Chicago v. Miami
The defending champs and the re-vamped with Big Ben Bulls
By Russ Bengtson
This series wasn’t supposed to happen. At least, not yet. The Bulls were supposed to earn the two seed and be rewarded with the injury-decimated Wizards, a seven-game series that would be over in one. Then only the winner of the Raps/Nets (or whatever the 3/7 would have been—I disremember all 4,893,035 possible scenarios) would have stood between them and their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since Michael Jordan was alive.
So much for all of that.
One loss to the New Jersey Nets means the Bulls are the five seed instead of the two, facing the defending champion Miami Heat instead of the lucky-to-be-in-the-playoffs (late season injuries are a bitch) Wizards. They still have home-court advantage, thanks to their better record. And fortunately they’ve had a few days to recover from the disappointment of not getting that important 50th win.
The Bulls and the Heat are not unfamiliar foes. They faced off in last year’s first round (a series the Heat won 4-2), and again in this year’s season opener—a game which the Bulls won, um, handily, 108-66 (the worst season-opening loss by a defending champ in NBA history). Chicago went on to take the season series, 3-1, but with a couple of asterisks—Shaq missed the middle two games, and Wade only played 6:20 in the first of those, both Bulls victories. Ben Gordon led the way with 40 and 34 respectively. In the fourth game, the full-strength Heat reasserted themselves, riding a 30-18 first quarter to an eventual 33-point blowout. Shaq ended up disturbingly close to a conventional triple-double, with 24 points, nine boards and eight assists. So the regular season, despite the Bulls 3-1 advantage, was more or less a push.
Still, I gotta ride with the Bulls this year. For starters, I’m a Bulls fan and would never forgive myself otherwise. And the teams are entirely different than they were last year. In the ‘06 Playoffs, the Heat were in a must-win situation, having yet to prove themselves in the postseason. And the Bulls, they were just happy to be there. They were 10 games below .500 on March 22nd, then won 12 of their last 14 to slide in as a seven seed. And they still gave the Heat hell, going down 4-2 in a hard-fought series.
This year the roles are switched somewhat. The Bulls, with their new $60 million Ben Wallace, absolutely need to get out of the first round in order for their season to be considered a success. The Heat? They hung the “Mission Accomplished” banner last season. Which probably doesn’t make much difference to D. Wade and Shaq, but you’re telling me that guys like Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and Jason Williams are as hungry this year as they were last year? No way. Not to mention the Diesel’s a year older, and Wade is too banged up to turn reckless drives into countless free-throw opportunities.
If the Bulls are gonna have a problem, it’s in the middle. They have all of one seven footer on the roster—Martynas Andriuskevicius—who was nearly killed by a punch during an NBDL game this year and played all of nine minutes in the NBA. Other than Ben Wallace, who’s gonna take on Shaq and Alonzo Mourning? Malik Allen? Michael Sweetney? On the wing, though, it’s a different story. I’ll take a healthy Gordon, Deng and Hinrich over a banged-up D. Wade and co.
So, yes, I’m taking the Bulls. I’d love to say they can get it done in five, and win on their home floor. But I think it’s more likely to go six. So. Bulls in six.
P.S. I plan on posting an alarmingly long post on the Bulls later including a TON of extra material I gathered while reporting the feature I wrote in SLAM 108. It would be a shame to let all the rambling Johnny “Red” Kerr quotes go to waste.
16 Responses to “Chicago v. Miami”
Apr.20 at 3:21 pm
the rod says:
I remember reading that if Ben Gordon was two inches taller he would have been michael jordan…even so he’s one of the best scorer in the nba and will torch the heat averaging 30ppg!Bulls champs!!
Apr.20 at 3:54 pm
Gilbert0 says:
first? logic says bulls in this series but you just have that feeling about the heat somehow going on a run.
Apr.20 at 4:00 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I forgot to mention that a P.J. Brown/Alonzo Mourning fight could make this series an all-timer.
Apr.20 at 4:00 pm
Dennard C says:
If there are truly basketball gods, the Heat will not win this series. It would only make things fair after the way, they “won” the ‘chip in the Finals last season.
Apr.20 at 4:15 pm
albie1kenobi says:
although i’m inclined to say bulls in 7, they actually do not want that, even though they have home court. they played the heat as tough as anyone last year (if not tougher than everyone) so let’s see what happens. bulls need to keep this series short because if they let shaq and wade find their rhythm, it’ll be too late. on the flip side, if shaq and wade don’t find their rhythm by game 3, they’ll be going home early.
and i’d like to see Cheryl and White hot eboy’s take on this matchup.
Apr.20 at 4:22 pm
Tommy Patron says:
I am extremely excited to hear about the upcoming post. Long live the Orginal Bull.
Apr.20 at 4:58 pm
AB_40 says:
miami in 6 or 7
Apr.20 at 5:12 pm
Yves says:
Baby, if the Bulls can play without being intimidate by the fact that the Heat are the defending champs, if they forget the pressure of the post-season and if my men Ben Gordon and Luol Deng can post the same numbers then during the regular season, then they will probably bring back the Heat down to earth. I got faith in this Chi-town team ! Bulls winning in five !!
Apr.20 at 5:23 pm
Darksaber says:
Ben Gordon is going to virtualy emasculate the Heat backcourt. All depends on flashes ability to penetrate and dish or even get hacked. I’m betting that rat’s ass (Hinrich) is going to use up his bag of dirty tricks to get into Wade’s head. This might be the tightest first round matchup. Scary thought: no funny ha ha Shaq quotes for weeks. I have this sensation, this feeling that he’s working himself up for a killer post season. Last few weeks, he’s been moving well, fluidly and dunking nicely. And Big Ben HAS been better. Intruiging match up
Apr.20 at 9:57 pm
White Hot Eboy says:
albie1,
Seriously, I think that the Bulls f@#$ed up by meeting the Heat early. I think if they could have ran into them in the Conference finals, they probably would have out-winded (is that a word?)the Heat. The problem Chicago has and has had since last year is they have NO INSIDE PRESENCE!!!!!! NONE!!!! No post, you’re toast! Suns have Amare, Dallas can run Dirk to the midpost when they need to, Houston has Yao, Toronto=Bosh (not sure if that’s gonna work yet in the playoffs). All the legit contenders have a definitive post presence that can score or draw fouls when the games bog down. And I really think that if the Heat pass the Bulls they hammer the Pistons too in the 2nd round and blow their chance at defending by losing big to the Cavs in the finals. Jump shooting teams DO NOT win titles. The Bulls are scrappy, quick and well-coached but unless D-Wade can’t be 80% of himself, I think the Heat burn the Bulls in 5. Especially if they take game 1 tommorrow. Chicago’s big problem this year is that even if Shaq’s in foul trouble, Zo is there from the jump and not coming in 2 or 3 games later like last year. Plus Eddie Jones gives the Heat perimeter length against Ben Gordon’s explosiveness. Can it go 7. Maybe. 6. For sure. But I think the Heat have been waiting all year to get here and the Bulls are just in the wrong spot at the wrong time.
Apr.20 at 10:19 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
No offense to LeBron, but if the Cavs make the NBA Finals then they should probably just fold the Eastern Conference. I figure the Cavs with LeBron aren’t even as talented as the ‘88 Bulls (who also went 50-32), and they only won three playoff GAMES.
Apr.20 at 10:21 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Actually, the ‘88 Bulls won FOUR playoff games. Pardon my math.
Apr.21 at 3:50 am
Chi-Towns Finest says:
Big baby Wade is gonna cry tomorrow.
Apr.21 at 1:18 pm
John from Miami says:
Yet now, on the eve of the playoffs, Heat coach Pat Riley has little use for numbers, especially these numbers: 1 — Times this season last year’s championship core of Shaquille O’Neal, Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem, Jason Williams, James Posey, Antoine Walker, Alonzo Mourning and Gary Payton have been available together for an entire game. 2 — Times Wade, O’Neal and Williams have started together. 8 — Times Riley, O’Neal and Wade have been available for the same game. That’s after 82 games.
Apr.21 at 9:13 pm
Max Airington says:
I didnt catch all of todays game, but the second half was horribly officiated on both sides, especially in the last 2 min. Wade is still sick though.
Apr.23 at 12:26 am
Nicole Perales says:
chi-towns finest definitely knows what she is talkin’ about! i’d like to read more on what u think of other players lie gay gay gordon