NBA Eastern Conference Finals Preview: Bulls vs HEAT

By Eric Yearian

Two teams still stand in the Eastern Conference, and they are led by three of the most dynamic talents the association has to offer. Chicago, the team that finished with the best record in the entire league features the league MVP in Derrick Rose. Rose, however, will have to go up against the man that won the previous two MVP awards and second team All-NBA guard Dwyane Wade. This series is shaping up to be a fun one to watch as there will be a ton of talent running up and down the court. This one features three players on the All-NBA teams, and that doesn’t even mention Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, and Joakim Noah. Don’t get the impression that all of this star power is going to result in defense optional games, though. LeBron was first team All Defense and Noah was on the second team. This series also features the two best players when it comes to transition chase down blocks in James and Rose.
    Dwayne Wade
Chicago looked very good all season, even when key components of their team went down with injuries. Rose always found a way to keep the team moving forward, and it resulted in home court advantage throughout the playoffs. They have struggled a little bit since the playoffs started to find a reliable second option. Rose has single handedly willed his team to victory in many of the games. Carlos Boozer has been a little less than ineffective due to a nagging injury, and that’s been a big part of the Bulls struggles. That injury will probably linger until Boozer can rest it during the offseason, so it will be imperative that Rose remains spectacular and gets help from guys like Luol Deng and Noah.

While the Bulls have sages a bit in since the playoffs began, the HEAT have taken it to a whole other level. They look the way people thought they’d look prior to the season. They knew at some point this season Wade and James would have to confront the team that has plagued their stars the last few years: the Boston Celtics. The Celtics won the season series, but the HEAT came back and looked the part of future champions in dismantling the C’s in 5 games. They will have to keep it up, though, as it doesn’t get any easier from here. The Bulls swept the season series, but only won by a combined eight points. If the HEAT can continue playing the way they did in the series against the Celtics, they’ll be headed to the NBA Finals, but that is a mighty big if, especially when they have to take on a team featuring the league MVP.

Key for the Bulls: Rose needs help, he can’t overcome the HEAT trio on his own, so his teammates will have to step up. Through the playoffs, Rose has averaged 28.8 points, 8 assists, and 4.5 rebounds. His role players haven’t given him much help, but that has to change in the Eastern Finals. At this stage of the season injuries and fatigue can’t be excuses, so guys like Noah, Boozer, Deng and Kyle Korver must find a way to contribute, because Rose can’t do it on his own.

Key for the HEAT: the HEAT need to rebound the basketball to negate the inside advantage of the Bulls and then get out in transition and do what they do best, finish on the break. Wade and James on the break is lethal and the Bulls, as good as they are defensively, will not be able to keep them out of transition every time but need to limit those opportunities. The HEAT do need to really concentrate on rebounding, and that task will fall mainly on the shoulders of James and Bosh as well as Joel Anthony.

X-Factors: For the Bulls, the x-factor is Kyle Korver. Kyle KorverKorver is one of the deadliest shooters in the entire league and that shooting ability will be big in knocking the HEAT down a notch. Korver can do other things, but his shooting has to be spot on. If it is, Chicago is in good shape as that will take pressure off of Rose and give him more opportunities to drive and score or drive and kick out to Korver. Tom Thibodeau will need to find ways to open up the court and maximize the talents of Rose, and Korver could be a key to that.
   
I never thought I’d type this, but Joel Anthony will be a key player for Miami in this series. I always joke that Anthony is the second least talented player in the league, but what he lacks in skills, he makes up for in hardnosed defense and an unrelenting commitment to rebounding. Those two things just happen to be what Miami is going to need in this series, as they have to contend with a talented frontline of Deng, Boozer, and Noah. He’s coming off a good series, and Erik Spoelstra will be looking to him to provide the same intensity in this series.

The Prediction: The Bulls are a formidable foe for Miami, but they don’t look the same in the playoffs as they did during the regular season while the HEAT look much better than they did during much of the regular season. The Bulls won the season series, but only by a combined 8 points, so it may not take much for the HEAT to get over that hump and finally top the Bulls. My main concern with the HEAT is having an emotional letdown after defeating Boston. With that being said, the old saying is “two is better than one” and if Rose doesn’t get help he’ll be taking a one man show against the most fearsome duo in the NBA. I’m taking the Miami HEAT to advance to the NBA Finals in 5 games.

Series Schedule
Sunday, May 15: HEAT @ Bulls 8:00 Eastern
Wednesday, May 18: HEAT @ Bulls 8:30 Eastern
Sunday, May 22: Bulls @ HEAT 8:30 Eastern
Tuesday, May 24: Bulls @ HEAT 8:30 Eastern
Thursday, May 26: HEAT @ Bulls 8:30 Eastern (If Necessary)
Saturday, May 28: Bulls @ HEAT 8:30 Eastern (If Necessary)
Monday, May 30: HEAT @ Bulls 8:30 Eastern (If Necessary)