Charles Barkley said it best; the Chicago Bulls versus the Cleveland Cavaliers is “the real eastern conference finals,” adding “we got screwed that Bulls vs Cavs is in the next round and not in the conference finals.”
So let’s get it on.
Game 1 Monday, May 4 Chicago @ Cleveland 6:00 p.m. TNT
Game 2 Wednesday, May 6 Chicago @ Cleveland 6:00 p.m. TNT
Game 3 Friday, May 8 Cleveland @ Chicago TBD ESPN
Game 4 Sunday, May 10 Cleveland @ Chicago 2:30 p.m. ABC
Game 5* Tuesday, May 12 Chicago @ Cleveland TBD TNT
Game 6* Thursday, May 14 Cleveland @ Chicago TBD ESPN
Game 7* Sunday, May 17 Chicago @ Cleveland TBD TNT
“The Bulls have the highest ceiling in the Eastern Conference, for me,” said Barkley on Media conference call. He got very candid when asked about his relationship with Michael Jordan. He truly opened up about that. At the end of the call he said some pretty funny things about his critics; dropping a few f-bombs.
“My critics can kiss my ass, and I have plenty of it, so that’s good- if there happens to be a lot of them.”
Kenny Smith was on the same conference call too. He said the Bulls are the team to beat if they’re healthy.
Some more Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and NBA related gems from Sir Charles:
“My favorite scenario for the Eastern Conference finals is Chicago and Toronto because I can have some fun in those cities!”
“Chicago is the best summer city in the world”
“for some unknown reason, the NBA makes the 1st round of the playoffs last a month these days”
Answering a Golden State reporter named Diamond, he said: “This is the first time I’ve met someone named Diamond not at a strip joint.”
Barkley on the impact of center Timofey Mozgov: “Mozgov is the guy that turned around their season. They were too small with [Kevin] Love and [Anderson] Varejao down low. Mozgov is the guy.”
Barkley on the Chicago Bulls’ place in the Eastern Conference: “I think they are the best team in the Eastern Conference if they’re healthy. No disrespect to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the Chicago Bulls have the highest ceiling. We’ve seen the Cavaliers play as well as they can play. If [point guard] Derrick Rose is healthy, the Chicago Bulls are the team to beat.”
Barkley on the most important question surrounding the Bulls: “They have terrific guards, a great bench and Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol down low. They have it all. It’s just the same question we’ve had all season; are they going to stay healthy?”
Barkley on Bulls power forward Nikola Mirotic: “He’s going to come in second for Rookie of the Year. They can’t afford to lose him. He’s a stud.”
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)