Joakim Noah: ‘I Never Thought I’d Say This But I’m Excited to Go to Cleveland’

Five years ago, Joakim Noah helpfully pointed out that the city of Cleveland “really sucks.”

The big fella’s tone had changed Thursday night, after his Chicago Bulls demolished the pesky Milwaukee Bucks in record fashion 120-66, and set up yet another postseason rendez-vous with the Cavaliers.

Despite some chippy play, the Bulls put away Milwaukee in Game 6 with ease.

Chicago is pumped to take on a wounded and short-handed Cleveland team—the highly-anticipated second round series begins Monday in Ohio.

Per the Chicago Tribune:

For the fourth time in six seasons, the Bulls will face LeBron James and the team for which he has chosen to display his singular talent. Each of the previous three times, once with the Cavaliers and twice with the Heat, James has vanquished his foe. […] The Bulls earned the right to face James in his first season back with the Cavaliers after Thursday night’s 120-66 demolition of the scrappy Bucks at the Bradley Center. The Bulls won the first-round series in six games, set a playoff franchise record for margin of victory and handed the Bucks their worst loss in franchise history, playoff or regular season.

 

Kevin Love is out for the playoffs with a left shoulder injury and J.R. Smith is suspended for the first two games. […] “It’s a lot more than just LeBron (James) and Kyrie (Irving),” coach Tom Thibodeau said. “They play very well as a team. They share the ball, have length at the rim and are good competitors. We’re going to have to play well.”

 

“Take it like every other series,” (Derrick) Rose said of facing the Cavs. “They’re a great team. We just have to be ready. We know when we play against them, you have to get back. You have to take the momentum away.”