It's not a controlled fire, it's an all-out Heat
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 24 May 2011
TRAILING narrowly at 78-74 with still 6:34 left to play in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals Sunday night, the Chicago Bulls appeared in good shape to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
But just 1 minute and 22 seconds later, things fell apart, quickly and badly. And it evaporated the hopes for a road upset at the American Airlines Arena.
In that brutal stretch, the Bulls missed two field goals, gave up two fouls and surrendered two turnovers, paving the way for Miami's volcano-hot offense to spew a 9-0 run that trampolined the Heat to a 96-85 win.
Instead of being two games away from the NBA Finals, the Bulls are two games closer to elimination as the Heat took a 2-1 lead in this best-of-7 series. Game 4 is Tuesday night at the AAA in Miami.
In a match-up between Chicago's lone star -- MVP Derrick Rose -- versus Miami's Power Trio, the numbers simply added up. One couldn't beat three.
Chris Bosh inflicted the most pain with a game-high 34. Bosh sank 13 of 18 field goals, and he scored everywhere, anywhere ----- dunks, lay-ups, free throws, long and short range jumper, whatever.
LeBron James came thisclose to a triple double -- 22 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists. He made a modest 6 of 13 shots, but his breakaway lay-up, which resulted in a 3-point play following a hacking foul from Kyle Corver, put Miami ahead to stay, 87-74.
DESPITE missing 11 shots, Dwyane Wade managed 17 points and 9 rebounds. The double-teams that he commanded created easy opportunities for Miami, which made 34 of 67 shots for a high 50.7 percent clip.
Chicago, on the other hand, couldn't find the ocean from the shore.
The Bulls converted only 32 of 77 field goals, 41.6 percent. They went 5-for-12 from beyond the arc and their free throw struggles continued, 16-for-21. The Bulls finished with 11 turnovers and had way more fouls (24) than assists (16).
And while they won the rebounding battle, 41-32, they didn't hurt Miami on second-chance points because the Bulls were achingly miserable inside the paint ---- 18 of 46.
Derrick Rose labored hard to get every point of the 20 he gathered. He rarely found an open path to the hoop, and when he did, he was met by two or three Heat defenders.
One-against-many, Rose shot 8-for-19 from the field.
Carlos Boozer had his most productive outing, 26 points and 17 rebounds, but Boozer couldn't stop Bosh, either.
Chicago's other forward, 6-foot-11 Joakim Noah, struggled mightily. Dubbed as an "energy guy," Noah had as much juice as a dead battery, tallying just 1 point.
"WE ARE a tough-minded team, tough group of guys and, trust me, we will be right back at it in Game,4" Boozer said.
The Bulls didn't win 62 regular season games by accident. I have no doubt they will come back to fight in Game 4.
But I also believe that winning this series seems a lot tougher now, because it's crystal clear that Chicago doesn't have a consistent and reliable second scorer behind Rose.
And while the Heat has somehow been able to contain Rose, the Bulls don't have any answers to the one thing that baffles them the most ---- Miami's Big Three. (Homer D. Sayson)
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