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Comey · 07-06-2018, 05:06 AM

1988-89 NBA Playoffs – First Round
Chicago Bulls (61-21) vs Indiana Pacers (37-45)
Season Series: Chicago 4-2

The Bulls lost two of the last three they played against the Pacers, who seem to be a poor matchup for the Bulls. It starts with Andrew Edmiston, an All-NBA 2nd Teamer at PF this year. He averaged 28.0 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. For a team who has a huge defensive void at the power forward spot (ahemJoshahem), this poses a major problem.

Albert Scott, another All-NBA 2nd Teamer at SG, averaged 26.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He’s a solid defender who should lock down Gregory Escalera, and force more of the offense to run through Jack and Josh. Normally, that’s not an issue…but this team needs a solid guard option. As good as Josh Whitman is at distributing and controlling the basketball, he is not a scorer. Gayle Cruz is not a consistent scorer; neither is Escalera, but he is capable of 20 on any given night. Cruz is not.

Thankfully for Chicago, SF Dewitt Gilpin will be out for the duration of this series with a sprained knee. That throws the onus of things on guard Jason Settle, who has very little experience. It might be Indiana’s misfortune that allows Chicago to move on.

Prediction: Andrew Edmiston is going to have a hell of a series. But he’s going to have to have an otherworldly series for the Pacers to move on, given Gilpin’s injury. Jack will be able to focus on either Edmiston or Scott, forcing the other to become amazing for them to move on. I think Andrew will do it in a game, and maybe Scott in another…but the Bulls will wear them down.
PICK: Chicago in 5

Other Predictions:
4) New York over 5) Philadelphia, 3-1
2) Boston over 7) New Jersey, 3-2
3) Detroit over 6) Washington, 3-2

1) Utah over 8) Seattle, 3-0
4) Dallas over 5) Golden State, 3-1
7) Portland over 2) Phoenix, 3-2
3) Sacramento over 6) San Antonio, 3-2

Game 1: It won’t be easy. Chicago got out to a sizable lead on the Pacers, then had to pull it out late for a 119-112 victory. Jack’s 32-12-9 led everyone; he also got yet another technical foul. Gayle Cruz, ironically, scored 24 surprising points, on 12-17 shooting, while Josh and Gregory Escalera had 17 each. Bye Felicien led the reserves with eight points. Albert Scott, starting at small forward, went right at Jack, shooting 11-23 on the night for 25 points. Andrew Edmiston scored 24, while Chris Maya had 22-10-6. Merle Clift, starting at off-guard, had 13-7-4. Jack got his technical in the second half for taunting head coach Arther Hernandez. Hernandez had said that Jack would be “handled” by the Pacer defenders. After draining a three in the second half, he ran by the coach, holding out his hands. He was T’d up on the spot. It may be weaksauce, but Jack has not endeared himself to the public lately.
Bulls Lead 1-0

Game 2: There was no comeback to turn away in Game 2. Jack was focused and effective, going 10-14 from the field to lead with 30-10-11, as well as four blocks (and an emphatic one of Edmiston), as the Bulls rolled, 116-97. Josh, Cruz, and Escalera each had 16; Josh added ten boards. Whitman had 13-5-10 with just one turnover. Bye Felicien had himself a technical, which is what you want out of a guy who plays for fifteen minutes and nets four points and a steal, as well as two fouls. Smooth. Scott led Indiana with 20, on 9-19 shooting; Edmiston scored 15, with seven boards and five assists, while Marty Ginn scored 14 off the bench…on 16 shots. The Pacers shot just 41% (41-100, thanks to 14 offensive rebounds), and 0-7 from 3. By contrast, the Bulls took just 78 shots, and made 41 of theirs. They also were 7-14 from 3.
Bulls Lead, 2-0

Game 3: The series shifted to Indiana, but only for a game. Jack, still incensed at Pacers’ management, shot 11-14 from the field, going for 25-7-11. The final was 124-110, and that was after the Pacers outscored the Bulls, 42-25, in the fourth. Josh scored 22 on 10-12 shooting; Escalera had 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Cruz had 15. Sheldon Maurer scored 14 off the bench. Edmiston scored 22 on 27 shots, also picking up eight rebounds and four assists. Tod Whitlock, a little-used reserve, had 23 off the bench, while Dennis Davis scored 18 in 19 minutes off the pine. Scott had 16 and 6 rebounds.
Bulls Win Series, 3-0

Elsewhere, the Knicks swept the Sixers. So it’ll be Chicago and New York in the conference semifinal, which will make NBC very happy. New Jersey shocked Boston in four, as did San Antonio over the Kings. Utah took out Seattle in four. That meant three series went five: Dallas knocked out Golden State, while Portland did, indeed, take out second-seed Phoenix. Detroit outlasted Washington in five, as was originally thought.

Conference Semifinals
1) Chicago vs 4) New York
3) Detroit vs 7) New Jersey

1) Utah vs 4) Dallas
6) San Antonio vs 7) Portland

07-06-2018, 05:06 AM	#279
Comey College Starter Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CT via PA via CA via PA	1988-89 NBA Playoffs – First Round Chicago Bulls (61-21) vs Indiana Pacers (37-45) Season Series: Chicago 4-2 The Bulls lost two of the last three they played against the Pacers, who seem to be a poor matchup for the Bulls. It starts with Andrew Edmiston, an All-NBA 2nd Teamer at PF this year. He averaged 28.0 points and 8.8 rebounds a game. For a team who has a huge defensive void at the power forward spot (ahemJoshahem), this poses a major problem. Albert Scott, another All-NBA 2nd Teamer at SG, averaged 26.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He’s a solid defender who should lock down Gregory Escalera, and force more of the offense to run through Jack and Josh. Normally, that’s not an issue…but this team needs a solid guard option. As good as Josh Whitman is at distributing and controlling the basketball, he is not a scorer. Gayle Cruz is not a consistent scorer; neither is Escalera, but he is capable of 20 on any given night. Cruz is not. Thankfully for Chicago, SF Dewitt Gilpin will be out for the duration of this series with a sprained knee. That throws the onus of things on guard Jason Settle, who has very little experience. It might be Indiana’s misfortune that allows Chicago to move on. Prediction: Andrew Edmiston is going to have a hell of a series. But he’s going to have to have an otherworldly series for the Pacers to move on, given Gilpin’s injury. Jack will be able to focus on either Edmiston or Scott, forcing the other to become amazing for them to move on. I think Andrew will do it in a game, and maybe Scott in another…but the Bulls will wear them down. PICK: Chicago in 5 Other Predictions: 4) New York over 5) Philadelphia, 3-1 2) Boston over 7) New Jersey, 3-2 3) Detroit over 6) Washington, 3-2 1) Utah over 8) Seattle, 3-0 4) Dallas over 5) Golden State, 3-1 7) Portland over 2) Phoenix, 3-2 3) Sacramento over 6) San Antonio, 3-2 Game 1: It won’t be easy. Chicago got out to a sizable lead on the Pacers, then had to pull it out late for a 119-112 victory. Jack’s 32-12-9 led everyone; he also got yet another technical foul. Gayle Cruz, ironically, scored 24 surprising points, on 12-17 shooting, while Josh and Gregory Escalera had 17 each. Bye Felicien led the reserves with eight points. Albert Scott, starting at small forward, went right at Jack, shooting 11-23 on the night for 25 points. Andrew Edmiston scored 24, while Chris Maya had 22-10-6. Merle Clift, starting at off-guard, had 13-7-4. Jack got his technical in the second half for taunting head coach Arther Hernandez. Hernandez had said that Jack would be “handled” by the Pacer defenders. After draining a three in the second half, he ran by the coach, holding out his hands. He was T’d up on the spot. It may be weaksauce, but Jack has not endeared himself to the public lately. Bulls Lead 1-0 Game 2: There was no comeback to turn away in Game 2. Jack was focused and effective, going 10-14 from the field to lead with 30-10-11, as well as four blocks (and an emphatic one of Edmiston), as the Bulls rolled, 116-97. Josh, Cruz, and Escalera each had 16; Josh added ten boards. Whitman had 13-5-10 with just one turnover. Bye Felicien had himself a technical, which is what you want out of a guy who plays for fifteen minutes and nets four points and a steal, as well as two fouls. Smooth. Scott led Indiana with 20, on 9-19 shooting; Edmiston scored 15, with seven boards and five assists, while Marty Ginn scored 14 off the bench…on 16 shots. The Pacers shot just 41% (41-100, thanks to 14 offensive rebounds), and 0-7 from 3. By contrast, the Bulls took just 78 shots, and made 41 of theirs. They also were 7-14 from 3. Bulls Lead, 2-0 Game 3: The series shifted to Indiana, but only for a game. Jack, still incensed at Pacers’ management, shot 11-14 from the field, going for 25-7-11. The final was 124-110, and that was after the Pacers outscored the Bulls, 42-25, in the fourth. Josh scored 22 on 10-12 shooting; Escalera had 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Cruz had 15. Sheldon Maurer scored 14 off the bench. Edmiston scored 22 on 27 shots, also picking up eight rebounds and four assists. Tod Whitlock, a little-used reserve, had 23 off the bench, while Dennis Davis scored 18 in 19 minutes off the pine. Scott had 16 and 6 rebounds. Bulls Win Series, 3-0 Elsewhere, the Knicks swept the Sixers. So it’ll be Chicago and New York in the conference semifinal, which will make NBC very happy. New Jersey shocked Boston in four, as did San Antonio over the Kings. Utah took out Seattle in four. That meant three series went five: Dallas knocked out Golden State, while Portland did, indeed, take out second-seed Phoenix. Detroit outlasted Washington in five, as was originally thought. Conference Semifinals 1) Chicago vs 4) New York 3) Detroit vs 7) New Jersey 1) Utah vs 4) Dallas 6) San Antonio vs 7) Portland __________________ Last edited by Comey : 07-06-2018 at 05:07 AM.