If you like games in which several players score a bunch of points, you might have enjoyed today's matinee against the Miami Heat. Six players on each team scored in double figures, which would indicate a close game. That was somewhat the case, but it came down to whoever made the most of their opportunities. As the Bulls struggled to do that, the Heat, who are able to do it better than any other team in the league, showed how to close out a pesky opponent in a 105-93 win.
The Bulls mounted a comeback after a slow and took a brief lead in the third quarter. Although they never went in front again after surrendering the lead, they stayed within striking distance the whole way. Still, it came down to the fundamental aspect of shooting and that's where the team struggled throughout the afternoon. Their shooting percentage was a poor .354 compared to Miami's .514.
Luol Deng was the team's best shooter at 8-for-18 and its leading scorer with 19 points. Carlos Boozer had an impressive line of 16 points and 20 rebounds, but acted as an offender to the cause. Twice in the fourth quarter, he had good looks at layups and missed them both because he didn't go up hard enough. Nate Robinson scored 14, but most of his contributions came in the first half and before long, his shots weren't falling either.
While it was nice to see the Bulls go 11-of-26 from three-point territory, it was the only way they could score from the field for awhile. They went the entire third quarter and nearly half the fourth without a two-point basket. If you can't make the most simple shot in basketball that's not a free throw, you're going to have problems. It would be the latest example of injuries and Rip Hamilton's suspension not helping except that most of the team's best shooters played today. There's not much of an excuse here.
While Deng and Boozer were somewhat productive, the slightly better scoring outputs of LeBron James (24) and Dwyane Wade (22) helped make the difference and painted a picture of the game's outcome. Miami can beat you either blowout style, by doing just enough or grinding out a close one. In this case, it was the second of those choices. It wasn't memorable compared to some of the other victories they've had this year, but they still got the job done. No matter who plays them in the playoffs, it will be tough to prevent them from winning the 16 games required to repeat as champions. With enough help from role players, they're an easy pick to do it.
As for the Bulls, the only question that remains is whether they'll earn the fifth or sixth seed in the East. Only one game separates them and Atlanta from the higher seed. They would much rather face Brooklyn as No. 5 and avoid Indiana as No. 6 since they've had greater success with one as opposed to the other. It comes down to the final two games of the regular season. Their fate rests in their own hands and they can make a case for it tomorrow night against the Orlando Magic. Will they tie the Hawks? Can they pretend the Magic are as competitive as the Heat so a win will be more likely? These answers and more will come in just over 24 hours.
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