The Chicago Bulls were unable to pull out a close Game 4 versus the Miami Heat, falling in overtime, 101-93. Now, the Bulls are one game away from elimination while the Heat are one win away from returning to the NBA Finals.
The Bulls had finished with the best record in the NBA for the 2010-2011 season at a mark of 62-20. Furthermore, they had the league's 2nd highest ranked defense based on PPG allowed (91.3) while scoring 98.6 PPG (20th in the league). However, they have met their match in the Heat, who had the 6th best defense based on PPG allowed (94.6) while scoring 102.1 PPG (8th in the league). Aside from a 103-point outburst and 21-point victory in Game 1, the Bulls have not been able to keep pace with the Heat, who have increased scoring with each game (82, 85, 96, 101). The most the Bulls have been able to score in the last 3 games is 93 points, which happened only because Game 4 went into overtime.
The Bulls have their hands full in turning the tide in the series, needing 3 consecutive wins to advance to the NBA Finals. Here are some ways that the team can take Game 5.
1) Capitalize on Home Court Advantage
The Chicago Bulls were 36-5 at home during the regular season and are 6-2 at home during the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat were a solid 28-13 on the road during the regular season and are 3-3 on the road during the playoffs. In light of this, the Bulls need to build off the energy and enthusiasm of the fans early and run out to an early yet sustainable lead. If the Bulls can force the issue at home in Game 5, they can position themselves to retake control of the series tempo and momentum.
2) Re-establish Interior Dominance
Forward/center Chris Bosh has been waiting all season to play at the level of quality that he is playing right now. Likewise, forward/center Udonis Haslem has returned from injury in order to solidify the Heat's rotation. Their efforts combined with the rebounding of LeBron James, Joel Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Mike Miller, and Mike Bibby has neutralized the offensive rebounding and overall inside play of the Bulls. Now, with center Omer Asik out with a fractured left fibula, Kurt Thomas needs to return to the rotation and help Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, and Taj Gibson regain dominance of interior play in this series. Even if Bosh gets his share of points, the Bulls cannot let Bosh and the other Heat players to keep pace on rebounding, interior offense, or interior defense. Thomas in particular is an established shot blocker, so his defense should help support the defensive prowess of Noah and Gibson. On offense, Noah must step up and score to a level closer to Boozer and Gibson in order to put the pressure on Bosh, Anthony, and Haslem to play harder on defense and potentially risk getting into foul trouble. In winning the interior battle, the Bulls put less pressure on point guard Derrick Rose to carry the team to victory.
3) Use the Bench, Play Small, and Spread Out the Scoring
Regardless of Asik's injury, the absence of Kurt Thomas in this series has been somewhat confusing. Despite being past his prime now, Thomas still moves around as well as Anthony and Haslem do and needs to be in the lineup to help control the rebounding while also offering help defense on the driving LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Mario Chalmers. Meanwhile, Rasual Butler is a 3-point threat off the bench that, like Thomas, has been absent from the rotation in the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. Butler's scoring ability can very well be used to complement the scoring of Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson, Kyle Korver, and Ronnie Brewer. Furthermore, Butler offers stronger defensive play than Korver and could be a good player to use to slow down a number of Heat players, including James, Wade, and Bosh. Overall, the Bulls can play with a small lineup, as long as their perimeter scoring is sufficient and their perimeter defense is sufficient. The biggest risk here is giving the opportunities for James Jones and Eddie House to join Mike Bibby, Mike Miller, and Mario Chalmers in knocking down three-point shots. Thus, Butler and Thomas--both former Heat players--must assert themselves if and when called upon in Game 5.
The Bulls had finished with the best record in the NBA for the 2010-2011 season at a mark of 62-20. Furthermore, they had the league's 2nd highest ranked defense based on PPG allowed (91.3) while scoring 98.6 PPG (20th in the league). However, they have met their match in the Heat, who had the 6th best defense based on PPG allowed (94.6) while scoring 102.1 PPG (8th in the league). Aside from a 103-point outburst and 21-point victory in Game 1, the Bulls have not been able to keep pace with the Heat, who have increased scoring with each game (82, 85, 96, 101). The most the Bulls have been able to score in the last 3 games is 93 points, which happened only because Game 4 went into overtime.
The Bulls have their hands full in turning the tide in the series, needing 3 consecutive wins to advance to the NBA Finals. Here are some ways that the team can take Game 5.
1) Capitalize on Home Court Advantage
The Chicago Bulls were 36-5 at home during the regular season and are 6-2 at home during the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat were a solid 28-13 on the road during the regular season and are 3-3 on the road during the playoffs. In light of this, the Bulls need to build off the energy and enthusiasm of the fans early and run out to an early yet sustainable lead. If the Bulls can force the issue at home in Game 5, they can position themselves to retake control of the series tempo and momentum.
2) Re-establish Interior Dominance
Forward/center Chris Bosh has been waiting all season to play at the level of quality that he is playing right now. Likewise, forward/center Udonis Haslem has returned from injury in order to solidify the Heat's rotation. Their efforts combined with the rebounding of LeBron James, Joel Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Mike Miller, and Mike Bibby has neutralized the offensive rebounding and overall inside play of the Bulls. Now, with center Omer Asik out with a fractured left fibula, Kurt Thomas needs to return to the rotation and help Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, and Taj Gibson regain dominance of interior play in this series. Even if Bosh gets his share of points, the Bulls cannot let Bosh and the other Heat players to keep pace on rebounding, interior offense, or interior defense. Thomas in particular is an established shot blocker, so his defense should help support the defensive prowess of Noah and Gibson. On offense, Noah must step up and score to a level closer to Boozer and Gibson in order to put the pressure on Bosh, Anthony, and Haslem to play harder on defense and potentially risk getting into foul trouble. In winning the interior battle, the Bulls put less pressure on point guard Derrick Rose to carry the team to victory.
3) Use the Bench, Play Small, and Spread Out the Scoring
Regardless of Asik's injury, the absence of Kurt Thomas in this series has been somewhat confusing. Despite being past his prime now, Thomas still moves around as well as Anthony and Haslem do and needs to be in the lineup to help control the rebounding while also offering help defense on the driving LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Mario Chalmers. Meanwhile, Rasual Butler is a 3-point threat off the bench that, like Thomas, has been absent from the rotation in the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. Butler's scoring ability can very well be used to complement the scoring of Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson, Kyle Korver, and Ronnie Brewer. Furthermore, Butler offers stronger defensive play than Korver and could be a good player to use to slow down a number of Heat players, including James, Wade, and Bosh. Overall, the Bulls can play with a small lineup, as long as their perimeter scoring is sufficient and their perimeter defense is sufficient. The biggest risk here is giving the opportunities for James Jones and Eddie House to join Mike Bibby, Mike Miller, and Mario Chalmers in knocking down three-point shots. Thus, Butler and Thomas--both former Heat players--must assert themselves if and when called upon in Game 5.