At the point, we've got Illinois product Deron Williams against Kirk Hinrich. While Hinrich has been able to show flashes of being a competitive player as a true veteran, Williams is in a class of his own. With Rajon Rondo out for the season, Williams could very well be the best at his position right now. For all the drama he's caused with head coaches, he knows how to compete, so I'll give him the advantage. Joe Johnson will have to guard either Jimmy Butler or Rip Hamilton (I don't know who Tom Thibodeau will go with yet). He's right in the middle of those two on the age scale. Butler has had a fiery second half and Hamilton can still shoot. Johnson however has shown what he's made of during his first year in Brooklyn, reminding everyone a player of his caliber can be lethal in his prime. I would trust him at the end of a game more than Butler or Hamilton, so again, the Nets get the advantage.
The frontcourt is where the field evens itself. While Gerald Wallace has always been someone to watch out for, he's older and not as talented as Luol Deng, whom the Bulls would be completely lost without. Deng was an All-Star this year and hasn't let up in his play, so the advantage goes to him. Reggie Evans could create problems for Carlos Boozer, who despite averaging nearly a double-double this season, remains a defensive liability at times. He'll get boxed out often, but the best players in the league are twofold and Evans isn't a scorer. Even his backup, Kris Humphries, doesn't provide much relief offensively. Boozer can do both, so I'd favor him here.
The most interesting head-to-head is at center with Joakim Noah and Brook Lopez. Both are recent first-time All-Stars and intimidating forces for either team whenever they step onto the court. Look for a lot of battles down low as the two are sure to test one another plenty of times. I considered making this a wash, but then, I thought back to why I picked Carlos Boozer. Defense is great, but if you don't score, it's all for naught. Lopez averaged 19.4 points this season and just as important, he's been healthier. No one knows how Noah will perform with the recent injuries that have plagued him and that's sure to play a role here. I'll lift up Lopez's arm here.
The coaching match-up is a little easier to figure out. P.J. Carlesimo has done a superb job as interim head coach of the Nets after Avery Johnson was fired. With the Knicks not to be denied the Atlantic this year, he kept them as close to their intercity rivals as he could. He deserves major props for what he's done. Still, in the end, he's not Tom Thibodeau, who must consider the playoffs his Christmastime. These are the games he lives for and he never met an intense contest he didn't like. He rides his players hard in preparation for this and he's not about to be bounced early with the players he has. Thibodeau wins this round.
These teams are fairly even defensively and Brooklyn has a better offense. What will make the difference in this series however is experience and which coach can get the most out of his club. True, this year's Bulls are quite different from the last two, but Thibodeau refuses to lose. The Nets are back in the postseason after undergoing a complete makeover and history shows that upstart teams must pay their dues before winning a round later on. Of course, calling the Nets upstart is pushing it with all the veterans they have, but unless you've assembled a Big Three that completely changes your team's fortunes, you'll have growing pains. Williams-Johnson-Lopez are not James-Wade Bosh or Pierce-Garnett-Allen. That's why I think once the Bulls steal a game in Brooklyn, they'll have this series wrapped up. My pick is Bulls in six.
As mentioned last night, the fun begins Saturday at the Barclays Center. Don't forget to wear red when supporting the Bulls and keep your team spirit high. Bulls fans love the playoffs and these games will be entertaining. The time is now, gentleman. Earn your horns and the respect of the league.
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