Reflecting on Heat-Bulls

The second half of Game 1 was a dream. The second half of Game 2 was a nightmare. In a world where you are only as good as your last game, but more importantly, where the media and fans assume that the most recent game will necessarily equate to results the rest of the way, everyone handed the Bulls the Eastern Conference crown after an inspired Game 1. Those same people are now handing the crown to Miami after Game 2. Sifting through all that mess, what do we actually know about this series:

(1) Ultimately, the superstars decide the games. Derrick Rose was great in Game 1, he was awful in Game 2. Lebron and Wade were poor in Game 1 and really good in Game 2. It’s not a surprise then that we are even at 1-1. Rose’s Game 1 success was instrumental in his struggles in Game 2. Rose was an effective jump shooter in Game 1. I have written about how Rose is at his best when he attacks. But Miami plays very, very good defense and they have prevented Rose from being successful in the paint in back to back games. Steve Kerr harped on this Game 2 but it bears repeating. When Wade guards Rose, the Bulls need to set high screens for him with whoever Bibby or Mike Miller or Mario Chalmers is guarding. The Heat were extremely successful in the 4th quarter last night getting Lebron matched up with Korver and Rose and away from Deng who has made things very, very difficult on Lebron.

(2) Kyle Korver may not have a place in this series. I was really looking forward to Korver helping the Bulls offensively in 4th quarters this series, but Korver cannot guard Wade or Lebron and last night showed exactly how detrimental to matching up Rose on Wade is to the Bulls offensively. Now, if Korver knocks down shots, I’m probably singing a different tune today. And if Rose gets a rest at the start of the 4th quarter, he probably has the legs to both adequately defend Wade and remain effective offensively. The fact remains, however, that if Korver is on the floor, the Bulls only player who can create his own shot is expending tons of energy on the defensive end which is clearly detrimental to Rose’s offense. Also worth mentioning, my favorite use of Korver is when the Bulls bring him off screens and he catches around the elbow. For ease of explanation, let’s say Taj Gibson sets the screen, Haslem is guarding Taj, and Bibby is guarding Korver. If Haslem jumps out on the screen at Korver, the Bulls have a mismatch and Korver can find Taj cutting hard to the basket alone. If Haslem stays home, Korver has an open 15-18 footer. But I don’t remember the Bulls using that set once in the 4th quarter last night when they were really struggling to find offense. If Korver is not helping on offense, the Bulls need to have Ronnie Brewer or Bogans on the floor in the 4th quarter.

(3) Udonis Haslem is the guy that can swing this series for Miami. Chris Bosh is not an energy guy. Joel Anthony is a stiff. Jamaal Magloire and Juwan Howard are done. Ilguaskas and Dampier haven’t even suited up yet. Haslem, on the other hand, brings a swagger and energy that absolutely turned Game 2. The Bulls picked up something like 7 offensive rebounds in the 1st quarter against the Heat’s horrible frontcourt. Haslem came in and changed the energy and changed the course of the game, potentially saving the Heat’s season. Ultimately, Haslem is not going to score like he did in Game 2, and he clearly does not have the fitness level to give the Heat more than 20 good minutes a night, but the Heat don’t need him to score, they need his energy and hustle. He is the only Heat big that can counter the energy that Noah, Asik and Taj bring to the floor.

(4) This series is going to be an absolute war. You have two extremely good defensive teams, three of the five best players in the league, and scrappy energy guys in spades (Noah, Asik, Haslem, Taj). Is it any surprise that the team who won the rebounding battle won each of the first two games (Heat outrebounded the Bulls 45-41 in Game 2). Going into the series, my heart said Bulls in 7 but my head said Heat in 6. Nothing I have seen thus far has changed that. For the Bulls to win this series, they need to get to the majority of loose balls, out rebound the Heat every game, challenge Wade and Lebron every single time they attack the basket (loved how Asik looked like a volleyball blocker at the net on that Wade drive in the 4th quarter). 3 of the 4 best offensive players in this series play for Miami so the Bulls need to win the intangible battle. They did in Game 1 and until Haslem showed up last night, they were doing the same thing in Game 2. Steal one in Miami and the Bulls are back in the driver’s seat. I cannot wait. Go Bulls.