The Bulls now have a 10 1/2 game lead in the division. I think that race is officially over now. The Pacers are not going to catch them.

They are currently 3rd in the East and are only a game a half behind the Heat for the 2nd spot. Hopefully Miami's injuries are more serious so the Bulls can gain some ground and possibly overtake them. The difference between the 2nd and 3rd seeds in the east is going to be huge in a first round matchup. 3rd will have to play NY or Atlanta, while 2nd will get to play the Phil/Ind/Charlotte/Milwaukee poo poo platter.

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Even if it's a NY or ATL Round 1 matchup, you have to beat either of those two teams. Yes, it's the difference of a guaranteed pass to Round 2 or a potential tough matchup, but the sights this season have to go beyond Round 1. Lose in Round 1 and the season was a waste.

I think the seed plays a bigger role in Round 2 where home court is at stake for the matchup with Miami or Boston.

I agree with your thoughts. But still, you want to have that easy first round matchup and not have to play a 6 or 7 game series in the first round. Home court in the 2nd round is also very important. You make some good points.

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I would prefer to have the more difficult team out of the way ASAP. As long as the Bulls stay healthy I don't see them having too much of an issue beating NY in the first round, if need be.

Personally, I'd rather this Bulls team not have to face New York or Atlanta. We've already seen that they do not match up well with the Knicks at all for some reason. Atlanta's perpetually stuck where they are, but they do have that "upset" element to them. They took Boston to 7 games in '08 the year that Boston won the championship. It's best if they could avoid facing either of those two teams.

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Despite my previous post, this is the ideal situation.

All things being equal, sure, it would be great to face the Pacers or the Bucks in Round 1 instead of New York. I'm just saying that if the Bulls can't beat Hawks or Knicks in Round 1 (assuming Noah, Boozer, Rose, et. al.) are healthy, it means the team is still not where most of reasonably believe they are.

I just wonder what moves they will make before the deadline. Is a decent SG with a workable contract within reach?

My thought is that they aren't there yet. That's why I wouldn't be very comfortable with either of those matchups. I'd feel better if their team defense was better in key stretches.

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It seems that Hamilton is done in Detroit, but the Bulls should want nothing to do with that contract. He's had 4 straight DNP-CD's and will probably be moved before the deadline. O.J. Mayo really seems to be in the doghouse in Memphis, and from what I saw yesterday against the Bulls, I don't know if he would be much of an improvement. The only other name out there is J.R. Smith, and that would also be a huge gamble. The best move for the Bulls might be to not make a move at all, unless some other name surfaces before the trade deadline.

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I see this as the likely scenario. Paxson doesn't want J.R. Smith here and he has a certain need to have "character" guys on the Bulls, which is why Tyrus Thomas isn't still here.

I wish there was a way of getting B. Gordon back.

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Oy vey... no thank you.

I probably don't really mean that. I just like the concept of having a guy who could reliably hit an open shot. Gordon was the last guy here who could do it. As the saying goes, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

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Is Courtney Lee an upgrade? Decent from the 3pt line, but does he play defense?

I don't. Gordon needed the ball to succeed, and that would've hindered the development of Rose. Now Kurt Heinrich is who the Bulls could use.

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And that's what I remember when my basketball logic sets in. There's a reason that he and Rose did not mesh well during Derrick's rookie year...Ben was constantly breaking down the offense instead of just letting Derrick do what he does.

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I wouldn't mind having a player of Korver's ilk on the floor at all times. Any chance we could take a Reddick or a Rush away from their respective teams?

Has there been any more talk about Mayo being traded? I thought he might be the best option.

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Brandon Rush is a decent player. I'd rather have him than Mayo. Mayo's a head-case.

Pacers picked up next year's option on Rush for $2.9mil. I'm not so sure they're looking to move him this year.

Redick just signed new paper last summer...something like 3 years / $20mil. His price tag is too high right now.

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IMO the Knicks will be a play-off failure. The run & gun style of ball doesn't translate well. Orlando is the team that seems to give the Bulls fits.

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Right now they are at 28-13, and have played 41 games, so they are 50% of the way through their season. To get to 60, they would have to go 32-9 in their final 41. I don't think that's going to happen. They will probably finish somewhere around 55-58 wins.

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Courtney Lee can play defense, and yes he is an upgrade.

I agree with NSJ's unitial reaction. I wouldnt mind seeing NY or ATL at all in the postseason. The fact is, if the Bulls lose a series to either team it will be a good wakeup call to all of us just how far this team is away. However, I think we will easily get by either team and the only team I dont think Chicago can beat if completely healthy is Boston.

Rush is decent but I dont see why the Pacers would give him up considering they are rebuilding and need him also.

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If at full strength there isn't a team that I don't think the Bulls can beat. I would really like to see Korver in the starting lineup. He can spread the floor to allow Rose to go to work. Right now other teams don't respect Bogans or Brewer shot. Coach T seems to trust Korver enough at the end of games to leave him on the floor but for some reason he is being stubborn about Bogans.

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I like Teyshaun Prince. He can run the floor. He doesnt need the ball but he can score on the break and he can shoot the three. descent on defense too. Great team guy.

I wouldn't go that far... I think they'll be a second round out. That said, I'd absolutely love to see them have a 3/6 or 4/5 matchup against the lower-seeded Knicks. Otherwise, I just can't help but PHEAR that having the athletically/sporadically-mentally challenged LOL DENG as your #3 guy spells doom. If d-rose or boozer doesn't go off, the odds are lamentably good that LOL DENG is gonna pull some 3-13 type night off of his ass, blowing 5 open jumpers and having three turnovers off of forced drives. LOL DENG is a bum and easily frustrates me more than any other chicago athlete of recent vintage.

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I agree with this - I would love to see a C Lee/Brewer rotation at SG. Lee is the outside shooter that Brewer isnt but both can get it done on D.

Bulls now have a 12 1/2 game lead in the division, and can extend it to 13 1/2 with a win tonight. At this rate, they might have the division clinched by the All Star Break.

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Bullssss....

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I've been pissed that Noah isn't coaching his backups from the sideline. What a quitter.

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Not enough emotion from that guy. I wan't him up, clapping with his cast on every scoring play...

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He should be gone. The team doesn't need this kind of non-caring douche on the roster. The Kurt Thomas era is here to stay.

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