<div align="center"> <font face="Arial"> vs. <font color="DarkRed">Chicago Bulls</font> vs. <font color="red">Miami Heat </font> Date: November 1st, 2006 Time: 8:00 P.M. Eastern TV: TNT Place: American Airlanes Arena </font> </div> <font face="Arial"> </font> <font face="Arial"><font size="3"><font color="DarkRed"><div align="center">Bulls Starting Lineup</div> </font></font></font><font face="Arial"> </font> <div align="center"><font face="Arial"> </font> <font face="Arial"><font size="1">(K.Hinrich, B.Gordon, L.Deng, PJ Brown, B.Wallace)</font></font></div> <font face="Arial"> </font> <div align="center"><font face="Arial"><font color="Red"><font size="3">Heat Starting Lineup:</font></font></font><font face="Arial"> </font></div> <font face="Arial"> </font> <div align="center"><font face="Arial"> </font> <font face="Arial"><font size="1">(G.Payton, D.Wade, A.Walker, U.Haslem, S.O'Neal)</font></font></div> <font face="Arial"> </font><div align="center"><font face="Arial"> Marquee Matchup</font> <font face="Arial"> VS.</font> </div> <font face="Arial"> Although Wade will not be matched up against Hinrich at all times, you can bet that Hinrich will be on Wade like dog. If there is a Wade stopper in this league, Kirk has to be one of them as he forced Wade to take tough shots last year, particularly in the first round of the playoffs, where the Bulls eventually lost in 6. <font size="3">Keys to the Game</font></font><ul> [*]<font face="Arial"><font color="DarkRed">Stop Wade </font>– It's easier said than done, but historically speaking, when Wade has struggled against the them, the Bulls have been victorious. This is just one key, but it may be the most important.</font> [*]<font face="Arial"><font color="DarkRed">Don't forget bout Shaq Daddy </font>– Though defered to Wade, Shaq is still the most dominant inside force in the game and forces the opposition to switch its game plan. Ben has done a good job against Shaq in recent years, but they're going to need a collective effort in attempt to shutdown Shaq.</font> [*]<font face="Arial"><font color="DarkRed">Play Your Game</font> – Chicago was one of the best teams last year in holding their opponents to limited points, and they should not allow the Heat's style of play persuade them into playing the same. Stick to the hard nose defense, half court offense, and run when you have the chance. </font> [*]<font face="Arial"><font color="Red">Get the others involved</font> – Though the bench isn't deep like Chicago, it will be crucial to get the others (players not named Dwyane or Shaq) going offensively as the Bulls will look to focus in on them. </font> [*]<font face="Arial"><font color="Red">Crash the boards</font> – With a revamped and strong rebounding frontline and bench, it's going to be a challange for the Heat on the boards. It's much of a downgrade when the Bulls bench comes in, as we've seen Nocioni grab boards like mad against the Heat before. </font> [*]<font face="Arial"><font color="Red">Don't force </font>– With more emphasis on this to Wade, the Heat should not force their shots. If you say Wade not being able to create anything solid offensively, swing it around and see what's available or give it back to him in a posistion where he can create more effectively.</font>[/list]<font face="Arial"><font size="3">Prediction:</font></font><font face="Arial"><font size="3"> Bulls 88 Heat 94</font></font>
WTF Heat are getting raped up the ***. 59-30 at halftime Chicago looks pretty dang good, and has SERIOUS depth...like serious serious depth...USA team kind dang Heat has no such depth and can't seem to get it going today, especially Shaq and U-Don. They miss Jason Williams. Wade doing well though.
LOL! This has got to be embarrasing. This game was held in Miami, correct? On the day they got thier championship rings, in front of thier own fans, they got beat by 42 points :|...wow... Shaq getting 7 points and 5 rebounds is extremely low. Wade did solid. Heat need to step it up.
<div class="quote_poster">hustler Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Blame the new ball?...I dont think so.</div> Well Chicago had to use it as well.
The Miami meltdown... What happened guys? LOL @ blaming the ball. I'm sure Miami will get fired up. I mean Pat Riley was talking about this whole effort thing...
Ouch. This game hurt tonight. I really didnt expect a blowout. Especially 40+ points. Looks like the Bulls are for real. The Heat need to step it up. I thought everyone played flat with the exception of Wade.
I bet if the Heat just tried hard enough to make it to the 4th seed, they could repeat their championship. But I guess it depends on if they're facing Chicago in the first round.
I think this season... Shaq'll be whack. He looks slow. What a good start for the Bulls. What an embarassing loss for Heat... Man, the first game means so much. Its like it sets the tone...
People always talk too much after one game, blowout or not, let's wait 10+ games into the season before we start making any predictions. Last season, hardly anyone thought Miami were championship contenders during the season even, soo...
The new ball obviously cause some problems for the heat (mainly gary payton) and the first game is not going to set the tone for the whole season....
<div class="quote_poster">og15 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">People always talk too much after one game, blowout or not, let's wait 10+ games into the season before we start making any predictions. Last season, hardly anyone thought Miami were championship contenders during the season even, soo...</div> First games has some sort of a factor on how a team will perform throughout the season, then again it's only 1 game, and there are still 81 left. But a 42 point loss? And at home no less? It's something that the defending champs has to think about. They can't expect other teams to roll over for them. But like I said, there's still 81 games left.
