The Miami Heat haven't been down in a series in the playoffs until now. This upcoming game 2 will be good barometer of the rest of this series. Miami' intensity and effort must remain throughout the entire 48 minutes of the game. Most of their issues in game 1 where mostly self inflicted, rebounding and blocking out are effort plays, Miami was out hustled. Was D Wade tired, Is Lebron sick? Who cares, this is the series that will define the entire season and this is your only chance to steal for now. If Miami can make a concerted effort and get some stops on defense, while keeping the Bulls big men busy with constant attacks. Miami can capitalize at the free throw line and by getting the Bulls front line in foul trouble and on the bench.
After the first game in this series was over and the Bulls did what they had to do by protecting home court, many analyst as well as fans became prisoners of the moment. Miami' inability to capture rebounds and sheer lack of a concerted effort by James and Wade to attack the rim led the Heat down a path they haven't been on all season. Chicago shot 47% from three point land, their highest total of the playoffs, and found five offensive rebounds that turned into fifteen points off of five three pointers. Chicago was favored to defend home court in game one, the lose in the previous round to Atlanta made this first game a crucial one, maybe the most important of their season. Miami knew they would come out fired up and for one half Miami was within striking distance, but mid through the third quarter Chicago broke it open and never looked back mostly on the back of the defense and three point shots. Chicago played their game and out hustled the Heat, the game was theirs to lose, after the game was out of reach, Miami sat the starters to avoid injuries and basically mailed this one in. A 21 point loss and a 1 point loss, is still a loss.
At this point in the season, straying away from what has worked would be a mistake. Focusing on the strengths of the Bulls and making it harder for them defensively is key. Miami kept the Bulls field goal percentage at 38% on first shot opportunities, but Chicago' offensive rebounding more than made up for this deficiency by the Bulls. Miami also scored 46 points in the paint and found that Bosh needs to remain active on the offensive side of the ball as well as the rebounding side. I am not blaming Bosh for the boards, he is integral part of this team and his maximum effort are necessary for its ultimate success. Obviously Wade and Lebron need to attack more, but with out some production from the perimeter shooters, this will be difficult. Chalmers, Jones, Miller, and Bibby must shoot and make at the least one or two three's each.
Miami hasn't been here before, down one in a series and facing a great team at home. It will be beneficial to the team and the lesson learned can propel them into the finals or home for the summer bite. The Bulls will not just go away, their defensive identity will not allow it. Miami must match the Bulls defensively and make Rose and the Bulls take low percentage shots and contested shots, if they go in, oh well. Miami must take over the tempo and keep the crowd quiet, by taking a lead and forcing the Bulls to play catch up. Miami has the talent and the skill with Dwayne Wade on attack, Wade must be aggressive, but not to the point of turnovers or poor shots. Miami has what it needs to defeat the Bulls, but do they have the confidence and experience to get it did? Tonight we will find out. Nothing but net......
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