Pippen Ain't Easy
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Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview and Predictions for Chicago Bulls

By Paul Steeno

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The Playoffs are upon us, and so it seemed liked as good a time as any to offer up my predictions.

Round 1:

Atlanta Hawks (1) vs. Brooklyn Nets (8)

The Brooklyn Nets as the roster is currently constructed lack the intangibles for winning a playoff series. I look at the 2013 playoffs when the Bulls didn’t have Rose, Deng or Hinrich, Robinson was puking his guts out and the Bulls still found a way to beat Brooklyn. The Nets lack heart and that has been the reason they have never emerged as an Eastern Conference elite despite having talent on this roster. Plus, this is a 1 vs. 8 match-up so I’d be foolish to pick the 8 over the 1. The Hawks are a good team, and they will win a first round match-up in the Eastern Conference.

PREDICTION: Hawks in 6.

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Toronto Raptors (4) vs. Washington Wizards (5)

The Toronto Raptors blanked the Washington Wizards 3-0 during the 2014-2015 season series. However, the Raptors have one distinct disadvantage that will ultimately prove their undoing in this playoff series. The Toronto Raptors are undersized and lack depth in the front-court. The tandem of Marcin Gortat and Nene will have a field day in the paint, which will ultimately prove too much to overcome for the Raptors. When the playoffs roll around, referees tend to let things go and allow teams to play more physical than they had in the regular season. This physical dominance of Gortat and Nene over the Raptors front-line ultimately wins the Wizards the series.

PREDICTION: Wizards in 6.

Chicago Bulls (3) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (6)

The Bucks literally won’t have a single home game this entire series because more people show up in Milwaukee wearing red than green.

PREDICTION: Bulls in 5.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2) vs. Boston Celtics (7)

The star power in Cleveland’s possession will ultimately prove too much for a young Boston Celtics team. Before their inevitable elimination, Bulls nation would like to express their appreciation, because Boston did beat Toronto in the second to last game of the season, giving Chicago an opportunity to get the third seed.

Prediction: Cleveland in 5.

Round 2:

Atlanta Hawks (1) vs. Washington Wizards (5)

I actually think that the Wizards are going to win this match-up because John Wall and Bradley Beal have underperformed during the entire regular season, and therefore the Wizards’ record is deceptively bad. Injuries have also plagued Washington. The Wizards have more star power than the Hawks which always goes a long way towards success in the playoffs. I’m not sold on the Atlanta Hawks, and I think they will get bounced prematurely.

PREDICTION: Wizards in 7

Cleveland Cavaliers (2) vs. Chicago Bulls (3)

I actually recently wrote about this. Please read my thoughts here. Of course, I picked the Bulls.

PREDICTION: Bulls in 7.

Round 3: 

Washington Wizards (5) vs. Chicago Bulls (3)

Joakim Noah is entering the playoffs healthy (knock on wood). Derrick Rose is back. The Bulls counterattack all the Wizard’s strengths with strengths of their own (PG/SG tandem, front-court physicality). The difference is the Bulls have a deeper more talented bench, which will ultimately win the series for Chicago.

PREDICTION: Bulls in 6

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