...No more Bulls games to worry about. It was an exciting run.
Should be one more game. I'm not one to complain about refs changing the outcome of the game. But I'll complain about this one. I believe there is no way Miami comes back from the 4th quarter deficit with only 2 or 3 minutes remaining without an assist from the refs. The Bulls were backing off on defense, allowing James open looks at threes, because if they got near him they seemed to get called for fouls. Meanwhile, the Heat had their way with the Bulls defensively. No calls. The excessive T's made me think someone had it in for the Bulls in this game. In this case it manifested with the disparity in foul calls late in the fourth, allowing Miami to whittle points off the lead with the clock stopped.
Not to take anything away from James' greatness. He still had to hit every shot to win, and he did.
I didn't think the Bulls could win the series, but I do think they should have won last night's game, and it sort of leaves a sour taste in my mouth...
*****
Friday, May 27, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Not looking good...
No, I'm not talking about the Cubs or the White Sox, though I could be.
Things aren't looking good for the Bulls in this best of 7 series with the Heat. Down 3-1 and going back to Chicago, the Bulls would have to win the next three. We haven't seen much evidence that they can do this.
Oh, they've been in the games, but at the end it seems the Heat just have too much. Too much talent. Too much luck. Too much star power.
I think the ball has bounced their way a lot in this series. Their bench players, the few that they use, at least, have made contributions. Hit big shots when needed. Gotten to rebounds and loose balls. Been effective when the superstars aren't on the floor. They've been good. And shots - well, shots have went down for them.
The Bulls on the other hand have had tons of problems with shots. Layups aren't dropping, nor are jump shots from all ranges. Rose's drives to the basket have not been resulting in enough points or free throws. The ball too often seems to land in the hands of Heat rebounders, and not Noah, Boozer, Gibson or whoever.
Hopefully the Bulls get at least one win out of the next three. It would have to be tomorrow night, since a loss then ends the series.
Keeping fingers and toes crossed and hoping for better bounces as well as better play.
*****
Things aren't looking good for the Bulls in this best of 7 series with the Heat. Down 3-1 and going back to Chicago, the Bulls would have to win the next three. We haven't seen much evidence that they can do this.
Oh, they've been in the games, but at the end it seems the Heat just have too much. Too much talent. Too much luck. Too much star power.
I think the ball has bounced their way a lot in this series. Their bench players, the few that they use, at least, have made contributions. Hit big shots when needed. Gotten to rebounds and loose balls. Been effective when the superstars aren't on the floor. They've been good. And shots - well, shots have went down for them.
The Bulls on the other hand have had tons of problems with shots. Layups aren't dropping, nor are jump shots from all ranges. Rose's drives to the basket have not been resulting in enough points or free throws. The ball too often seems to land in the hands of Heat rebounders, and not Noah, Boozer, Gibson or whoever.
Hopefully the Bulls get at least one win out of the next three. It would have to be tomorrow night, since a loss then ends the series.
Keeping fingers and toes crossed and hoping for better bounces as well as better play.
*****
Monday, May 23, 2011
Bulls vs Heat
I've been neglecting this blog for a long time now (partly because I see no evidence that anyone is reading it). Long enough to not comment on the Bulls' playoff run up until now.
The Bulls had trouble with the Pacers. Oh, they put them away in 5 games, but all but maybe one of those games were hard fought battles where Rose simply took over at the end and willed the Bulls to victory.
Similar situation with the Hawks. Took them 6 games, I believe, to put the Hawks away, and again, in all but maybe 2, the contests were hard fought and close. I blamed it on matchup problems. I felt that the Pacers, with their length, and the Hawks, with their physical frontcourt and their good defensive guards, presented problems for the Bulls up front and for their shooters. I thought that, come Miami, they would be able to win those matchups. I thought the Bulls would be stronger than the Heat at center and fairly even at power forward. And I thought their shooters, especially Korver, would be able to can some jumpers.
Instead, the Heat's future Hall of Famers have been running over the Bulls in games 2and 3. And Korver and others have been unable to hit the jump shots, whether they be open or contested. And the Bulls are NOT dominating up front. Not at all. After game 1, the Bulls have not played well. Miami has a great defense, to be certain. And it looks to me like the refs are giving the Heat an assist with the way they're calling the game. They're taking away Rose's (and Wade's) ability to drive and get fouled or get to the rim. In the Heat's case, this doesn't affect them so much. They still have Lebron doing his thing, and they have Bosh being a huge factor. And Haslem has come in and given them quality minutes off the bench, negating some of the Bulls' supposed advantage in that department. The refs are also allowing Miami to pack the lane and haven't called a single defensive 3 seconds on them, far as I've noticed, this series.
I think the Bulls could still pull out this series, but game 4 has become a must-win for them. Let's all keep our fingers crossed that they can do it...
*****
The Bulls had trouble with the Pacers. Oh, they put them away in 5 games, but all but maybe one of those games were hard fought battles where Rose simply took over at the end and willed the Bulls to victory.
Similar situation with the Hawks. Took them 6 games, I believe, to put the Hawks away, and again, in all but maybe 2, the contests were hard fought and close. I blamed it on matchup problems. I felt that the Pacers, with their length, and the Hawks, with their physical frontcourt and their good defensive guards, presented problems for the Bulls up front and for their shooters. I thought that, come Miami, they would be able to win those matchups. I thought the Bulls would be stronger than the Heat at center and fairly even at power forward. And I thought their shooters, especially Korver, would be able to can some jumpers.
Instead, the Heat's future Hall of Famers have been running over the Bulls in games 2and 3. And Korver and others have been unable to hit the jump shots, whether they be open or contested. And the Bulls are NOT dominating up front. Not at all. After game 1, the Bulls have not played well. Miami has a great defense, to be certain. And it looks to me like the refs are giving the Heat an assist with the way they're calling the game. They're taking away Rose's (and Wade's) ability to drive and get fouled or get to the rim. In the Heat's case, this doesn't affect them so much. They still have Lebron doing his thing, and they have Bosh being a huge factor. And Haslem has come in and given them quality minutes off the bench, negating some of the Bulls' supposed advantage in that department. The refs are also allowing Miami to pack the lane and haven't called a single defensive 3 seconds on them, far as I've noticed, this series.
I think the Bulls could still pull out this series, but game 4 has become a must-win for them. Let's all keep our fingers crossed that they can do it...
*****
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