As Pat Riley was leaving his postgame interview session Tuesday, he looked at a reporter, smiled and said "Flop." It was in reference to an earlier question, but that's not the point. The point is Riley didn't seem at all worried with his team down 0-2, and that's exactly how the Bulls should want it.
The Heat are defending champs, and that can diminish a team's desire. The Bulls clearly are the hungrier team while the Heat look old and somewhat disinterested.
The Bulls are running them off the court.
And apparently it doesn't matter if Shaq is in foul trouble. Scott Skiles made adjustments with weak-side help and Ben Wallace played a great defensive game.
And maybe Luol Deng is showing more than potential. Maybe this is his arrival.
I still don't think the Bulls will sweep, but suddenly the Pistons aren't looking so invincible.
I have a feeling that the Heat will try to turn this series into a more physical series. Expect more hard fouls. Especially with Posey cheap shotting Deng. But the difference this year is that they are not intimidated by the Heat, and will expect their bully tactics. Role players like Jason williams, Gary Payton, and Alonzo Mourning are not contributing like they did last year. As far as the Pistons, they are definitely beatable, but with the Bulls not having home court, difficult to say exactly how it wil play out. I'll go with the Bulls in 7 there, as they get the nod since they have a superior bench with Nocioni looking 100 percent.
Roman responds: I thought the Heat would dirty up Game 2 with hard stuff. Didn't happen.
I thought the Heat would dirty up Game 2 with hard stuff. Didn't happen.
Well, until Mourning flung Thomas off the court in the last minute. Bo Zo's always good for a cheap shot or two.
They may not have been interested enough to go dirty yet but I'd presume they will if the Bulls play well Friday and the frustration mounts.
Game 2, Conference playoffs. Defending Champion Miami down 0-1 in the series and looking to rebound after game one foul-a-thon. D-Wade, clearly the best player in last years playoffs figures to take his game to the next level after limited time in last game. Mt. St. Shaq looks to open our blocks like the Red Sea of Moses. Pat Riley, of moussehead fame, has figured out his adjustments after the gel finally dries. And the Bulls-Heat series goes back to Miami tied one apiece. WRONG! Game 2 Conference playoffs. Defending Champion Miami has no answer for Chicago 'foot speed' for second straight game. D-Wade is clearly not the same player as pre-injury. Molehill Shaq can't carry the mountain. Pat Riley loses the follicles after constant pulling and vicious head shaking, and the Bulls extend on Happily-Ever-After. You hit the next nail on the head Roman. Detroit is looking very inviting. Note: The Kids are 1 yr. older, and Miami with aged players and a much less than 100% Wade, make for a collapse like the Washington series last year very unlikely. Go Bulls!
I don't expect a sweep but wouldn't be shocked by one at this point either. the Bulls clearly made a satement last night. every time the Heat made a run in the first half the Bulls weathered the storm and held a 55-52 half time lead and after coming out in the 3rd quarter and extending the lead to double digits never let it get below a 7 point lead the rest of the way.
if the Bulls go into Miami and split the 2 games there you can put a fork in the Heat and call them done, no way can they win 3 in a row with 2 being played in the United Center.
Roman Detroit is far from invincible. the Bulls beat them by 17 in the UC and 18 in Auburn Hills this season and in the other 2 games they lost one by 2 points and won the other by 2 points. and if they continue to play with the same intensity they have shown in the first 2 games against Miami start making your plans to watch them in the EC finals.
Bulls did make a statement, and it was "we can hold serve". Miami wanted one of the first 2 but got nothing. Now ALL of the pressure is on the defending champs. Bulls need to put EVERYTHING into getting game 3. You don't want to wake up the sleeping giant, or those role players who will shoot better at home. This pressure is like a sixth man and the Bulls have use that advantage because I believe the refs will have a mandate to stretch this series. Those ratings have to be out off the chain! Bulls match up well with this team and can do it!
Seems from your post that you may be rethinking your expert opinion of "Bulls in 7" in this series.
Roman responds: I'll stick with 7, and I'll stick with my original prediction of Bulls in the NBA Finals. Why not?
Lets not lose prespective here... They did what the were suppose to do, win the first 2 games and maintain home court advantage. Winning a road playoff game will be the true challenge. They haven't done anything till they have done that.
Not trying to be a kill joy here, I loved how they played in the first 2 games, but its critical that they take at least 1 game in Miami... If they come back tied up 2-2, its a whole new ball game.
By the way, I love how snak diesel complains about flopping, but gets 2 blocking fouls, trying to take a charges... why isn't he trying to block shots instead?!?!?
Big D the answer to your queation is quite simple, Shaq's showing signs of aging and he has been run ragged by the young Bulls. I still say Bulls in 5 and then the Bulls in 6 against Detroit. but who will come out of the west is up in the air. Golden State is giving Dallas fits.
after reading John Jackson's article this morning one thing went through my mind....well several things actually....1) since Tuesday's defeat there has been no clever quip from Shaq exuding confidence....2)D.Wade's comment "they did what they're supposed to do, hold serve, now we have to do the same and we're going home confident" is about all he could say.....3)in the televised post game press conference what was up with Walker coming out instead of Shaq or Wade? and quite honestly Walker's body language seemed to be saying "let's go home and get this over with I'm ready to go fishing with Kenny and Charles"......and last but not least Pat Riley playing head games with his own players trying to motivate them saying if they don't do somethings better (i.e defend against Deng and Gordon) they'll have a hard time winning even on thier home court. sounds to me like the Heat are out of deisel fuel and running on fumes.
it's time for the young Bulls to become blood thirsty killers.
you can bet the Heat will come out with some energy in the first quarter Friday night but as long as the Bulls don't let them dictate the pace of the game they can't keep up with the Bulls pace and they have become painfully aware of that.
Tim you are absolutely right. Pressure on Miami is tremendous. They are wounded and the Bulls must attack! As champs, Miami is the most dangerous team in the playoffs. Bulls cannot afford to rest on their laurels. They have to give it an all-or-nothing effort. You are up coach Skiles.
Game three is sooooo important. This means the series will be short if Bulls win, maybe even a sweep, or 7 if we lose. I do not want Wade to get his legs under him. I think if the Bulls continue to show the maturity of Wallace and Brown the Heat will have no place to go to intimidate. (They are not going to intimidate PJ or Ben!) A good burst in the game at the start and I think Miami is toast.
The Bulls are getting tons of good looks and its that Miami is slow and unsure so play your hardest Bulls. I also think Miami is shooting lots better than normal, but are getting tired at the end.
First off Im glad these two met in the 1st round, get's one of
the better teams outta the way for the mighty Pistons! Chicago
is better in my opinion than cleveland and showing that they are
better than Miami, who woulda guessed this much better?(so far).
But the Pistons step it up major come playoff time and know all
the weakness's of Ben Wallace, with 5 allstar's (Mcdyess)and
Prince, you chicago fan's know deep down yourself Chicago may be
scrappin but are in store for a booty slappin! Pistons in 4!
D-Dog first of all the Bulls handled your Pistons 3 of 4 games already this year....secondly they may know Big Ben's weaknesses but on the flip side of that he knows ALL of their weaknesses and you can believe he isn't keeping them a secret. The Bulls will split the first 2 in Detriot and win the series in 6 at home.
after reading all the articles on tonight's game in Miami there is one thing that really intriques me. there is still no quote from the man of steel....Shaq....Riley, Wade and even Mourning have been quoted but no Shaq. in past years he has always had something to say even when his team was down in a series, this year nothing so far. could it be the man of steel is turning into the tin man and lacking heart? in the first 2 games he played well in the first half and faded in the second half. could it be the big "S" tattoo that once stood for superman now stands for shrinkingman? the matador is wounded and bleeding, it's time for the raging Bulls to close in for the kill and drive their horns deep in the Heats gut and take what fight they have left out of them. the Heat may have a young heart in D. Wade but the main body is getting old and tired. Shaq, Zo, Walker and Payton all on the back side of their careers. it's time for the Bulls to stampede and trample out the flame in the Heat and reduce them to fading embers of a once raging fire.
Roman responds: I don't think he played well in Game 2. He missed some shots he should have made.
But I don't think he lacks heart at all. I'm a big fan.
And we have a 1-on-1 interview with him in the best feature in the paper: The Sunday Drive.
tonight the Bulls made their biggest statement of the year! after committing 14 turn overs that turned a 12 point lead into trailing by 12 the Bulls settled back down and went on a 20 to 7 run to re-take the lead. they didn't lose composure or confidence.
could they sweep Miami? very possible but I wouldn't put money on it. Miami is desperate now and will try to send the series back to Chicago but the big question is do they have enough left in them to do it? O'Neal played his best game of the series but still had trouble at times finishing at the rim. Wade looked more like himself and scored 28. Walker played well in the first half even showing a little bit of his "chicken" strut at one point but tried to force things in the second half. when the Bulls went on that 20-7 run you could see the body language of Miami change with one exception......D. Wade. he made a valiant effort to bring them back but could not do it alone. even the strategy of fouling Big Ben was a desperate measure that didn't quite work.
Keith like it or not Skiles has taken TALENT and turned it into TEAM.
Miami has got to know their season is coming to an end if not in game 4 then in game 5.
by the way Roman I also like Shaq and did not mean to presume he no longer had heart for the game, only that he had to be disheartened at not only his own performance in the first 2 games but the performance of his entire team.