Sixers-Bulls Preview: Can The Sixers Pull Off The Upset?

It seems as though the Flyers have commanded all the Playoff attention, and rightfully so.


But it is time to turn your heads, Philadelphia, the Sixers are in the NBA Playoffs.


The Sixers have not made it past the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs since the 2000-2001 season, the year they made it to the NBA Finals. As I recall, Allen Iverson hit the game winning shot, then proceeded to practically teabag and step over the Lakers Tyronn Lue. 


The rest of the series, and the past 10 years have basically been a blur, marked by coaching change after coaching change, a really bad Glenn Robinson, the Allen Iverson trade, Eddie Jordan and his magical offense created in a coloring book, and Samuel Dalembert's two goaltending calls a night.


However, the Sixers have the chance to right the ship during the Playoffs this season. 


It will be no easy task though, as the Sixers are forced to take on the top seeded Chicago Bulls. 


Here is the schedule for the Series: 

Date & Time	TV	Radio
Game 1: PHI @ CHI	Saturday, April 28, 1:00 PM	CSN, TNT	97.5 The Fanatic, 950 ESPN
Game 2: PHI @ CHI	Tuesday, May 1, 8:00 PM	CSN, TNT	97.5 The Fanatic, 950 ESPN
Game 3: CHI vs PHI	Friday, May 4, 8:00 PM	CSN, ESPN	97.5 The Fanatic, 950 ESPN
Game 4: CHI vs PHI	Sunday, May 6, 1:00 PM	ABC	97.5 The Fanatic, 950 ESPN
* Game 5: PHI @ CHI	Tuesday, May 8, time TBD	CSN, TBD	97.5 The Fanatic
* Game 6: CHI vs PHI	Thursday, May 10, time TBD	CSN, TBD	97.5 The Fanatic
* Game 5: PHI @ CHI	Saturday, May 12, time TBD	CSN, TNT	97.5 The Fanatic

The Sixers truly have a shot to shock the Bulls and advance to the Second Round. However, they will need to be firing on all cylinders if they even want to think about moving on.


Doug Collins & Co. were one of few teams to fall victim to the trap of the shortened season, starting off hot before completely collapsing down the stretch.


But the Playoffs are ruled by momentum, and after a crucial win over Indiana at the end of the season is a real confidence booster.


The strength of the 76ers have always been in their deep bench, a strength most Playoff teams would kill for.


They will need to utilize that 10 man rotation to the fullest, making sure the freshest legs are always on the court. Furthermore, their bench poses lots of great role players. 


Need a defensive stop, midseason acquisition Sam Young is your guy. If you need a quick basket, Lou Williams needs to be on the floor.


I believe it was Socrates who once said "Speed kills." Okay, maybe it isn't Socrates, but it is a very valid point.


The Bulls have a definite height advantage, but the Sixers team possesses the speed to burn the opposition up and down the court, wreaking havoc on the fast break. 


The Sixers need to bring it, or their playoff run will end in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. In case you haven't noticed, the jokes get worse and worse as my preview continues.


Chicago's favorite team, the Bulls, are the one seed for a reason. Their roster has a rare combination of pure shooters and great rebounders. They also have arguably the best PG in the league in Derrick Rose.


Luol Deng of the Bulls is the unsung hero of the 2011-2012 Bulls. He was second on the team in scoring (15.3 PPG) and chipped in 6.5 RPG. 


But Chicago has a massive problem: the health of Derrick Rose. "D-Rose" missed 27 games this season because of groin and foot injuries. There is not a chance Rose is healthy, and it is obvious by looking just by looking at his stats. In 32 minutes of action against the Mavericks on 4/21, Rose scored only 11 points. A healthy Rose can easily put up 20 in that amount of time.


The combination of the two injuries have hurt Rose's ability to drive, forcing him to shoot the ball. Derrick Rose's only flaw: he is a horrendous shooter.


When the Sixers beat the Bulls in January, Rose was held to only 18 points on 8-17 shooting. The Sixers took away the lane, and forced him to shoot the ball.


In the Sixers second regular season matchup with the Bulls, Rose scored 35 points in 42 minutes. The Sixers allowed him to drive, and were forced to continue to foul him. Rose went 7-9 from the free throw line, and the Sixers lost by 6. Those free throws were the difference between a big Sixers win and a demoralizing loss.


The Sixers must force Rose to shoot the ball if they even want to have half a chance in the series.


Prediction: Bulls Take Down The Sixers In 6.


There is no doubt the 76ers will give the Bulls all they got, and will steal a few close games. As much as I would love to see the Sixers steal the series here, I just do not think they have enough.


The Bulls have Richard Hamilton, Deng and even C.J. Watson, all good shooters. The Sixers have one pure shooter in Williams, and Iguodala when he feels like playing up to that massive $80 million contract he signed in 2008. 


Even more valuable than their shooters is the down low play of Noah and Carlos Boozer. Spencer Hawes does not stand a chance against Joakim Noah, and that is sad, because Noah looks and plays like a Caveman. Noah grabbed a whopping 18 boards in the Bulls game against the Sixers in March, a number Spencer Hawes has not had since his AAU days. 


The Sixers are close, but just not ready to take down the best in the Eastern Conference.