Series Preview: Chicago Bulls v.s. Miami Heat

who says he isnt?

what is the story with Udonis Haslem as well, he suspended or not?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">who says he isnt?</div>
No one of this site, but I have encountered many people in the past couple months who constantly trash Gordon’s game, and deem him nothing more than a bench spark plug in the future.


<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">what is the story with Udonis Haslem as well, he suspended or not?</div>
No, apparently they are not suspending him. At least I haven’t heard/found anything online about it.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">No, apparently they are not suspending him. At least I haven?t heard/found anything online about it.</div>

You'd think there would be something on it though, even a fine.

 

Bad news for Chicago is that Shaq has never lost a series after going 1 up.
But all streaks have to end, and the game isn't on for me to watch, so the jinx won't factor in it.

Also interesting is that the Bulls lost their first playoff game for the 2nd time in the last 13 series.

BKS - Did you do a preview for Game 2?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting I-Miss-MJ:</div><div class="quote_post">

BKS - Did you do a preview for Game 2?</div>
I had originally intended this to be the entire series preview thread, but I didn?t anticipate 190+ replies. So I will make a game two preview after I get home from lifting today. Don?t worry it will be up before tip off.

Also on the Haslem thing I am not surprised at all. I mean you think the league is going to do anything that might hinder Shaq?s team from making it to the finals?

 

You could still post the Game 2 preview here. Just to keep the entire thread going.

 

Nice preview.

 

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<font color="DarkRed">Chicago Bulls (41-41)</font> at <font color="Orange">Miami Heat (52-30)</font>
Second Game: Monday, 7:00pm at Heat
TV: TNT, CSN-Chicago

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The Miami Heat need to turn to Shaquille O'Neal to help them overcome a pair of question marks.

A three-time Most Valuable Player in the NBA Finals, O'Neal tries to lead the Heat to a second straight victory over the Chicago Bulls in Game Two of their Eastern Conference playoff series on Monday.

O'Neal made 11-of-16 shots, scored 27 points, grabbed 16 rebounds and blocked five shots Saturday to give Miami a 111-106 triumph over the Bulls. The 7-1 center has won all 25 playoff series after taking the opening game.

Dwyane Wade scored 14 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, had 11 assists and made 14-of-16 free throws for the Heat. However, he was plagued by leg cramps and hobbled off the court late in the contest.

Udonis Haslem is facing a possible league suspension after he was ejected in the second quarter for tossing his mouthpiece toward referee Joey Crawford. Haslem threw his mouthpiece at Crawford after he thought he was fouled while driving to the basket.

Ben Gordon scored 35 points, Kirk Hinrich added 19 and Andres Nocioni 18 with 16 rebounds for the Bulls, who made 13-of-26 from the arc.

Chicago won 10 of its final 11 regular-season games but dropped a series opener for just the second time in 13 series.

The series shifts to Chicago for Game Three on Thursday. </font>

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<font color="Orange">Miami Heat</font>



<font size=""1""><font color=""Orange"">PG</font>- Jason Williams
<font color=""Orange"">SG</font>- Dwyane Wade
<font color=""Orange"">SF</font>- Antoine Walker
<font color=""Orange"">PF</font>- Michael Doleac
<font color=""Orange"">C</font>- Shaquille O‘Neal</font>

<font size=""1"">Coach: Pat Riley</font>

<font size="3">Season Stats</font>
Leading Scorer: Dwyane Wade - 27.3 PPG
Leading Rebounder: Shaquille O‘Neal- 9.2 RPG
Assist Man: Dwyane Wade - 6.7 APG
The 'X' Factor: Shaquille O’Neal (20.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.9 APG)



[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/jason_williams.jpg[/imgl]<font color="Orange">Jason Williams </font>
PPG: 12.3, RPG: 2.4, APG: 4.9
Jason Williams did what was expected of him, and then some for the Miami Heat in game one. Williams went out, expected by many to struggle due to a injury imposed hiatus from basketball that latest over a month., and scored 17 points on just under fifty percent shooting from the field. He did his part, and then some in the Heats game one victory. They will need the same type of performance from him tonight.

[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/dwyane_wade.jpg[/imgl]<font color="Orange">Dwyane Wade </font>
PPG: 27.3, RPG: 4.3, APG: 6.7
Dwyane Wade had an early exit in game one, with what many believe to be cramps. However, supposable Wade has missed some practices since then. Perhaps there is more to this injury than the Heat are letting on about? If Wade is in the least bit hurt the Heat are in trouble. Wade is the engine that makes this team run, they are not the same without him at 100%.



[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/antoine_walker.jpg[/imgl]<font color="Orange">Antonie Walker </font>
PPG: 12.2, RPG: 5.1, APG: 2.0
Heat coach Pat Riley made the decision to start Walker over Posey for this series, and Walker failed to come through for him, at least in game one. Walker managed to score only 10 points in the game two below his season average on 4-13 shooting from the field. Walker will be relied upon heavily in this game with the suspension of Haslem.

[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/michael_doleac.jpg[/imgl]<font color="Orange">Michael Doleac</font>
PPG: 3.2, RPG: 2.1, APG: 0.2
Michael Doleac, yes you heard me right Michael Doleac, all three points and two rebounds of him will be the Heat’s starter for game two of this series with the suspension of Udonis Haslem, after a unfortunate mouth piece incident in game one. With Zo and Halsem out the Heat are very thin in the front court. They will need Doleac to have a huge game to make up for being under manned.

[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/shaquille_oneal.jpg[/imgl]<font color="orange">Shaquille O’Neal </font>
PPG:20.0, RPG: 9.2, APG: 1.9
I would like to apologize to Shaq for questioning how much he had left in the tank before game one. After a dominating 27 point, 16 rebound, and five block performance in game one Shaq will be relied upon heavily in game two as the Heat’s soul front court scoring option. Can Shaq put together two dominant games in a row? I won’t make the same mistake twice so I will give Shaq the benefit of the doubt. However, will it be enough?

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<font color="Darkred"> Chicago Bulls</font>



<font size=""1""><font color=""DarkRed"">PG</font>- Kirk Hinrich
<font color=""DarkRed"">SG</font>- Ben Gordon
<font color=""DarkRed"">SF</font>- Malik Allen
<font color=""DarkRed"">PF</font>- Andres Nocioni
<font color=""DarkRed"">C</font>- Michael Sweetney</font>


<font size=""1"">Coach: Scott Skiles</font>

<font size="3">Season Stats</font>
Leading Scorer: Ben Gordon- 17.0 PPG
Leading Rebounder: Tyson Chandler- 9.0 RPG
Assist Man: Kirk Hinrich- 6.3 APG
The 'X' Factor: Luol Deng (14.3 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 1.9 APG)



[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/kirk_hinrich.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">Kirk Hinrich</font>
PPG: 15.9, RPG: 3.6, APG: 6.3
Kirk Hinrich had a below average performance for much of the game Saturday. He began to gain confidence late in the game, and drain several shots in a row. Hinrich finished the game with 19 points on just under 50% shooting from the field. If he can get off to a better start early tonight the Bulls might be able to jump on the Heat early.

[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/ben_gordon.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">Ben Gordon</font>
PPG: 17.0 PPG, RPG: 2.7, APG: 3.0
I said it in the game one preview, and I will say it again here Ben Gordon has arrived! His 35 points in the first game of the series including several key buckets to keep the Bulls in the game late Gordon took his first step in reaching superstar level in the NBA. In the NBA it’s not about what you do in the regular season as much as it is what you do when the pressure is on in the playoffs, and Gordon is delivering. Can he do it again?



[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/malik_allen.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">Malik Allen</font>
PPG: 4.9, RPG: 2.6, APG: 0.4
I don’t think the Heat had the scouting report on Allen in game one. Which is pretty strange considering he played for them not that long ago. Allen took it to his former team early starting off the game 4-4 from the field, and finishing with double digit points. The Bulls will need Allen to give the same type of performance tonight, but the Bulls will need a bigger performance from Luol Deng.

[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/andres_nocioni.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">Andres Nocioni</font>
PPG: 13.6, RPG: 6.1, APG: 1.4
Andres Nocioni, excluding a stupid deep three pointer late, had another incredible game against the Heat. he seemed to rise to the occasion when needed, and playing hard nosed defense on everyone. Andres will need to get that last shot out of his head quick, if it is not out of his head already, and be focused from the opening tip.

[imgl]http://www.nba.com/media/playerfile/mike_sweetney.jpg[/imgl]<font color="DarkRed">Michael Sweetney</font>
PPG: 8.1, RPG: 5.3, APG: 0.9
Well after missing two lay-ups back to back I think it is safe to say that Sweets was a bit intimidated by Shaq. I don’t blame him, who wouldn't be? But come on now Sweets two uncontested lay-ups? I got to give Sweets his props on the defensive side of the ball though. Even though Shaq went off Sweets prevented him from catching the ball deep in the paint. Hopefully he can get his confidence back and quick!


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<ul><font color="DarkRed"><font size=""1"">Transition Defense</font></font> <font size=""1"">the Heat killed the Bulls in transition in game one every time the Bulls would fight to within two points of the Heat the Heat would just get two fast break lay-ups and blow the lead back up. Skiles has to have this team focused on getting back on the defensive end in game two.</font>[/list]

<ul><font color="DarkRed"><font size=""1"">Points in the Paint</font></font> <font size=""1""> the Bulls lost the battle of points in the paint 52-30 in game one given a lot of that was Shaq the Bulls need to find a better way to defend the paint. If all else fails they should go back to old faithful “hack a Shaq“</font>[/list]

<ul><font color="DarkRed"><font size=""1"">Get more out of Luol Deng</font></font> <font size=""1""> six points out of Deng is unacceptable Skiles needs to find a better way to implement Deng into the offense. Plain and simple.</font>[/list]

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<ul><font color="Orange"><font size=""1"">Get on the break </font></font> <font size=""1""> with Haslem out tonight it‘s going to be hard to have successful half court sets. the Bulls will be able to double team Shaq without having to worry about someone else killing them inside the paint. </font>[/list]

<ul><font color="Orange"><font size=""1""> Get Shaq involved early and often</font></font> <font size=""1"">let me read this stat line to you again 27 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocked shots. Shaq is Shaq get him the ball, and get out of the way. Until the Bulls prove they can find some way to stop him that’s your best option on the offensive end. </font>[/list]

<ul><font color="Orange"><font size=""1"">Don‘t give the Bulls confidence</font></font> <font size=""1""> the Heat have to make sure they don’t let the Bulls gain confidence early in this game, and let them start thinking they can beat you. With Haslem and Zo out your already in a whole. The last thing you need is a young team with nothing to lose playing with confidence.[/list]</font>

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<font size="1">Like I said in the game one preview I still see the Bulls taking the series 4-3. The Bulls proved in game one they can take the heat and be competitive. In game two they will prove they can beat the heat. let‘s go Bulls!</font>

 

Nice preview, one question, are you sure Doleac is starting at PF tonight for the Heat?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheTruth5:</div><div class="quote_post">Nice preview, one question, are you sure Doleac is starting at PF tonight for the Heat?</div>
I actually figured it would be him through process of elimination, and how the minutes where distributed in game one. However, Shapecity is probably right, and they will more than likely move Walker to the power forward position due to the Bulls lack of size in the front court they won?t lose much by putting Walker at power forward.

 

Hopefully they don't go with that big line-up against the Bulls. Nice preview also. Can't wait for the game.

 

Just remebered, before the series they said Alonzo was going to be back after Game 1 of the series, he's not going to play tonight, correct?

EDIT: After I posted, I just saw Shape's post.

 

He may he is a gametime decision. He could've played last night but he didn't want to push it. I think Kapono may end up hurting the Bulla a lot because he can shoot with them and hit just as many shots as a Heinrich from beyond the arc. Also, GP and Posey off the bench help out our depth a lot. Don't underestimate Wayne Simien either.

 

Game time baby! If the Bulls are going to have a shot at winning this series they need a win tonight. The Heat are vulnerable they will have to rely heavily on players who have not shown they can come through in the past (Simien, Doleac, Kapono, etc.). Let’s go Bulls!

Nocioni hurt his ankle going to the basket.

 

Miami starting out HOT! Nocioni gets injured could be a big loss for Chicago and a big gain for Miami becuase Nocioni is one of their few contributing big men.

 

Bulls are on fire after starting out slow they have tied the game. Nocioni is back, and playing well. Hinrich is on fire two threes in a row. Duhon is in rather early kind of a surprise to me.

 

i HATE this. I need TV.

Gamecenter just sucks compared to it.