The MVP of the league on a team with the best record in basketball, The Coach of the Year known for his defense, an overachieving team of role players without a true #2 option.
These are the 2011 Chicago Bulls.
Sound familiar?
That's because these were also the 2008-2009 Cleveland Cavaliers.
That year the Cavs went 66-16. They had the Coach of The Year, MVP and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. They got beat in the Eastern Conference Finals by a better team. (Orlando)
Look at the starting lineups:
Bulls Cavs
Noah Illgauskas
Boozer Varejao
Deng James
Bogans West
Rose Williams
Noah/Varejao - energetic, intagible guys who rebound and defend. Sure, Noah is better than Varejao but they're cut from the same cloth.
Boozer/Illgauskas - I would of given a heavy argument for Boozer - but after watching him play in the playoffs this year, It's close.
2008-2009 Playoffs: Illgauskas 11pts/8boards
2010-2011 Playoffs: Boozer 13pts/10boards
Bogans/D. West - Same player, shoots open jumpers, scrappy defender, undersized...
Mo Williams/Rose - No need for a comparison. Rose is an MVP and a superstar.
LBJ/Deng - No need for a comparison. Lebron was an MVP that year and he's been a superstar.
Both of these teams lacked another consistent scorer/shooter to get their teams over the hump.
Lebron was a better player then than Rose is now, however the results are and will still the same.
Hopefully, the Bulls give Rose another star or at least a very good scorer over the next couple years to compete for the chip. If not, don't be surprised if you see the current MVP to take his talents elsewhere.
Drop
Your right both team are very much the same. You can ever add that both team bring a great shooter off the bench. GIBSON/KOVER.
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