Tales from the front office

[daltontr]

2022-2023 PLAYOFFS - FIRST ROUND (GAME #7)

PLAYOFF RESULTS

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        EASTERN | WESTERN
(1) ATL     (4) | (1) PHO     (4)
(8) PHI     (0) | (8) DEN     (1)

(4) ORL     (2) | (4) NOP  99 (3)
(5) BOS     (4) | (5) POR 107 (4)

(3) CHI     (4) | (3) LAL 121 (4)
(6) TOR     (1) | (6) OKC 109 (3)

(2) CHA     (4) | (2) UTA     (4)
(7) MIL     (0) | (7) SAC     (2)


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[daltontr]

2022-2023 PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS (GAME #1)

It was no surprise that Charlotte was considered heavy favorites to win this series. The Hornets have a great team and certainly equipped to compete for the title. It didn't help that Bulls Jimmy Dixon is still sidelined with an ankle injury, leaving Chicago at a decided disadvantage. So, it really came as no surprise when the Hornets won game one, but it was definitely surprising just how easily they did it. Chicago simply got outplayed in every aspect of the game and that has to be a little disheartening for Bulls fans. Chicago is the two-time defending NBA champions and most people would agree that this team is even better than the previous two championship rosters, but Charlotte may be even better. Charlotte isn't going to light up the scoreboard, but their defense is stifling, allowing only 101.5 ppg, which is second only to the Utah Jazz. It's still early in the series, but game two will be pivotal. Chicago doesn't have to win, but they do need to display the ability to win. Something they failed to do in game one.

CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS / GAME 1 (Spectrum Center)

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      Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F
CHI | 17 | 32 | 26 | 23 | -- |  98
CHA | 27 | 28 | 34 | 26 | -- | 115 


PLAYOFF RESULTS

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        EASTERN | WESTERN
(1) ATL 123 (1) | (1) PHO 131 (1)
(5) BOS 109 (0) | (5) POR 117 (0)

(3) CHI  98 (0) | (3) LAL 106 (1)
(2) CHA 115 (1) | (2) UTA  97 (0)


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[daltontr]

2022-2023 PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS (GAME #2)

With Derrick Favors out with an abdominal strain and Jimmy Dixon still missing from the Bulls starting five, the undermanned Bulls were simply over matched in the second half and the Hornets easily pulled away in the third quarter, leading by as much as twenty-five points. Favors is likely lost for the remainder of the series and Dixon's status for game three is still uncertain. So, there isn't a lot of optimism in the Bulls locker room right now. However, Vegas odds makers have the Bulls as a very slight favorite, as the two teams head back to the United Center for game three. Although most people can't agree on who will win game three, everyone can agree that if it isn't Chicago, there will be no three-peat.

CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS / GAME 2 (Spectrum Center)

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      Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F
CHI | 26 | 27 | 20 | 20 | -- |  93
CHA | 25 | 29 | 35 | 22 | -- | 111 


PLAYOFF RESULTS

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  EASTERN | WESTERN
(1) ATL 108 (2) | (1) PHO 123 (2)
(5) BOS  94 (0) | (5) POR 112 (0)

(3) CHI  93 (0) | (3) LAL 109 (1)
(2) CHA 111 (2) | (2) UTA 116 (1)


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[daltontr]

2022-2023 PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS (GAME #3)

Chicago reminded everyone just why they are the two-time defending NBA Champions, as they went out and totally dismantled the Hornets 123-97. This game was never close and the Bulls led 62-43 at the half. Although a lot was being made of Jimmy Dixon's return to the lineup, it was clear he wasn't 100%. Dixon only scored 3 points and was limited to 27 minutes of play. Regardless, Dixon's teammates made up for his lack of scoring, with Kyrie Irving leading the way with 35 points and 14 assists. Robertson added 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds and Hachimura and LaVine combined for an additional 40 points. The Bulls shot 58% from the field, 50% from three and 100% from the free throw line, although they only shot nine total free throws. Optimistic Bulls fans will be thrilled with the performance, but the pessimists will point out that those are some pretty lofty numbers and it's unlikely they can continue that torrid shooting against one of the best defenses in the league. Game four is going to be critical.

CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS / GAME 3 (United Center)

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      Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F
CHA | 22 | 21 | 32 | 22 | -- |  97
CHI | 34 | 28 | 25 | 36 | -- | 123 


PLAYOFF RESULTS

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  EASTERN | WESTERN
(1) ATL 100 (2) | (1) PHO 118 (2)
(5) BOS 134 (1) | (5) POR 122 (1)

(3) CHI 123 (1) | (3) LAL 102 (1)
(2) CHA  97 (2) | (2) UTA 110 (2)


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[daltontr]

2022-2023 PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS (GAME #4)

If you only look at the box score, you might think this game was a lot closer than it actually was, because what it doesn't show you is the 22 point lead the Bulls squandered in the second half. However, Kyrie Irving would not be denied and posted his first triple-double of the playoffs, with 42 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Jimmy Dixon also returned to form, scoring 19 points and grabbing 8 rebounds, but what is most encouraging about this game was the fact that the Bulls finally found a way to slow down the Hornets Tony Neeser. In the first three games of the series, Neeser was virtually unstoppable, scoring 39, 34 and 42 points respectively. In game four, the Bulls limited Neeser to 14 points and 5 rebounds and that was a key component to the Bulls victory. The series now shifts back to Charlotte for a game five that might just determine who wins the series.

CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS / GAME 4 (United Center)

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      Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F
CHA | 28 | 27 | 24 | 23 | -- | 102
CHI | 32 | 34 | 27 | 22 | -- | 115 


PLAYOFF RESULTS

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  EASTERN | WESTERN
(1) ATL 104 (3) | (1) PHO 117 (3)
(5) BOS  99 (1) | (5) POR 106 (1)

(3) CHI 115 (2) | (3) LAL 108 (2)
(2) CHA 102 (2) | (2) UTA  89 (2)


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[daltontr]

2022-2023 PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS (GAME #5)

Returning home to the Spectrum Center, Charlotte were a decided 3-2 favorite to win the game, but the Bulls outscored the Hornets 31-18 in the third quarter and held on to steal game five 102-94. Statistically speaking, the game was close throughout the entire first half, but the Hornets came out of the halftime break a little flat and the Bulls took full advantage. Zach LaVine led all scorers with 29 points and all five Bulls starters scored in double figures. Once again, the key to the Bulls victory was the defensive pressure being applied to Tony Neeser. Neeser was held to 17 points and 6 rebounds in defeat and it looks like Bulls Head Coach Randy Wittman may have finally discovered the key to defeating the Hornets. The United Center will be buzzing as the series moves back to Chicago for game six.

CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS / GAME 5 (Spectrum Center)

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      Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F
CHI | 18 | 28 | 31 | 25 | -- | 102
CHA | 24 | 28 | 18 | 24 | -- |  94 


PLAYOFF RESULTS

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  EASTERN | WESTERN
(1) ATL 120 (4) | (1) PHO 126 (4)
(5) BOS 101 (1) | (5) POR 110 (1)

(3) CHI 102 (3) | (3) LAL  92 (2)
(2) CHA  94 (2) | (2) UTA 105 (3)


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[daltontr]

2022-2023 PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS (GAME #6)

Despite Kyrie Irving's heroic 50 point performance, there will be a game seven. Although there were only four lead changes, the Hornets led by as much as 19 points in the second half and if not for Kyrie, the game would not have been as close as it was. The Hornets simply decided that if they couldn't stop Kyrie, they would stop everyone else and the strategy worked. Besides Kyrie and Derrick Favors, who returned to the Bulls bench, not a single player on the Chicago roster scored any where near their average. It was a testament to just how good the Hornets can be on defense. Heading back to Charlotte for the series deciding game seven, the Hornets will be favored to advance to the Conference Semi-Final, but the Bulls have defeated the Hornets on their home court, so it really is anyone's game.

CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS / GAME 6 (United Center)

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      Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F
CHA | 31 | 25 | 28 | 35 | -- | 120
CHI | 26 | 24 | 31 | 31 | -- | 112 


PLAYOFF RESULTS

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  EASTERN | WESTERN
(1) ATL     (4) | (1) PHO     (4)
(5) BOS     (1) | (5) POR     (1)

(3) CHI 120 (3) | (3) LAL 127 (3)
(2) CHA 112 (3) | (2) UTA  97 (3)


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[daltontr]

2022-2023 PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS (GAME #7)

The dream is over and there will be no three-peat for the Bulls, but it wasn't for a lack of trying. Five Chicago players finished the game in double-figures, but Hornets point guard Marlin Taylor was virtually unstoppable, recording his best game of the playoffs, scoring 31 points, with 10 rebounds and 9 assists. However, this game won't be remembered for Taylor's performance, but rather for the clearly lopsided fouls. Even Hornet fans would have to admit that they got more than a little "Home Cooking." As the Hornets shot 30 free throws to the Bulls 12, but the real damage came when the refs fouled out Kyrie Irving after only 24 minutes of play. If this game had been played in Chicago, there would have been a riot and it definitely felt like Tim Donaghy had returned to the officiating ranks. It's one thing to lose, but to lose in that fashion really stings and it won't be soon forgotten.

CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS / GAME 7 (Spectrum Center)

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      Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4   OT    F
CHI | 27 | 23 | 25 | 23 | -- |  98
CHA | 35 | 34 | 16 | 24 | -- | 109 


PLAYOFF RESULTS

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  EASTERN | WESTERN
(1) ATL     (4) | (1) PHO     (4)
(5) BOS     (1) | (5) POR     (1)

(3) CHI  98 (3) | (3) LAL 114 (3)
(2) CHA 109 (4) | (2) UTA 117 (4)


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[daltontr]

2022-2023 PLAYOFFS - CONFERENCE FINALS

PLAYOFFS (CONFERENCE FINALS)

PLAYOFF TREE

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EASTERN CONFERENCE
     GAME 1     |    GAME 2   |    GAME 3   |    GAME 4   |    GAME 5   |    GAME 6   |    GAME 7   |
(1) ATL  93 (0) | ATL 109 (0) | ATL  89 (0) | ATL 102 (0) |
(2) CHA 103 (1) | CHA 127 (2) | CHA 101 (3) | CHA 110 (4) |

WESTERN CONFERENCE
     GAME 1     |    GAME 2   |    GAME 3   |    GAME 4   |    GAME 5   |    GAME 6   |    GAME 7   |
(1) PHO 110 (1) | PHO  85 (1) | PHO  77 (1) | PHO  91 (1) | PHO 125 (2) | PHO 111 (3) | PHO 112 (4) |
(2) UTA 103 (0) | UTA 100 (1) | UTA 103 (2) | UTA 111 (3) | UTA 115 (3) | UTA 104 (3) | UTA 109 (3) |

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[daltontr]

2022-2023 PLAYOFFS - NBA FINALS

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     GAME 1     |    GAME 2   |    GAME 3   |    GAME 4   |    GAME 5   |    GAME 6   |    GAME 7   |
(1) PHO  98 (0) | PHO 109 (1) | PHO 113 (2) | PHO 101 (2) | PHO 114 (3) | PHO 126 (4) |
(2) CHA 116 (1) | CHA 103 (1) | CHA 102 (1) | CHA 118 (2) | CHA 103 (2) | CHA 123 (2) |

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