Chicago really turned their season around post-that trade. I think Paul Pierce will put the team on his back though as expected, Chicago won't have the composure to stay with them over 7 games.

i really really hope the bulls tea bag the celtics! i think the new look bulls are under the radar and could upset the celtics. JSalmons was a big addition to the team and is one of the most under rated players in the league. Brad miller to, even though he's slow as dirt... he helps with team chemestry as he's one of the league's best passing big men.

Drose vs Rando... good match up... can't wait to see the series

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 08:08 AM ET  04.17 by AlwaysWriteNZ

Chicago really turned their season around post-that trade

yup-

They're still the Bulls. They're still the Celtics. With KG, in 4. Without, 5. KG is a non-story until the next round.

Celtics in 5, with or without Garnett!!! They don't need to fool the Bulls to move on.

Who is gonna be Boston's replacement chest pounder?

Celtics in 7. The Bulls will win one of the first 2 games in Boston and keep the series tight, but in the end, Rose is only a rookie and won't get the calls that he probably deserves.

I admire the Celtics cuz they've been able to overcome KG's loss so far. But the Bulls are a young talented team so you never know what to expect. I won't say in 7 like Atlanta did, but let's just be careful. The Celtics are winning anyway. I'd pick in 5 or 6

In the 13 games against playoff bound teams that the Celts played without KG (8-5 record, by the way), they allowed 107.5 points per game. True, it's a small sample size, and they still won the majority of those games. But the Bulls have a chance for an upset, if they can stay hot.

I'm not putting money on it, though. Hell no.

Cleveland gave up the home court record to avoid Da Bulls and so the Celtics would have to suffer. I don't see it as an upset when youth is served and the Celtics are bounced in round one.

Two words Folks, LEON POWE!!!!!! the man was a beast for us last year in the playoffs and he's been clutch in an expanded role this year. he's healthy again and ready to be the replacement KG.

The problem is that the Celtics aren't that deep in the frontcourt. Let's be honest here: Big Baby is terrible, Powe is undersized for the 4, and Moore, well, Moore isn't that great. Perkins isn't a scorer, either. Where do the points come from in the paint? If Pierce and Allen can score enough to offset, then the Celtic will easily move on. But, if Chicago pins those two down on the perimeter and dares inside shots, the Celtics are going to have some difficulty. Garnett is the anchor of that team in that he uses the inside-outside offense. Shots are going to be harder to come by. I can't see the Bulls winning, but I see a long series for the Celtics.

As the horns play....here come Garnett from the rafters (ala Willis Reed)!!! Does anyone know what is wrong with his knee. Its not like a finger, either you can make it or not, simple. Why would he come back for the Bulls. They can beat them without Garnett

A 7 game series is good in the long run for the Celtics as long as they still go through, cause the longer the series the more time KG has to try comeback, maybe he will make an appearance if there's enough time.

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 09:42 AM ET  04.17 by Homer5622

Two words Folks, LEON POWE!!!!!! the man was a beast for us last year in the playoffs and he's been clutch in an expanded role this year. he's healthy again and ready to be the replacement KG.

I like Powe, but I don't think he can be an effective starting PF in the playoffs. He's an energy guy, but he just doesn't have the scoring skills needed to make him a threat, and, ergo, draw defenses off of Allen and Pierce.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 08:39 AM ET  04.17 by beef keef

Drose vs Rando... good match up... can't wait to see the series

That is a good matchup of two young point guards who might be battling each other for a decade. There are two other good matchups: Ray Allen vs. Ben Gordon, and Paul Pierce vs. John Salmons. And they rotate Hinrich in off the bench. The Celtics' three best players will be challenged defensively early in the playoffs.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 09:38 AM ET  04.17 by rezboy

Cleveland gave up the home court record to avoid Da Bulls and so the Celtics would have to suffer. I don't see it as an upset when youth is served and the Celtics are bounced in round one.

What are you talking about???? the Cavs didn't gave up anything they had the best record in the league. and the Bulls may be hot, but realistically they wont win a 7 game series against the Celtics.

Two comments - 1) I had KG this year in my fantasy league. He is soft and not the player he used to be. 2) The Celtics have a solid bench and plenty of veterans.

While I would love to see the Bulls beat down the Celtics, have to be realistic and say that they will lose in 6. The Bulls have too many hot/cold players (Joakhim, Tyrus, Gordon), no solid defensive center, and John Salmons is playing hurt.

And Happy Friday everybody. Glad to see the message board holdovers from Yahoo haven't posted all their dumb comments yet. GO BLACKHAWKS!

I think the Bulls are capable of beating the Celtics if they play at their best. The new additons of Salmons and Miller were great. I don;t give the Celtics credit as others do for overcoming the los of KG because they have two other All-Stars on the team so to say that they have "overcome his loss" doesn't make sence. Does not having KG hurt them, yes, but it's not as bad as some think.