MexSoxFan#1

QUOTE (kev211 @ Jan 3, 2012 -> 03:07 AM) NBA League Pass Free Preview is awesome. Fixed I got it last year but I'll wait for the playoffs package, there will be enough Bulls games on ESPN, TNT and ABC.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 05:28 PM) If this is the case, then the Bulls REALLY have no shot. If your best player can't consistently get to the cup and either get to the line or get your 'mates open shots, you're done. I chalked up last year's performance to Rose being extremely young and possibly not being 100% physically. But if he can't beat LeBron off the dribble, sorry, they have no chance. And that's a guarantee I agree with your post but I DO think Rose can beat LBJ to the rim, we'll just have to wait and see this year with a more mature, agressive and most importantly, healthy Rose.

QUOTE (SoxFanForever @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 04:21 PM) How is a team that goes 15-1, outscores their opponents by over 200 points over the course of the season and just beating another playoff team with mostly their reserves on the decline? I understand that since this is a Sox board there are a lot of Bears fans. However, I'd like to hear some reasoning for this "decline" other than just stating it as fact without any actual explanation. The regression on the Packers D can be attributed to a few factors in my mind. First, they lost one of the best safeties in the league in Nick Collins which I believe someone else mentioned earlier. Also, they lost Cullen Jenkins at DE who had a very nice end of the year last year. Without Jenkins getting pressure from the D-line it gives teams a lot more freedom to double guys like Matthews and Raji. Raji has not regressed much in my mind. The issue is that he is getting doubled up a lot and is being forced to play more of a run stuffing role than a pass rushing role. Despite the fact that they are giving up a lot of yardage they still lead the league in interceptions. Also, you do realize that the Saints will have to play outside if they face the Packers in the NFC Championship, right? The same Saints who are 5-3 on the road and 3-2 in outdoor games. The same Saints who haven't scored 40 points outside in one game this year (including the season opener in much nicer weather conditions than it will be in January). The Packers are 8-0 at home and 12-1 outdoors this season. As I said before, they lead the league in interceptions. Brees has already thrown 14 picks this season. He is also much more mortal outdoors vs indoors. Just something to think about before crowning the Saints. Nobody is saying the Packers suck, all we are saying is that the Packers won last year not only because of Rodgers, the defense was was really really good.They never trailed by more than a TD last year, this year the Packers D has given up a ton of points and the O has carried them. Sure the Pack can win by outscoring the other team in a shootout but a team like the Saints or like someone else pointed out, the Giants with their solid D and competant offense, can upset the Packers. I think a lot of people are underrating how good the Packers D was last year and how important they were to their SB run, it wasn't all just Rodgers.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 04:43 PM) I'd say that Rose actually made a mistake by trying to take Lebron on, he can't do that. The guy is almost as fast as Rose but is also half a foot taller and what, 75 pounds more? He needs to be able to go to other people if Lebron alone is going to try to shut down Rose. Balta, Rose was hampered by a bum ankle, he was hurt in the Pacers series, it slowed him down, LBJ is fast for his size but he isn't that quick/fast.Believe me, just like Kevin Johnson gave MJ fits (MJ was a superior wing defender to LBJ), there is no way a 100% healthy Rose can't beat LBJ off the dribble. You do make a good point though, Rose would need to take it to LBJ and kick out to an open man, just like he did in one of the reg season game last year when he sucked in LBJ and kicked out to Deng who hit an open 3 that won the game.

I would also like to add that Cole looks good so far but in no way way is he going to nullify the Bulls PG advantage, I'll take a risk and say Rose>>>>Cole. You have to remember that Rose was 22 last year and never went that deep in the playoffs before, he can take LBJ on, he'll be more aggressive this time and attack him instead of taking fade away jumpers.Let Rose develope, kid is still learning the game and has been improving every year.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 03:16 PM) You need to put that Bulls crack pipe down. Under no circumstance, outside of injury, can this Bulls team beat a Miami team playing at an optimal or near optimal level. The Bulls advantage at C is nullified because Miami can just go with either Bosh/Haslem, Haslem/Bosh at the 4/5 and be just fine. As far as depth goes, I don't know if this Norris Cole character is for real or not, but if he is, that advantage goes out the window as well. Once Battier gets acclimated, you have a bench of Cole, Battier, Haslem, Jones, Miller (though he has to prove he's healthy). We'll just have to see, I'm not ready to give the title to Miami.You also need to put your Heat crack pipe down, I'm not buying the Heat are unbeatable argument, hell yeah they can be beat.Micheal Jordan was really the only player you could say was unbeatable.James is nowhere near that level or else he would've won a title already.The Bulls have a bigger upside, they are younger and deeper and now have deep playoffs expirience. If that Mavs team can beat Miami, then they definitely can be beaten.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 03:16 PM) I don't know if that can win a super bowl, but if you fortify the running game with an extra back and add in a possession WR to help bail out Tebow, Denver's formula ought to be able to put out a decent number of wins. The NFL is a throwing league, Tebow is a weak armed innacurate passer.It's over for Timmy.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 03:12 PM) If you were in John Elway's seat and you had a pick around #21, an 8-8 team, and the option to do whatever you wanted without the fans killing you, would you draft a late first round QB, would you sign a FA, or would you go with Tebow? Draft...no team would let a capable QB go FA and Tebow is just not an option.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 03:01 PM) No way in hell it is over, he gets next season as full time starter. Im not saying it is justified, but it will happen "Tebow led the Broncos to the playoffs" will be the rally call. And it will be that largely misinforming statement that will get him next season. If that happens, and Elway would be an idiot to let it happen, they could easily go 3-13 if they are dumb enough to let him start every game.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 02:50 PM) No way I can see Elway making that move. Redskins, 100 percent. I think Elway will let this Tebow thing go on until people realize he is not a fit NFL QB(i know, such a hater I am), then he will get his franchise QB via draft. The Tebow experiment is over, teams have figured the scrub out and he will do next to nothing vs the Steelers.

QUOTE (zenryan @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 01:54 PM) I wonder which team will be dumb enough to overspend on Matt Flynn. Redskins or Broncos.

I liked Green Bay better last year, it may sound crazy but they were better at 10-6 than this year's 15-1 team.They were better balanced, really good offense with a really good D, this year they have a great offense with a D that gives up a lot of points. They can certainly win it all again this year but you can score on their D, stopping them enough to beat them will be the problem.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 12:25 PM) Their D-ends would scare everyone. Umenyiora, Tuck, and Pierre-Paul. The Chiefs showed that the way to slow down GB is to get tons of pressure on Rodgers, and those 3 guys can easily wreak havoc. That would work against any offense in the league;)

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 11:07 AM) Bulls beat a Bynum-less Lakers team. If both are playing their best, the Bulls will not beat the Heat. We just got to hope that if/when we play the Heat, they don't play up to their potential. To be fair, Rose wasn't the same after his ankle injury he suffered vs the Pacers, and Noah was ineffective after his hand injury, he didn't even play the 4th qtr in those playoff games, the Bulls advantage is in the PG and C position vs the Heat and with those players hampered, that nullified the Bulls advantage.I really believe the Bulls playing their best vs the Heat playing their best, it won't be a Heat 4-1 playoff victory again.The Bulls can beat Miami, they are bigger and deeper.Korver won't suck again, he missed a ton of open looks, at least I hope not.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 10:47 AM) Wisconsin in January >>> Tennessee in late November. Will also affect GB's offense too.

Nowhere to go but up. I hope his son is better but it's because of Dunn's suckitude (and Rios/Peavy) that we no longer have MB.

I feel sorry for the little boy who is a Cubs fan, the kid is headed for a life of baseball frustrations.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 10:32 AM) The last time they played outside, it was a 50-60 degree sunny day in Tennessee, and they only put up 22. Tenn D>GB D

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 10:27 AM) This Wolves team is actually pretty damn good. They've been in every game so far and a lot of the games were against tough opponents. Basketball-Prospectus had the Wolves as the 8th seed in their pre-season predictions. I'd think they have a legit shot at the playoffs right now. Especially since Randolph could be out for a while for the Grizzlies. I was just messing with Felix

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jan 1, 2012 -> 10:58 PM) Let's see: Boozer is trying on Defense. Korver has looked like he's improved his ball handling. Brewer has clearly worked on his shot. Bogans became Rip. Butler is there to spell guys. Rose's vision and playmaking for others has improved too. ... Where's the weakness? But...they aren't athletic enough BTW, the Heat are 5-0 but aside from a very different Mavs team and a Pierce-less Celtics, they haven't really impressed me...Bulls beat the Lakers, Clippers and Grizzlies, teams that are supposed to make some noise in the WC.

QUOTE (Felix @ Jan 2, 2012 -> 08:33 AM) Between him and Rubio, the Wolves are becoming a truly entertaining team to watch. I strongly recommend giving them a shot with the free League Pass preview to anyone that hasn't watched them yet. Or just watch this: Other than the hair and I guess the flair on the court, he's not really that similar to Maravich at all. I'll watch them the next time they get a Chicago Bulls beatdown;)

IMO, the NFC team with the best chance to knock off the Pack are the Saints.They'll put up a ton of points on GB's defense, even in Lambeau.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jan 1, 2012 -> 06:42 PM) And his team is going to the playoffs. SMH... Don't worry, Broncos will be one and done and Elway will be able to tell Denver Tebow fans, "I told you so..."

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Dec 30, 2011 -> 06:10 PM) Well, to be fair, I was sick 90% because it was Chris Berman saying "Tebow" and 10% because they rhymed "Tebowing" with "Chemoing" Rhyming chemo to Tebow is what I found disgusting, like they were having fun with it...an aunt of mine recently had chemotherapy, it wasn't a fun ride for her and she still passed away.

Hate to see CQ leave , best o luck!