<u><font face="Tahoma"><font size="3">Projected Starters</font></font></u> <font face="Tahoma"><font color="red">Chicago Bulls</font></font> <font face="Tahoma"></font>http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/nba/profile.../65x90/3820.jpg http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/nba/profile.../65x90/3882.jpg http://espn-att.starwave.com/i/nba/profile...65x90/3507.jpg" target="_blank"><u><font face="Tahoma"><font color="#b61f24"></font></font></u></a><u><font face="Tahoma"><font color="#b61f24"></font></font></u><font color="#b61f24"> <font face="Tahoma"><font color="red">Miami Heat</font></font> <font face="Tahoma"></font> <font face="Tahoma"><font color="black">Lineup Analysis:</font></font> <ul> [*]<font face="Tahoma"><font color="black">The lineup for the Heat is the same staring 5 as projected at the start of the season, with Walker being the 6th man, coming off a string of hot games </font></font> [*]<font face="Tahoma"><font color="black">The Bulls lack a shot blocking threat, with Chandler coming off the bench, which means their will be alot of driving from Wade and co. </font></font> [*]<font face="Tahoma"><font color="black">Michael Sweetney and Malik Allen are starters, but wont be getting starter minutes as Luol Deng and Tyson Chandler will be getting the majority of the minutes at the forward and 5, respectively </font></font> [*]<font face="Tahoma"><font color="black">Both teams are short in height, with the huge exception to Shaq, and Malik Allen at 6'10, whos not an inside threat. The rest of the 9 starters are under 6'8 and under, but both teams have their own bulldogs inside with Nocioni and Haslem</font></font>[/list]<font face="Tahoma"><font color="black">Heat Keys to Win Series</font></font> <ul> [*]<font face="Tahoma"><font color="black">Get Shaq alot of touches, often and early. Especially if the Bulls go with Sweetney at Center, tehres no way the Bulls can contain Shaq. Even with help, the Heat will get something posistive out of a play for Shaq, opening up the lane for Wade to attack, and shots for Williams and Posey </font></font> [*]<font face="Tahoma"><font color="black">Attack. The Bulls have a weak interior defense, and if you get Chandler out of the game in foul trouble, this will totally open up the game for Wade to create and dominate. </font></font> [*]<font face="Tahoma"><font color="#000000">Get Walker in the flow. All year Shaqs been saying Walker will be the X-Factor come playoffs, and now it has arrived. Walker has stepped his game up recently, and if he can continue his stellar play, the series will be over in a hurry.</font></font>[/list]<font face="Tahoma"><font color="#000000">Bulls Key to win Series</font></font> <font color="#000000"> <ul> [*]<font face="Tahoma">Hope to contain Wade and Shaq. Their best hope is to contain one of them, because you can't contain both, especially with the Bulls lineup. Nobody is fit to guard Wade or Shaq one on one (to be fair, there's not many in the league), so they'll have to play very good team defense, with Nocioni, Chandler and Deng anchoring them. </font> [*]<font face="Tahoma">Rebound. If and when they help on Shaq, it'll allow an open man to flea to the basket when the ball is shot. The Bulls inside players and help men, have to do a good job boxing out and securing boards </font> [*]<font face="Tahoma">Get it going on offense. This hasn't been much of a problem this year, but if they can't do this, then the series is done. The Bulls key offensive players, Hinrich, Gordon, Duhon, Nocioni and Deng, have to be able to elevate their play in the post season if they hope to make this series winnable. </font><font face="Tahoma"> Feel free to post your series predictions.</font>[/list]<font face="Tahoma"><font size="1">Note: Sorry for the late preview, i've been busy for pretty much the whole year, and especially the last week with school and work.</font></font></font></font>
This should be a great series, when you look at it head to head, it's close. Gordon vs Wade should be great.
The Heat will probably start Antoine Walker instead of Posey, according to the Miami Herald. Will be interesting to see how Wade plays, especially in Chicago. He usually plays bad in Chicago. The Heat need him to be at his best. Look for Shaq to have big numbers since the Bulls don't have anyone at Center. I'll take the Heat in 5 games. GO HEAT
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting spyware:</div><div class="quote_post">I just wanted to know why everyone was wearing white in Miami.</div> Every year at the American Airlines Arena there is a topic or theme for the playoffs. So far we have had the Back in Black, the Red Zone last year and now White Hot. It was really a great game, Wades clutch play in the end was what carried us to the W. Shaq was just a MONSTER! And J-will, Posey, and Walker all had solid contributions. As excited as I am about the victory I am still pretty scared about Wade we really need him hope he recovers quickly. Edit: Apparently its only a cramp for Wade...what a relief. Did anyone else notice the things we did today that we didnt do in the regular season? I saw Shaq, and Walker dive for loose balls, and I also saw the Heat actually play some defense which was really good to see. I knew this team would turn it up in the playoffs how can they not we are desperate as hell.
Everyone wearing white was kind of creepy. The Heat really got in trouble when they stopped giving Shaq the ball on offense. In the 2nd half, he didn't score until the 3rd quarter was almost over. Antoine Walker is irritating as hell to watch on the court. He was getting some cheap assists, but a majority of the time we trying to score over two defenders. Then he would lose his man on defense for wide open looks. The Heat have to like the result of this game though. The Bulls aren't going to shoot that well from behind the arc for the entire series, and Wade isn't going to struggle from the field in back to back games. The Heat didn't panic when the Bulls took their first lead, and came back to win the game. If Haslem gets suspended and misses Game 2, the Bulls might be able to steal one. Also Wade cramping up at the end didn't look good either.
Game 2 and Win number 2 for the Heat last night. Shaq had an excellent performance, and Wade playing injured played really good as well, his Defense helped us alot. (Those blocks were Insane!) Williams, Walker and Posey also braught it in Game 2, it was a blowout for most of the game until the end. The way the Heat are playing I think we can finish them off in Game 4. Shaq is just to much, <font color=""Red"">GO HEAAAT!</font>
Let's get this thing going again because I hate having to follow it in the Bulls forum. Down 5 here, we can come back get the ball in Dwyane's hands he needs to make some plays. Also, Shaq is playing like garbage.
First of all, P.A.P no offense or anything, but your the Heat team leader right?!!........ how come you never post in the Heat forum This Game 3 in Chicago is by far one of the most frustrating things I have ever seen. We got slaughtered, plain and simple; Shaq had the worst game of his career, Wade was walking around, and we played the worst defense I have ever seen in my life. The only guy who came to play was J-will, the only thing us Heat fans can hope for is that hopefully the Heat take it personal and kick some major ass Game 4. P.S. Posey's play was mad dirty, but im praying they don't suspend him, in my eyes as bad as it looked I believe he was just trying to send a message. I wouldn't excpect something like that from Posey though..
Why did we play so bad? If we played like this how can we beat detroit. Its a shame if we dont win this year cause i want Zo and Payton to retire with a ring. Then all is well. And how on earth are Malik Allen and Chandler able to stop O'neal while he overpowers Rasheed and Ben?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shooster:</div><div class="quote_post">Why did we play so bad? If we played like this how can we beat detroit. Its a shame if we dont win this year cause i want Zo and Payton to retire with a ring. Then all is well. And how on earth are Malik Allen and Chandler able to stop O'neal while he overpowers Rasheed and Ben?</div> i totally agree with u... miami heat were built to win this year and if they dont win it then its might take a while. Shaq is not gonna get in better, so as alanzo and walker!!!
Last night was another example of the Heat getting complacent and not taking care of business. These types of games have been driving Pat Riley crazy all season long. He doesn't feel this team has the killer instinct it needs. The Heat took a 2-0 lead, and didn't play with any urgency. They were flat and the Bulls came out with a lot of energy and took it to the Heat all game long. Pat Riley doesn't want his team to relax, especially in the post season. You can't turn the switch on and off and beat a team like Detroit in a 7 game series. The Pacers-Nets series has the potential to go 7 games or end in 5 games. The Heat need to advance as soon as possible so they can get Zo healthy and rest Shaq for the next round.
^I totally agree we can't just relax like this. We are a lot better than them and now we need to show why some are picking us to win it all.
Anybody see before halftime Wade and Payton mouthing off to each other during a timeout on the bench? The 2 had to be seperated. Not good for Miami...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Soft Parade:</div><div class="quote_post">Anybody see before halftime Wade and Payton mouthing off to each other during a timeout on the bench? The 2 had to be seperated. Not good for Miami...</div> Ya I saw that, I heard Wade say Listen to me Listen to me, and Payton looking the other way talking garbage. The First half was horrible for the Heat until the end I dont like what I see Hopefully Wade keeps taking his shots, when we go to him we ussually score, everyone else is puttin up bricks. Mourning played well, we need to play how we know we can and get Shaq more involved this 2nd half.
Heat failed to execute down the stretch, costing them the win. We didn't deserve to win anyways the way we played. Wade never took over the game, and in the playoffs, he has to step it up, especially with Shaq off. Speaking off Shaq, some of the offensive foul calls hes been getting on him have been ridiculious. Some weren't even fouls, and all of a sudden theyre calling some fouls that have never been called on him before.
Things are going good tonight. Shaq is playing great but we are only up 3. DWade is doing a great job tonight as well.
