I have to admit, I gave up on this team tonight. Not proud of it, and probably another reason why Twitter, Facebook, and the MiamiHeatwave Forum is not a good thing to have access to instantly. Gives you no temperance and patience.
Yet, to be fair, the Heat looked like the same, listless team that played in Game 1 on Monday night against the Chicago Bulls. The Heat offense was predictable, lacked energy. The Bulls defense extra tough, their threes were falling – anything the Heat did in the second half of that game was a disaster.
That is why heading into tonight’s game, you just knew things should have been different. There is no way, I thought, that Dwyane Wade and Lebron James would combine for 33 points again in this series. There is no way this Heat defense would continue to allow the Bulls second and third chance opportunities off of wild tips that fell into Bulls’ hands. But that is the way it was looking after the first quarter.
Then, things changed. Udonis Haslem entered the game. His energy made an impact right away. He only played 23 minutes, but he was 5-10 for 13 points and 5 rebounds. He had a couple of dunks in transition which gave the Heat a lift and the confidence it needed to push for the win on the road.
What is also crucial about Haslem’s contributions is that he provides an experienced, low post presence while also adding depth to the bench. Let’s face it, the Heat’s bench this series thus far has been light. Mike Miller and James Jones have yet to provide any significant scoring of any kind. Mike Bibby was 1-5 from three point range. In fairness, the Bulls have played excellent defense and closing out even the tiniest of spaces, crowding Heat shooters who just can’t get good looks. In fact, the defenses on both sides are so good that one has to feel that whomever emerges from this series, the winner is going to have a pretty good chance of taking the title because of their defensive strengths.
Lebron James came alive at the end of this game and much like he did to close out the Celtics, he hit big shot after big shot to take home the win. It was Haslem’s energy that lifted this team and gave them the zip they needed to get out of the doldrum they were in during the 1st quarter.
And so I ventured back to Twitter, Facebook, the forum, saying yes, I did doubt the team tonight but they gave me reason to doubt. Watching how the Heat managed to win this game despite going scoreless for about 4+ minutes in the fourth, was very encouraging. It wasn’t until Lebron hit a three to break the 73-73 deadlock that the Heat scored – and that was precisely the punch they needed to get going.
Right now, the Heat head back to Miami having beaten the Bulls for the first time this season. It couldn’t have come at a better time. Not to mention, this is the first time the Heat have beaten the Bulls in the playoffs since May 4, 2006 – the first time the Heat ever won a title. If the Celtics series was about beating up on the neighborhood bully, then beating the Bulls is about chasing away the ghosts of the past. And don’t think those ghosts weren’t felt – Scottie Pippen had a seat right by the Heat’s bench.
Now, they’ll all come back to Miami to try and pin up two more wins with the possibility of heading back to Chicago to close it all down.

