Sixers Bulls Game 1 Preview

After a very exciting start to the season, the Sixers stumbled down the stretch but were able to finish 35-31 good for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference.  As the 8th seed the Sixers will take on the number 1 seed Chicago Bulls beginning today in Chicago.  

I personally like this match up as opposed to the Sixers playing the Heat again.  The Sixers can't handle the Heat (no pun intended) and it always seems like they get away from their game when they play them.  But the season series between the Bulls and Sixers is a different story.  

Back on February 1st, the Sixers beat the Bulls 98-82.  The Sixers lost the other 2 games against the Bull during the season losing 96-91 on March 4th, and 89-80 on March 14th.  Simply put the Sixers have shown over the course of this year and last year that they can beat the Bulls. 

For today's game, I think the Sixers are going to keep it close but get burned by Derrick Rose late in the game.  Rose has shown the ability to beat up on the Sixers in the past and I think he will really turn it on today.  

Overall I think the Sixers can make this an interesting series.  If the Sixers were going up against the Heat again, I would predict the Heat to win in 5.  But there is something about this match up against the Bulls that really intrigues me.  I honestly think that the Sixers can make this an interesting series if they start playing defense again like they did at the beginning of the year. 

Overall I expect the Bulls to win this series in 6 games.  But the Bulls shouldn't write off the Sixers who if they can return to their defensive roots, definitely have the ability to pull of the upset.