Assuming this is based on the 2011 play-offs, people are forgetting that Rose injured his ankle prior to the Heat series (see below). Had he been healthy then it is quite possible that RPB would have been proven correct. LBJ is a freak athlete but I still don't believe he can keep up with a healthy DR.

http://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-hawks/2011/5/2/2150559/derrick-rose-ankle-injury-bulls-hawks
Derrick Rose pulled up limping at the end of the Atlanta Hawks Game 1 win against the Chicago Bulls, sending many a Bulls fan gasping. Rose says he's fine, though, telling the Chicago Sun-Times Joe Cowley that he will continue round-the-clock treatment and strap some sort of machine to his injured left ankle, no Iron Man.

Rose has struggled with that injury for a while now, so to see him re-aggravate it couldn't have been pleasant for Chicago fans. Though it might be fair of the Bulls to hold their point guard out of a game, since Atlanta is also doing so. No?

Don't expect the NBA MVP to miss any game time. He has until Wednesday night to recuperate. If nothing else, he'll have to take the floor to accept his 2011 MVP trophy, so he might as well suit up while he's there.

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You're right to bring this up, but at the same time he was also splitting double teams and dunking on Joel Anthony's head: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqPn_LUcpwE

All that more or less stopped once LeBron was on him.

_________________
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Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
T.rubisky is a bust: check
Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

3 years ago Shawn Marion shut down LBJ. Does anyone think that would happen again still?

What happened in 2011 is pretty much irrelevant at this point. It's like otherwise smart people completely throw out the rules of sample sizes when discussing LBJ and Rose.

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Sorry sir. It won't happen again.

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Don't want to stray too far from the initial argument, so I'll try and frame what I think is the key premise differently: The 6'3 Rose has issues with taller defenders who are as quick and athletic as he is. Since smart teams will stick tall, fast, athletic guys like James and Paul George on Rose in playoff games, it would serve the Bulls well to complement him with better, self-reliant scoring options so as to diversify the Bulls scoring options.

_________________
Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
T.rubisky is a bust: check
Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

This is a concern "if" they are as quick as he is. I don't agree with the premise. The only time that concern was raised was in the play-offs when he had a gimpy ankle. Prior to that the MVP had no problem getting to where he wanted to go pretty much for an entire season.

Edit: Obviously this assumes he comes back with the same quickness following the injury.

_________________
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“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

I believe LeBron is the only player in the NBA who is taller than Rose and can match his athleticism.

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Well I feel very strongly about the premise, but not enough to rule out the possibility that he occasionally can score on guys like James in the playoffs. Even if he can get his shot on at least a semi-consistent basis, it's still not advantageous to the Bulls' overall approach on offense.

I'll ask a different, but related, question: Do you think the Bulls - with Rose as the sole creator on offense - can beat teams like Miami, OKC, and San Antonio as currently constructed?

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Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
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2013 CSFMB ROY

Can? Of course. Do I believe they would be favored to win? No.
If the Bulls core stays healthy next season I think they will finish in the top 3 in the East which gives them a chance. Based upon this season, the Heat & Pacers appear to be better on paper. However, Wade's failing health and Bosh's play-off fade make the Heat less of a sure thing next year IMO. I'm not entirely sold on the Pacers either. They had a nice play-off run but their regular season play was very spotty.

_________________
“Mr. Trump is unfit for our nation’s highest office.”- JD Vance
“My god, what an !diot.”- JD Vance tweet on Trump
“I’m a ‘Never Trump’ guy”- JD Vance

I've heard far more people than not say something along the lines of "Well it looks like Indiana is better than Chicago now too"

Where does that come from? Are we saying that Rose above Nate/Kirk is not worth 5 extra wins? They were pretty close to equal with the Bulls missing their best player. It's safe to say Chicago is better than Indiana when both teams are at full strength.

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It's great for ESPN to praise LeBron James for finally winning back-to-back titles, but the narrative doesn't hold water because the league is watered down. There are too many garbage NBA basketball teams that should be contracted because they will likely never get out of the lottery. Until more superstars emerge or bad teams are able to improve the Heat will likely have an advantage until Wade's knees force him to retire.

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To me, it's all about scoring. We already know no defense can shut down LeBron when he's got at least an above-average sidekick(s) and decent tertiary players who specialize in shooting three pointers. The core of Rose, Boozer, Deng, and Noah simply isn't going to score enough to beat teams with multiple scorers like OKC and the Heat in the playoffs. In other words, 2011 was enough for me to eschew the wait and see approach I think you advocated in your post. Butler's emergence is obviously a welcome development, but I'm not sure if he's THE answer. IMO this team needs more scoring options to give them a better chance against tight, suffocating playoff defense.

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Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
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Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

I'm with you here. I'm not sold on Indy as an EC power just yet. We'll see what they do with Granger, but as of now the only clear cut power in the East is Miami. I think a healthy Rose means Chicago can earn the one seed in the playoffs, but I don't think they currently have enough to beat Miami, home court or not.

_________________
Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
T.rubisky is a bust: check
Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

They are just a Lebron James torn ACL away.

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Probably comes from the fact that The Pacers took the Heat to 7 games.

For what it's worth, I said that about the Pacers as early as December. I still think they're better.

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They were also without Danny Granger for that Heat series....

I mean, I think that's what the casual fan does. They measure by the Heat

Yup.

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Kid Cairo: 2013 March Madness Tournament Winner!

"Cowabunga? Cowa fucking piece of dog shit! This game is diarrhea coming out of my dick!"

not really sure you can say what Granger would have given you in that series, kinda on the decline...

"I want to congratulate the Blackhawks for bringing home the cup. I love the Blackhawks, they're a tough-minded team like us. Our time is coming too, very soon I promise you." - Joakim Noah

There's your answer.

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Deng
Charlotte Pick
Mirotic

Steak, Dinner, Boom

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He's a legit scoring option, that's what he would have given the Pacers.

That would have helped.

How does this trade exception work again? If it expires next month sounds like we will see some type of trade taking place, right?

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LaMarcus Aldridge Wants Out of Portland, and Hopes to Land in Chicago, Per Report

Jason McIntyre
June 26th. 2013, 6:15pm

NBA Draft rumors are in overdrive this week, but nothing has actually happened. But if LaMarcus Aldridge forces his way out of Portland, that would qualify as kind of a big deal. From the Daily Herald:

Word is, Aldridge wants to escape from Portland’s rebuilding project and has made it known that he’d like to land in Chicago.

Deng for Aldridge won’t get it done. The Blazers want Joakim Noah in return and the Bulls don’t want to give up the superior defensive big man.

Here’s one way to get Portland’s attention: Offer Deng and Charlotte’s future No. 1 pick. The Bulls are counting on that Bobcats’ pick (acquired for Thomas, ironically), to pay off big, because it’s unprotected in 2016.

Seems like a big-time longshot. I’m not sure why Aldridge would want out, seeing as Portland has a solid nucleus of the rookie of the year and Nic Batum. (Obviously, Chicago is much more loaded, but they’d have to move Heaven and Earth to get Aldridge.) Sure, there’s no bench, but the West is getting old (San Antonio, LA Lakers) and who knows if Denver and Houston and Memphis will build on their good seasons, or head the other direction. The Blazers are a good draft pick and free agent away from making a run at a playoff spot.

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If I knew Aldridge was a good defender, I would trade Noah for him. I don't think Deng will get you Aldridge because Batum is there.

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Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

Aldridge can play defense. I wouldn't trade Noah for him though. If he wants out from Portland than they aren't exactly dealing from a position of strength.

_________________
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Wow. Is this the first somewhat notable player forcing a trade to Chicago since the Jordan days?

_________________
Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
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Ben Simmons is a liability: check
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2013 CSFMB ROY

Probably. Kobe wanted to play here.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul