If Noah/ Gibson continue to play at a low level and Thibodeau doesn’t play Mirotic at the four, it will be hard for the rest of the Bulls to cover the void at power forward.