Stick a fork in it? Are the Bulls done?

Spirits were high in Chicago after the Bulls' domination of the Miami Heat in game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but after two embarrassing losses, panic is beginning to set in amongst fans. I have my doubts, surely, but lets not blow things out of proportion. 

Was the Bulls blowout of the Heat in game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals a fluke?

No, not at all. That was Bulls basketball at its finest. Derrick Rose was on point, the defense was awesome and our depth and intensity overwhelmed the Heat. It’s a formula that’s led to victory often enough for the Bulls this season.  However, the Heat made the necessary defensive adjustments to tilt the series in their favor, taking Chicago off its game, and Coach Tom Thibodeau’s boys have struggled to get back to playing their brand of hoops.  Panic is setting in. There’s still hope though, if you ask me. The Bulls have the discipline and the coaching expertise to make the necessary adjustments to get back to game 1 form.

The Heat dominated the Bulls in games 2 and 3 of the series and stole the momentum heading into game 4 of the series. Is Chicago done for?

The Heat are only up 2-1 so don’t stick a fork in the Bulls yet—they aren’t quite done. But a loss tonight would seal the deal in my mind, barring a miracle. And miracles do happen in sports, but even so, it’s just hard to see Chicago winning three straight games and coming out on top if they fall behind 3-1 tonight. The Heat have too much talent between their super-powered triumvirate of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh — too much intensity and too much defense to lose three straight games in these playoffs.  

What’s wrong with Derrick Rose?

The Heat defense is playing D-Rose about as well as anyone can, or has. There’s no true answer for his special brand of speed, strength and body control, but Miami has managed to frustrate him in the last two games, as he’s gone 15-for-42 from the field in that span. Few teams can defend a pick-and-roll with the super long, super athletic combination of the 6’9 James and 6’11 Bosh, or the explosive 6’4 Wade and Bosh.  Makes it pretty hard to be Superman. Rose just hasn’t been able to find the same seams and cracks in the Heat defense that he finds in the average NBA squad. But to answer the question, there isn’t anything wrong with Derrick Rose; the Heat defense is just that good. Yet, I think he can play a tad more aggressively, both as a scorer and distributor. The latter role brings me to my next point.

Rose isn’t the type to point the finger or publically criticize his team. This isn’t the Lakers we’re talking about. But the question shouldn’t be so much about what’s wrong with D-Rose, the real question is this: who will step up and take some of the load off his capable, but weary shoulders?

The Bulls have to remember what got them to this stage in the season, aside from an MVP season from Rose. The Bulls are where they are because of a stifling defense and an exuberant cast of supporting players. Our so-call “Bench Mob” needs to give it all they’ve got, and Kyle Korver especially needs to be a leading scorer out of that group. The team doesn’t have another superstar to take over games when D-Rose is off or resting. And if we’re honest with ourselves, it’s safe to say Carlos Boozer is better served as a third option and not the second big fish on the squad. We came to the same realization about Luol Deng a few years ago. Still, if anyone needs to have big games for the Bulls to come out on top in this series it’s Deng. When D-Rose turns the corner after a pick-and-roll and finds himself in a double team, the Bulls have to make the Heat pay, and Deng is the most capable perimeter player next to Rose. He is a dangerous slasher and solid shooter, even if he isn’t exactly automatic offense. More offense from Deng, along with more performances from Boozer like his game 3 showing, will keep the Heat defense honest. As I said above, the Bulls have to make the Heat pay for their constant double-teaming of the MVP.  Our offense is making things too simple for the Heat.

Omer Asik is listed as day-to-day with an ankle injury — what does that mean for the Bulls?

Big Sexy. 

Who is going to win game 4?
Bulls, baby. The stakes are too high for us to go down 3-1. I say the Bulls grasp the importance of this game and show up to play REAL Bulls basketball. Then again, I could be wrong. Sorry to be so wishy-washy, but whatever, it's my blog.