Carlos Boozer (AP)
POINT GUARD
Deron Williams has been incredible since the All-Star break, averaging 22.9 points and 8.0 assists over his last 28 games while shooting 48 percent from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range. Kirk Hinrich is a tough-minded defender and solid (39 percent) 3-point shooter who has filled in capably for injured Bulls star Derrick Rose.
Edge: Nets
SHOOTING GUARD
In a slightly reduced role from his days as the focal point of the offense in Atlanta, Joe Johnson has been the team’s most consistent perimeter threat all season while continuing to be a solid defender. Jimmy Butler has emerged as a starter in his second year, and is a long, athletic defender who can shoot from deep (38 percent from 3-point range).
Edge: Nets
SMALL FORWARD
Gerald Wallace provides a lot of things for the Nets, including ball-handling and being their best perimeter defender, but he has shot 33.5 percent overall and 13.5 percent from 3-point range since the All-Star break. Luol Deng is a similar player who, despite playing through a variety of injuries, led the NBA in minutes played this season and averaged 16.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
Edge: Bulls
POWER FORWARD
Reggie Evans finished the season sixth in the NBA in rebounding with 11.1 per game despite averaging fewer minutes than anyone inside the top 30. He has added more of a scoring punch (6.1 points per game) since the All-Star break. Carlos Boozer has been Chicago’s most reliable low-post scoring option all year long, averaging 16.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He averaged 21.3 points and 10.7 rebounds in three games against the Nets.
Edge: Bulls
CENTER
Brook Lopez led all NBA centers in scoring (19.4 points per game) while shooting 52.1 percent and blocking more than two shots per game to earn his first All-Star selection. Joakim Noah also was selected to the All-Star Game this season and averaged 11.9 points and 11.1 rebounds, but has been hobbled in recent weeks by a bout with plantar fasciitis.
Edge: Nets
BENCH
C.J. Watson has been a reliable backup to Deron Williams, and has shot an absurd 48 percent from 3-point range since Feb. 1, and Andray Blatche (10 points, five rebounds per game) has combined with Lopez to give the Nets as much or more production from the center spot than any team in the NBA. Former Knick Nate Robinson has given the Bulls a much-needed scoring punch off the bench, and Taj Gibson, who has been slowed with a knee injury in recent weeks, is a defensive force.
Edge: Even
COACHING
Since taking over for Avery Johnson in late December, P.J. Carlesimo has led the Nets to a 35-19 record, good for a .648 winning percentage, and helped them climb back into the top four in the East. After leading the Bulls to the league’s best record each of the previous two seasons, Tom Thibodeau has had to deal with myriad injuries to a roster already hindered by heavy losses in free agency and not having Rose all season.
Edge: Bulls
PREDICTION
You can make a pretty good case this should be the closest and most competitive series of the entire first round. Both teams are big, play a grind-it-out style and are physical. The Nets, however, come into the series with a significant advantage in health, because the Bulls are dealing with injuries to three of their key contributors — Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah — not to mention star point guard Derrick Rose has missed the whole season recovering from ACL surgery on his left knee.
That, combined with having Game 7 in Brooklyn, should be enough to get the Nets a win in their first playoff series in six seasons.
Pick: Nets in 7