| Bulls Have A Big Diesel To Climb In Round 1 Authored by Douglas Benton - April 20, 2006 - 2:54 am
Fresh off of their 12-2 run to end the season, the 41-41 Chicago Bulls are now greeted with a seven game series against the Miami Heat. With a team that was 29-39 only a month ago, they will take whatever extra basketball they can get, but a lack of inside size or a low-post scoring threat will signal another one and out for the Bulls.
The Bulls will start this series with their backs against the wall because of the experience of Miami, as well as the overall height of the Heat. Shaq is an impossible match-up for any team, but it is especially tough for the Bulls, who don’t even have a true center on the roster. The closest player to this description is either Tyson Chandler or the little played Luke Schenscher, but both of these players give anywhere from 70-100 pounds to the Big Diesel.
However, the Bulls will be able to match up size wise in the backcourt because Dwayne Wade is a smaller shooting guard, so the Bulls won’t have to double on the post to help Kirk Hinrich in respect to size. Now, they might still have to because of the talent of Wade, but they won’t be forced to like they would have been against Vince Carter and the Nets.
The saving grace for the Bulls this series, and something they will have to make their hallmark in the playoffs, is effort. Miami’s effort has been questioned this year and their play seems lackadaisical when faced off against an inferior opponent. Scott Skiles and the Bulls are known for their work ethic every night and must out-work the Heat to just be competitive. If they don’t, the talent levels will take over, and the Bulls would be lucky to win a game in this series. Here is what each team has to do to move onto the second round:
The Heat has to remember that they will go as far as the big guy takes them. If they feed Shaq the ball and work their offense off of it, then the Heat will be able to control the tempo of the game and just wear the Bulls down over the course of a few nights. Speaking of tempo, they have to slow it down and let their talent and size just beat up the Bulls. Pat Riley came back for this reason and this will be his toughest job of the playoffs. Motivating an old roster who has been looking toward Detroit since November will be the toughest part of the series for the Heat. If they play composed and motivated, this will be an easy win for Miami.
For the Bulls, just keep doing what you have been doing. This team is most successful when they think defense-first and let the offense come in the flow of the game. Size has been an issue all year, but it isn’t as big as problem against the Heat because of their lack of athleticism. The Bulls will be able to run with the Heat and make those few plays they couldn’t make against a team like Detroit. Scott Skiles is a master tactian and will put his team in positive situations because of his vast knowledge of his opponents. Defense, effort, and hot shooting are must if the Bulls want to advance.
Final Thought: The Bulls will scare Miami because they will sneak out at least one win on effort and win one outright because their young nucleus is just starting to figure out that they are really good. If they start truly believing that, this might be an upset, but in the end, the Heat will advance. Too much star power and experience will carry the Heat in their collision course with the Pistons. If they play this series next year, I will take the Bulls, but in 2006, the Heat will win in six. |
