Here are some links to look over before Game 2 tonight.
- Evan Dunlap, regularly of Orlando Pinstriped Post, looks at the importance of protecting the ball for the Bulls in Game 2.
- After watching the Game 1 film again, I was puzzled by a some of the things I saw Chris Bosh doing on the offensive end. Couper Moorhead saw the same thing and got to the bottom of these "shuffle-rolls."
- The Heat succeeded against the Boston Celtics by attacking the weakside of the defense. They'll need to do the same against the Bulls to have success. Brett Koremenos takes a look at some film and offers some suggestions to Coach Spo.
- All season long the Heat have relied on spot-up opportunities, particularly from the midrange. The Bulls have thwarted this aspect of the Heat's offense according to Joey Whelan.
- The Heat attack defenses in ways to produce high efficiency scoring opportunities, i.e. free throws and three-pointers. In Game 1, the Bulls successfully denied the Heat of these. Tom Haberstroh takes a look at the importance of this and what to expect going forward.
- LeBron James has now played 82 career playoff games, a full season's worth of games. Tom Haberstroh compares his postseason performance to his regular season numbers. For those that question his playoff pedigree, the results may come as a shock.
- It's no secret that the Bulls dominated the Heat on the glass in Game 1. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the Heat enrolled in Rebounding 101 in Monday's practice (via Brian Windhorst).
- A common complaint of the Heat's offense is that it is too ISO oriented. As Mark Haubner illustrates, those critics may have had a point in Game 1.
- The Bulls kept Dwyane Wade and LeBron James from attacking the rim on Sunday night. Alex Sonty isn't so sure that it's going to get any easier for them.
- Not related to the series at hand, but I'd like to give major props to Kevin Arnovitz for his piece on Rick Welts' coming out.
Hope you enjoy those as much as I did. Now for the game at hand. After watching the film, I am far less concerned than I was immediately following Game 1. I believe that many of the Bulls' offensive rebounds were gifts of pure chance or results of lack of hustle. You just have to hope the first evens out in Game 2 and that the second was addressed in practice. I think after a series against the Boston Celtics where there was no pressure on the defensive glass, the Heat were caught off guard and overwhelmed. Also, I don't think Chicago can keep up it's torrid pace from three and on long twos. LeBron James struggle in Game 1 was no surprise to me, he's done it in each opening game this postseason. If he can shake off his cold, I think we'll see LeBron break out. He's been great when able to stand back from reassess how a defense attacks him.
The Heat need a win tonight, let's hope they get it.
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