Not Helping Heat

Sunday was the Bulls' first look at the Miami Heat post-LeBron.  Luol Deng has more or less taken the King's place in the starting lineup, but it's not nearly the same.  It didn't help the Heat that they were missing Chris Bosh, their primary offensive weapon, for this game.  Despite not having Joakim Noah once again, the Bulls showcased their depth and won 93-75.

The Bulls got off to a hot start in the first quarter before going cold and picking up turnovers to go down 18-14.  Aaron Brooks decided that was enough and scored eight unanswered points to put his team in front.  Brooks would not score the rest of the game, but he gladly handed those duties off to his teammates, who broke it open after halftime.  Miami struggled offensively during the second half, showing occasional signs of life, but having every run answered and not enough power to get their deficit below double figures.

Mike Dunleavy was kept off the board in the first half, but he scored 19 of his 22 points in the third quarter, outscoring the entire Heat roster by three during that frame.  Four of his eight field goals in this game were three-pointers.  I've talked about how he's usually a quiet player, but I'm now starting to think he's just that good offensively.  After all, there has to be a reason he's started every game for as long as he has.

Jimmy Butler finished with 17 and was relentless on defense throughout.  Taj Gibson filled in for Noah wonderfully once again and had 15.  Derrick Rose entered the fourth quarter with only three points, but dashed any hopes of a real Heat rally by totaling 14.  Pau Gasol's nine points and nine rebounds ended his double-double streak at eight, but if that's an off night for him, he's not going to cool off anytime soon.

The Heat are not as bad as they showed tonight, but Bosh or no Bosh, they're just not as exciting or dangerous without the best player in the league.  The Bulls, meanwhile, improved this offseason and showcased their depth in this game as they have so many times during the year.  Their dominance got to a point where Tom Thibodeau could empty his bench.  Even that was bad for Miami when E'Twaun Moore, who only played the final 25 seconds, knocked down a three on the Bulls' final possession.

I literally laughed out loud when I saw the number of empty seats at the American Airlines Arena at tip-off.  By the end of the game, you never would have known anyone came later on.  It just goes to show that a market with only so-so support of its team did not deserve what it had over the previous four seasons.  Even after the Bulls' dynasty broke up, the United Center maintained its sellout streak for quite some time, so what does that tell you?

The Bulls will stay in the Southeast Division Monday when they head to neighboring Georgia to meet the Atlanta Hawks.  There, you'll find fan support somehow worse than what typically goes on in South Beach.  I can almost guarantee the Bulls will experience a partisan crowd in their favor there.  This won't be the first time a Chicago team in any sport gets this benefit in Atlanta.

Before you go, check out my song parody about the temporary loss of Doug McDermott, who will be out 6-8 weeks after having knee surgery.