Quote:
Originally Posted by King Glorious
The Bulls don't run many plays with Rose anyway so to expect them to run one with the ball in his hands at the end of the game was not a good expectation. Every should be able to see that running a play in that situation probably hurts them far more than helps them. Are you going to run a play for someone else? No. Just about any play for Rose would involve a screener and that's exactly what the Bulls didn't want in that situation. Miami has length and quickness on defense and they don't have to fight through the screen and try to help and recover. They just switch and by bringing up a screener, it would have made Rose have to beat 1 1/2 to two guys. Their best option was to hope that he could beat his man to the basket but with James on him, that was going to be very hard because James doesn't have to play up on him as tight because he can outjump him and get his hand in Rose's face from farther away. It just wasn't a good recipe for success for Chicago.
On the other end, Miami isn't doing anything spectacular on offense but they continue to do just enough. It appears that James and Wade coast for long stretches because they know that either or both of them can turn it on for a 5-8 minute burst and do serious damage and they are trying to save that energy until it's needed most. Neither one of them is playing with the same full game intensity that they did playing alone. Fortunately for them, they've been right. Another major difference between the two teams is that Miami needs a contribution from a third and fourth player but it doesn't matter which two players those are, as long as they get it. In order for Chicago to have any chance, Boozer and Deng have to produce because none of their bench guys have a chance of coming in and producing what they need. All of their offensive pressure is on the starters and those guys are inconsistent. With James and Wade, you KNOW that if they really need it, they can get it. Chicago doesn't have anyone like that. It's a huge psychological advantage. Chicago is out there feeling like they better get up by 12+ in order to have a shot because as long as Miami is within 10, they feel they can get that whenever they want and especially so if they are within 5-6.
Simply put, as Van Gundy said last night in talking about Dirk, when you have the best player on the court, you have a high level of confidence. It's even moreso when you have the two best players on the court and one of them is the best player in the world. Like him or hate him, James is the best player in the world and Wade is arguably the second best. Watching him take on the challenge of Rose and then when they play Dallas and he's going to spend time defending Dirk, it's incredible. How many players can defend those two guys and still be a 25-8-8 guy on offense? Only one. Him.
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He's a freak.
Chuck said a couple of years ago that Lebron could guard a point and he proved you guys right the other night. That was incredible regardless of the help.
I am holding out hope for Chicago tonight and I really do hope that Dirk wins one.
I don't know the answer to this question but when was the last time that neither number 1 seed made the final. I want to say cleveland vs. san antonio but that might not be correct. I know it happens but not as often as people might think.
I am surprised that the Bulls coach isn't taking more heat (no pun intended) for that performance the other night. That play, or lack thereof, in the final 8 seconds was awful.