Loose thoughts the morning after the Bulls crush the Heat

[Rush]

Both teams agree on at least one thing after game one. In the playoffs, only wins and losses count. Scoring margin isn't really relevant to anything. This was just one game. The Chicago bulls are seven wins...

Go to Source For Full Article: Bulls Confidential...

By: Doug Thonus

 

[Lex L.]

The Bulls are a great rebounding team. They have been the past few years. Not only were they a top 2 team at rebounding this year but they also were a top 3 team when it came to preventing other teams from getting rebounds.

When people have been talking about the Bulls having strengths where Miami has weaknesses, this is one of the big things they were talking about. Spoelstra was admitting what everyone already knew in conceding the rebounding.

One of the problems that teams have against the Bulls is that even if you put in someone taller, the Bulls are so active and mobile that it still almost doesnt matter. Last night Taj got off the floor twice for any Miami guys once when going for rebounds. And on long rebounds, Noah's, Taj's, and Omer's mobility kills other bigs.

Lets face it, most teams dont have one center who can keep in front of Wade and send his sh*t back on defense like Noah did last night. Most teams dont have a center who can face up LeBron on defense and force him to attempt a contested 3 pointer. We have two 7 footers who can run like a PF or even SF. It was amazing last night seeing Miami going small and then having Noah and Asik run with their small lineup. I loved it.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

I don't know what Erik Spoelstra was thinking.

Here's the thing..

He's a shitty coach.

 

[Crystallas]

Thanks. Thats why I keep coming back to CCS...the level of sports discussion is astounding.

Not everyone thinks it's time-effective to stir debates with every peon that has organized pro-sports as their number one priority on life.

 

[Utahbullsfan]

Thanks. Thats why I keep coming back to CCS...the level of sports discussion is astounding.

Its true though if we traded coaches, and I'm not sure we even make the playoffs with all of our injuries, and I wouldn't be surprised if Miami beat the 72 win record

 

[jcrab66]

Here's the thing..

He's a shitty coach.

not my exact choice of words but i agree in principal

 

[Scoot26]

Deng shot well from 3, Boozer was very active, but otherwise it was a typical Bulls performance. I thought Miami played bad moreso than the Bulls played well, so its funny to me that now the Miami apologists are saying "the Bulls won't play that well for the rest of the series", as if the Bulls shot 65% from the field.

The funny part is Miami actually shot better from the field than we did.

 

[EnjoyYourTiger]

The funny part is Miami actually shot better from the field than we did.

What it came down to was the Bulls' 19 offensive rebounds to Miami's 6. Bulls just flat out dominated the boards, especially on their own end.

 

[Rick]

last night the Miami Heat were allowed to play with 6 players on the floor!

That was ridiculous. I nearly threw my beer at the tv, the Bulls should have gotten a free throw and the ball back because of that.

If the Bulls had lost, we'd be talking a lot more about that.



My prediction for game 2: Pain.

 

[Meadows]

My prediction for game 2: Pain.

Agreed.

I believe game 2 will be a closer outcome than game 1.

 

[WindyCity7]

 

[thedude33]

lol umad wade?

 

[Diddy1122]

That was ridiculous. I nearly threw my beer at the tv, the Bulls should have gotten a free throw and the ball back because of that.

If the Bulls had lost, we'd be talking a lot more about that.



My prediction for game 2: Pain.

All of us at UC last night we're screaming for a T but to no avail.

 

[Diddy1122]

Deng shot well from 3, Boozer was very active, but otherwise it was a typical Bulls performance. I thought Miami played bad moreso than the Bulls played well, so its funny to me that now the Miami apologists are saying "the Bulls won't play that well for the rest of the series", as if the Bulls shot 65% from the field.

This was not a typical Bulls performance by any means. We don't score 100+ with regularity. We just witnessed the best defensive effort all season. And it's not that Miami just played bad, we made them that bad. The rotations & doubles on Wade & James all game kept them from getting into any offensive rhythm & we just annihilated them on the boards. Miami will bounce back from this, but if this type of defenisve effort is there all series, we could end up sweeping them. We have the better TEAM, have all year, & now the enitre nation is starting to realize it.

 

[Lex L.]

This was not a typical Bulls performance by any means. We don't score 100+ with regularity. We just witnessed the best defensive effort all season. And it's not that Miami just played bad, we made them that bad. The rotations & doubles on Wade & James all game kept them from getting into any offensive rhythm & we just annihilated them on the boards. Miami will bounce back from this, but if this type of defenisve effort is there all series, we could end up sweeping them. We have the better TEAM, have all year, & now the enitre nation is starting to realize it.

I would expect Miami to bounce back but I wonder what that will mean.

In the 4 games against Miami, Chicago has allowed 43, 36, 37, and last night 34 points in the second half. You would expect James and Wade to be able to assert themselves more as the game progresses. The cream rises to the top right? Well, why aren't Wade and James taking over to such an extent where the Heat are scoring more in the second half? Could it be because our defense is the cream that rises to the top?

And the thing about that is, since its the EC Finals and the Miami Heat, the defense might even crank it up a couple of notches in most games. If the Bulls could get a win in game two, that would be huge. The defense should be even more intense as it starts to see the finish line.

Im a little worried though about the defense losing its "edge" because of the lopsided game 1 and all the praise everyone is getting. Its softening up the Bulls and, at the same time, the Heat are in town for 3 days listening to all of this.

 

[Diddy1122]

I would expect Miami to bounce back but I wonder what that will mean.

In the 4 games against Miami, Chicago has allowed 43, 36, 37, and last night 34 points in the second half. You would expect James and Wade to be able to assert themselves more as the game progresses. The cream rises to the top right? Well, why aren't Wade and James taking over to such an extent where the Heat are scoring more in the second half? Could it be because our defense is the cream that rises to the top?

And the thing about that is, since its the EC Finals and the Miami Heat, the defense might even crank it up a couple of notches in most games. If the Bulls could get a win in game two, that would be huge. The defense should be even more intense as it starts to see the finish line.

Im a little worried though about the defense losing its "edge" because of the lopsided game 1 and all the praise everyone is getting. Its softening up the Bulls and, at the same time, the Heat are in town for 3 days listening to all of this.

Good points. All year the 2nd half adjustments have been the best of any team in the NBA, particularly on defense. You could say Thibs is the Anti-Lovie. And there could be resentment from game 1. Even Wade's own son dunked on him on a nerf hoop & yelled "Gibson!"

But at the same time if we know anything about James & Wade, it's that they are extremely cocky. You could even hear it in the post game comments. They just talked about how they had off games. James said "Shots I normally make just weren't falling." There was no respect for our suffocating defense on them. No "they did a great job of covering me & getting hands in my face" it was "the shots just didn't fall". This team hasn't had an edge all year. And why should we expect them to? They are the 2 best players who teamed together because they thought it would be so easy to win together. How can you have any sort of edge when you just totally cop out like that?

 

[Glide2keva]

The Bulls aren't scared of the Heat.

They won't lose their edge defensively. They've been preparing all season for this moment to shine. We saw the Bulls playing close to their full potential, and when they play to this level, no one can beat them

No one.

The Heat thought that the Bulls were going to lay down and let them walk all over them. They had another thing coming. The Bulls came to play and they are deeper and a better team than Miami. I've said it all season and I will say it again. This Bulls team was designed to beat Miami.

Everything the Heat are weak at, the Bulls are strong at. PG, Frontline, and bench play.

The two and half men can't score 80 a night against a tough defensive team like the Bulls, they haven't all season. You can't "yeah, but" what happened last night. I expect Miami to play better, but seriously, they aren't going to beat the Bulls on the glass, and they aren't going to out work the Bulls on 50/50 plays.

They can activate Dampier and Big Z, but they are old, slow and won't be able to stop Boozer, Noah, Asik, and Gibson from getting rebounds. They don't have the depth to slow down the bench which is the best defensive unit in the league. And they certainly aren't going to stop Rose.

This won't be a sweep by any means, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was.

 

[Lex L.]

One win and already expecting sweep, eh? I think even if the Bulls win Game 2 (no guarantee), when the series goes back to Miami you will see a much more assertive James and Wade and you will also see Miami shooting 45-50 free throws each game. Still a lot to be determined.

If Miami pours themselves into rebounding better in game 2 and then the Bulls still outrebound Miami and the Bulls win, you could start seeing people on Miami believing they cant win.