Can the Bulls Take the Heat?
By id_pop
@id_pop (293)
Philippines
April 22, 2007 9:03am CST
The Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat meet up at the first round of this year's playoffs, and there's a familiar feel to this particular series. Last year, the Heat beat the Bulls 4-2, also in the first round.
However, no one can claim that this year's match up will be a replica of last year's. Chicago's young talent has grown over the season, with Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, Andres Nocioni, and Ben Gordon all stepping up their games. Ben Wallace is now with them.
On the other hand, Miami's age is showing; their only growth is manifesting in the form of superstar Dwyane Wade. Shaq, Payton, Williams, Zo, Eddie Jones, Walker, and Posey are *all* getting old. Kapono and Wright I think still have a long way to go in this league.
From all this I'd say the odds are stacked against Miami this first round. So, I'd say yes, the Bulls can take the Heat. The question is: Can the Heat get past the Bulls?
What do you think?
1 person likes this
10 responses
@jigger (4)
• Philippines
23 Apr 07
I am a big fan of the Miami Heat team! I like Dwyane Wade. He's an awesome player. He's got a lot of moves at his young age, plays like a veteran. As for the question, even if I am a Miami Heat fan, I think the Miami Heat Team will have a hard time winning against the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls are a tough team to beat in the National Basketball Association. They have a formidable line-up, from Ben Wallace to Kirk Hinrich. Shaq's gonna have a hard time playing the inside because Ben Wallace is such a great defender. The Chicago Bulls have a deep bench. Deng played a big game in Game 1. So the Bulls is really a team to beat.
@funkyjunkie (20)
• Philippines
25 Apr 07
The bulls are the better team this year. They've got more energy. But im still rooting for Miami. Wade's got a lot of heart.
@id_pop (293)
• Philippines
28 Apr 07
Yeah, but while Dwyane Wade can't be accused of losing heart in the face of a 2-0 deficit in a playoff series, I don't think that'll be enough to take them to the next round. They're already down 3-nil now and the Bulls are proving to be too much competition for the Heat.
Again, Ben Gordon and Luol Deng caught fire in Game 3 and combined for 51 points as they went for their third win. Incidentally, Shaq and Wade combined for 51 points as well, and that makes clear that Chicago's other players outscored Miami's non-stars.
1 person likes this
@funkyjunkie (20)
• Philippines
28 Apr 07
I watched the game. Too bad. It was the free throws that killed them. Looks like it will be an early exit for the defending champs. Oh well that's life...
@trojanfromtroy (564)
• United States
25 Apr 07
there is no doubt in my mind that chicago will beat miami for the first round
they already won first game
and i think they are gonna win today again
i would say they will clear the first round in no more then 5 games
@trojanfromtroy (564)
• United States
25 Apr 07
i m sure that heat will not be in the second round, question is how many games will they play in first round?
@id_pop (293)
• Philippines
25 Apr 07
And they did win today. Not only that, they won by a whooping 18 points. The Miami, Wade and O'Neal in particular, need to shoot better the next few games if they're to have any chance of advancing to the next round. Wade shot 9-for-19 and O'Neal finished shooting 6-for-14 today, and if you're Miami, you just can't expect to win with your main guys performing like that.
And at the end of the day, they just got the result they deserved: a loss and a 2-game deficit in the series.
@id_pop (293)
• Philippines
25 Apr 07
Keep on hoping, but it'll take the Heat more than that to get them past the Bulls. Let me rephrase that: the Heat needs more than Wade and O'Neal to get the job done for them. This duo can't deliver team wins on their on, especially with Wade's injury and the change in O'Neal's play.
@Makoy1983 (1084)
• Philippines
23 Apr 07
chicago took game 1. and i'd say, its a prelude of more things to come. wade is still ailing and chicago can take advantage of it. plus ben wallace and tyrus thomas is playing superb defense, especially their shot blocking. most of the heat players are old, but i wont say its a set back for the heat, in fact, its their advantage. they got experience. but the youthful and determined bulls might just take it this time.
chicago vs detroit in the second rund.. hmm. ben wallace homecoming. i'd expect the same atmosphere as what vince carter had in toronto
@id_pop (293)
• Philippines
23 Apr 07
I'm surprised at how good Tyrus Thomas is playing. I've watched him over the season and I thought he had flashes of brilliance (I didn't like the attitude he has shown at the All Star Weekend's Slam Dunk Contest, though), and seeing him mature to the point where he can step up come playoff time is entertaining.
I see great things coming for this young player.
@Makoy1983 (1084)
• Philippines
25 Apr 07
chicago blown out miami in game 2. we cant just count the heat out yet. they did it against dallas in the finals, winning the last 4 after losing the first 2. but with wade's condition, it might take a miracle for miami to bounce back and win the series. chicago has been awesome lately
@id_pop (293)
• Philippines
25 Apr 07
I really can't count on Wade getting back to a hundred percent before this series is over, and we all know Shaq can never get back to his golden years, but here's the key to the Heat's success: Miami's "other guys" - Walker, Haslem, and Kapono in particular - should step it up big time. This is not a individual sport for crying out loud, so step it up and play like champs, why don't you?
Not only will this net more points for the "other players" but this will also give Shaq and Wade a few open looks. Being down 2-0 against a team as good as Chicago, the Miami Heat obviously needs every inch of help they can get their hands on.
@ricoswabepogi (79)
• Philippines
25 Apr 07
I'll go for bulls. they are different now. They have a good composture of a champion-caliber team. Add on it the king of blocks and a great defender Ben Wallace.
@id_pop (293)
• Philippines
25 Apr 07
When you refer to a team as a championship-caliber team, you have to compare that team to the best of the best in the league, and at the beginning of the season, I've been predicting that the Bulls are too young, too inexperienced, and need more veteran leadership on the floor; as it turns out, I think I might have underestimated the team as one unit.
Simply put, they're playing great basketball. Are they good enough to be called championship contenders? Perhaps, but the real challenge begins if and when they match up against a Western Conference giant at the Finals. Only the next few games will tell.
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
22 Apr 07
I think the Bulls can take them. They are looking very good right now. When Ben Wallace gets to the play-offs he becomes a machine. I think he can handle Shaq...I think Bulls in 6.
@id_pop (293)
• Philippines
22 Apr 07
Yeah, that was just what I was saying. I still am a big Detroit Pistons fan, but I can't say I'm not rooting for the Bulls in this series, especially with Big Ben on their side. He's a rebounding and defensive beast, that's what he is. Who's there to match up against him on the other side? Zo, O'Neal, and Haslem?
I'd say bring it on, if only to leave the other Bulls wide open for shots.
@brandonmagsino (639)
• Philippines
23 Apr 07
if you had watch game one, then you can say that it will be a long series indeed between this two eastern teams. shaquille o'neal fouled out from that game. This was Shaqs 11th fouled out game in his entire career. Loul Deng stepped up for the Bulls who saw Kirk Hinrich in early foul trouble. As a matter of fact, it was a game highlighted with a lot of fouls, and i mean a lot of them. It was Walker who kept the Heat close. But however, it was not enough as the Bulls took Game 1 and trying to make it 2-0 on tuesday. Will the Heat regroup for Game 1? I just hope so. I don't wanna see so many fouls in one game alone.
@id_pop (293)
• Philippines
23 Apr 07
Make no mistake, they were good last season, thanks to Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon. You must mean they're *better* this time around, not just because of Ben Wallace but because of the improvement they're harvesting from their young players. I can't wait to see how this team develops in a few more years: Kirk Hinrich, Luol Deng, Tyrus Thomas, Ben Gordon, and Andres Nocioni (okay, I might as well throw in Thabo Sefolosha to that list) still have much room for improvement, and that's not to say they're not already good at this stage. They're shaping up to be one of the fastest rising teams in the East - if not the entire league - today.
