Atfer Rose injury, might as well crown Heat champs

[dfberger23]

Bulls were the only team that had a chance to stop them, especially with home court advantage. Heat will sweep Knicks and Pacers and will be facing a tired Celtics team in the conference finals. Don't see anyone out west challenging the Heat.

It was about time anyway.

[DudleyDawson]

Celtics were going to the finals even before Rose's injury

[bettilimbroke999]

Agreed, the Heat win

They will finish raping the Knicks and Pacers, then rape either Atlanta, Celtics or Bulls in ECF, then rape either SA or OKC in finals

[bettilimbroke999]

Celtics were going to the finals even before Rose's injury

I doubt Celtics get out of round 1

[d2bets]

Bulls will still make ECF. Old Celtics can't beat them. Bulls beat them without Rose a few weeks ago.

Nobody else will say it because it seems ridiculous to say, but it's not impossible that the Bulls could still make and win the Finals without Rose. Still a complete team. CJ is not bad at all. Rip is playing really well. Chances went down a lot, but it wouldn't completely shock me. Let the flaming ensue...

[KingJD31]

I can see Celtics beating them depending on rondo health

[ttwarrior1]

who cares if heat win, got our satisfaction last year when dallas whipped them. Eventually the traitor was gonna get a championship
Can't wait to see him cry , put his hands over his head and say i did it, oops. i mean we did it

[d2bets]

I don't think the Heat can beat OKC if that ends up the matchup.

[rm18]

Bulls are still contenders but IMO they need to stop playing Rip Hamilton

[d2bets]

Bulls are still contenders but IMO they need to stop playing Rip Hamilton

Huh?

Rip scored 19 points on 7 shots today. Pretty efficient. Rip averaging 14.2 in the last 10 games shooting 50% only playing like 24 mpg. Over a 36 minute average he's be scoring 21-22 points per game.

[rm18]

Even after the injury is he is their 9th best player, plus you got to give John Lucas a few minutes you need to shorten up the rotation.

[d2bets]

Even after the injury is he is their 9th best player, plus you got to give John Lucas a few minutes you need to shorten up the rotation.

What are you basing this one? Rip is playing his best ball of the season. Lucas is a PG. He will now backup Watson. Has zero to do with Rip's minutes. Rip shares with Brewer and Korver, who also picks up some Deng minutes. Not going to change. Rip will play 25-28 minutes per game regardless. If Rip plays less that just means more minutes for Brewer.

[rm18]

I meant Rip is better than Lucas but lucas has to play some, Gibson should backup at the 3 and Korver should play 35 minutes

[d2bets]

I meant Rip is better than Lucas but lucas has to play some, Gibson should backup at the 3 and Korver should play 35 minutes

None of that makes any sense. Lucas is a PG only and Rip is not a point guard at all. Their minutes are completely unrelated. Gibson is not a 3. And if he backed up the 3 that would mean less minutes for Korver. Gibson cculd back up at 5, not 3. I like Korver, but not for 35 minutes. He's high effort, always moving. 25 minutes give or take is right for him.

[D3 Mighty Ducks]

The NBA playoffs has been officially ruined now with this injury. Heat vs OKC is your most obvious but likely Finals.

[kfranz31]

sell the house and the cars lay it all on the heat to win it....

[Pivotpoint]

I meant Rip is better than Lucas but lucas has to play some, Gibson should backup at the 3 and Korver should play 35 minutes

Rip has been playing great. Has a ton of experience, consistent scorer and plays rock solid defense. I was initially discouraged when he first came back. He looked awfully tenative. No longer. He really frustrates the people he guards and I've been impressed with his play. Guys kicking his game up in the playoffs as a veteran should.

Hate to say anything bad about Lucas. Kid has a small stature, but has a big heart. He can get hot shooting, but usually kills the Bulls offensive mojo. Holds the ball to long, rarely drives to drag the defense in and open up 3's. Bulls pick and roll almost non-existent when he's on the floor. In the playoffs he will quickly be isolated and exposed on defense, adding to his liability.

I in no way would count the Bulls out. Feel horrible for Rose, but the Bulls are deep and missing Rose isn't something new to them. It will be much tougher for them to keep advancing, but I can't wait to pounce on value here if the public underestimates the Bulls.

[jsmithj88]

Bulls are still contenders but IMO they need to stop playing Rip Hamilton

how the hell are the bulls contenders anymore?
they are now 100% to NOT win the title now

[Sportsbetting123]

Makes me ill to think about Miami as champs. I hope Lefraud rips his acl

[manny24]

berger no!...OKC is built to win now.

[RonPaul2008]

If the Heat even get to the Finals they will get owned by either San Antonio or Oklahoma City.

[pronk]

You forgot one thing- Lequit is a choke artist; his father was quitter, his stepfather was quitter, this yoyo was born to quit! It's sounds so poetic.