Brooklny Nets: A 49 win first season in Brooklyn could certainly be rated as a success, however the way to truly create long lasting memories with a fan base is by having success in the playoffs. For the Nets, their first test will be in the 4-5 matchup with the Chicago Bulls.
The Bulls have been banged up for much of the season, most notably without former MVP Derrick Rose who is recovering from a knee injury suffered last post season. The possible, albeit unlikely, return of Rose will loom over the series but even without Rose the Bulls are a more than formidable opponent for Brooklyn.
Now lets look at this matchup position by position.
Point Guards: Deron Williams (Nets) vs. Kirk Hinrich (Bulls)
When Deron Williams chose to re-sign with the Nets this offseason it was with the hopes that he could lead this team deep into the playoffs. After a season in which Williams has battled injuries, he comes into the playoffs playing by far his best ball of the year. He makes this offense go, creating shots for himself and others. While Hinrich is a solid floor general who will give Williams some problems with his defense, he should have nowhere near the impact of Williams.
Advantage: Nets
Shooting Guards: Joe Johnson (Brooklyn) vs. Jimmy Butler (Bulls)
Johnson is another Net who battled injuries this season, although he was also very inconsistent while healthy. He has shown flashes of sustained brilliance and is an incredibly important player down the stretch for the Nets as he has hit several clutch shots this season. If the Nets want to get out of the first round and have a sustained playoff run, Johnson will need to hit the open shots created for him by Williams.
Butler has emerged this year as a defensive stud and a physical presence on both ends of the floor. He will definitely give Johnson trouble and should be able to guard him without help. While he is not much on the offensive end, his defense will keep him on the court for big minutes.
Advantage: Nets
Small Forwards: Gerald Wallace (Nets) vs. Luol Deng (Bulls)
Wallace is certainly hoping that the postseason will bring about a change of fortune for him as he has undergone one of the worst seasons of his professional career. He has been a no-show offensively and it has made it hard to keep him on the court. The Nets will need his defensive presence however to slow down Deng, arguably the top weapon on this Bulls team. Deng had an All-Star year and when he gets going from the perimeter he is hard to stop. He is also a lynchpin of the Bulls outstanding defense.
Advantage: Bulls
Power Forwards: Reggie Evans (Nets) vs. Carlos Boozer (Bulls)
Both players here love to crash the boards, although none do it with the ferocity of Evans. He will certainly be good for at least one 20 rebound game this series and it will be needed with the Bulls prowess on the glass. However Evans is nonexistent offensively while Boozer’s ability to score in the post is a key for the Bulls. When Boozer is efficient on offense he makes the team exponentially better offensively, where the Bulls sometimes struggle.
Advantage: Bulls
Centers: Brook Lopez (Nets) vs. Joakim Noah (Bulls)
This is an incredibly interesting matchup featuring two of the most important players on their respective teams. Noah is the key to the Bulls strong defense as his ability to guard almost all positions while still protecting the rim and defending the post is second to none. He is also versatile offensively, especially as a passer out of the high post.
Lopez has a unique but deadly offensive game that features numerous strong moves to the basket and a reliable mid-range jump shot. The key for Lopez is to protect the rim and to hold his own on the glass. This is certainly not an easy matchup for Lopez, but he will be the biggest man on the court, giving him a chance to dominate at times.
Advantage: Push
Bench: C.J. Watson, Andray Blatche, Keith Bogans, Kris Humphries (Nets) vs. Nate Robinson, Marco Belinelli, Richard Hamilton, Taj Gibson (Bulls)
Both teams are very deep and feature even more bench options than listed above. Both teams feature strong bigs coming off the bench in Blatche and Gibson. Blatche’s offense and Gibson’s defense are the strongest aspects of these second units. Both teams also feature long distance threats off the bench in the form of Watson, Bogans, and Mirza Teletovic for the Nets and Belinelli, Hamilton, and Robinson for the Bulls.
Robinson also has the ability to get hot from beyond the arc in addition to the speed to break down opposing defenses. He is the type of bench player that could win a playoff game. For the Nets, they would love to get more out of Kris Humphries, who has been in and out of the rotation this year but has the tools to be a more effective all around player than Evans or Teletovic.
Advantage: Push
Coaching: P.J. Carlesimo (Nets) vs. Tom Thibodeau (Bulls)
Carlesimo has done an outstanding job since taking over mid-season for Avery Johnson and has been through a lot as a coach in this league. However his career playoff record is just 3-9 and he has not been a head coach in the playoffs since 1997. In addition, he is going up against one of the best young coaching minds in the league. Thibodeau always has aggressive and inventive defenses that gives teams fits. In a season without his star player in Derrick Rose, Thibodeau has done an outstanding job keeping the ship steady.
Advantage: Bulls
Final Prediction:
This will be a long and physical series as both teams possess great size and depth. In the end I believe that the Nets have the greater ability to get a bucket when they need to with more reliable scoring options. That and home court advantage should give the Nets the slight edge in this one.
Nets in 7
Sam Jackson:PureSportNY