The Chicago Bulls (49-16) will close their truncated regular season against the Cleveland Cavaliers (21-44) in Chicago Friday night. With all the mentions of it around the internet, most of you already know the game is important because a win assures the Bulls of the number one overall seed –a San Antonio Spurs loss would accomplish the same thing. However, I think the game is even more important than it’s being given credit for. Why? It’s because the San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls could end up in the finals opposite one another. While I’ll admit fan bias can be looked at as a reason I want to see the Bulls in the finals, I sincerely think they are a viable finals pick.
The Spurs are too. Aside from points made about Chicago having the deepest/best bench in the league– which is probably true– the improving health of the Bulls is an important concept to be aware of. When you are 49-16 despite your reigning MVP missing 26 of those games, you really have to be pleased. This team is deep, unselfish, and (getting) healthy. They’re pretty good too. All these signs point to good things to come.
I think there is a substantial gap in the elite teams –Chicago, Miami Heat, Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder — and the remainder of the league. The only exception might be the improved play of the Boston Celtics. The New York Knicks are a nice dark horse candidate as well given their current line of successes. Playoff predictions are for another day though. This piece is arguing why this final regular season game is important.
One fact that has seemed to get overlooked is how good the Bulls play on the road (24-9 –good for best in the league). Of the 16 playoff teams, only seven have winning road records. The Spurs are no slouches on the road, either (21-11). However, they’re also 28-5 at home. The moral of the story is you’d rather have home-court advantage. Not because you can’t win on the road, but because the Spurs win so regularly at home. You’re better off limiting them to three games at home. While this is almost always true, it is especially true for a veteran team that is about as hot as they could be and play exceptionally well in San Antonio.
I’m not making light of teams like the Thunder or the Heat (or anyone else). It’s just that as you look at the teams in the hunt, there is a substantial chance the Bulls and Spurs meet in the finals– and the point of the article is in the context of that happening. If they do meet, the Bulls would be in a lot better shape to limit the Spurs to three game at home.
Moral: Beat Cleveland.
Brian is a lifelong Chicago Bulls fan, having lived in Illinois his entire life and having followed the NBA throughout.
Sources
Bulls/Cavs Pregame
NBA Standings
Derrick Rose Stats
What do you guys think about this.
