Here's a breakdown of the match-ups:
WASHINGTON
WIZARDS
(44-38)
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2014 NBA PLAYOFFS
ROUND 1
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CHICAGO BULLS
(48-34)
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JOHN WALL is a former #1 Overall NBA Draft pick with similar pedigree and game as Derrick Rose, having played for John Calipari at Kentucky. He averaged 19.3PPG, 8.8APG, 1.8SPG this season.
ADVANTAGE: WASHINGTON
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POINT GUARD
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KIRK HINRICH has found his shooting touch, and he has been essential to Chicago's playoff run. He will draw a tough assignment in trying to lockdown John Wall.
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BRADLEY BEAL is a smooth offensive player who may be one of the best shooters in the league. At 6' 5", he gives up some height to Chicago's long defenders.
TIED
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SHOOTING GUARD
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JIMMY BUTLER has yet to become a consistent scorer as a 2-Guard, but he brings defense, rebounding, and effort every night.
TIED
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TREVOR ARIZA is one of the few Wizards with playoff experience (Lakers). He is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 14.4PPG, 6.8RPG, 1.6SPG.
ADVANTAGE: WASHINGTON
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SMALL FORWARD
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MIKE DUNLEAVY, JR. has proven to be a great signing by the Bulls. The 11-year veteran played all 82 games and was promoted to the starting line-up after the Luol Deng trade.
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NENE HILARIO is an agile 7-footer that adds to Washington's offensive firepower. Chicago's frontcourt must stay out of foul trouble against Nene.
ADVANTAGE: WASHINGTON
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POWER FORWARD
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CARLOS BOOZER has seen his numbers drop off this season due to the emergence of Taj Gibson. Boozer has been a professional and is still a top rebounder.
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MARCIN GORTAT is the other bookend of Washington's long frontcourt. Gortat also has an adept offensive game and will look for easy scores on offensive rebounds. Gortat averaged nearly a double-double on the season (13.2PPG, 9.5RPG)
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CENTER
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JOAKIM NOAH, probable Defensive Player of the Year and 2014 NBA All-Star, is the emotional leader of the Chicago Bulls. He has 4 Triple-Doubles on the season, and flirted with many more.
ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO
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RANDY WITTMAN has been an NBA Coach for 6 seasons, guiding the Washington Wizards for the last 2 full seasons. This is his first playoff experience as an NBA Coach.
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COACH
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TOM THIBODEAU, former Coach of Year in his rookie campaign, has been pushing the Bulls with the intensity of Game 7 every game this season.
ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO
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MARTEL WEBSTER has been the team's most consistent producer off the bench.
Wizards also recently acquired ANDRE MILLER in a 3-team trade as a veteran back-up to John Wall.
AL HARRINGTON will be a big X-Factor of the bench for Washington.
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BENCH
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TAJ GIBSON is a leading candidate for Sixth Man of the Year, averaging 13PPG, 6.8RPG, 1.4BPG, as well as the most 4th Quarter minutes in the NBA.
DJ AUGUSTIN leads the Bulls in scoring as the sparkplug on the second unit, putting up 14.9PPG and 5APG in 30MIN/G.
ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO
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The Washington Wizards have better talent at almost every position, but this playoff series will be most of the Wizards' first NBA Playoffs experience.
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INTANGIBLES
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HEART, GRIT, FIGHT characterize this team. And when Chicago flexed their defense vs. Washington on April 4th, the Bulls won by 18 in a rout.
ADVANTAGE: CHICAGO
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PREDICTION
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CHICAGO in 6
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