NBA Power Rankings: Miami Heat Should Be Scared of Chicago Bulls
This was supposed to be the Miami Heat's year.
After one season of playing together, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were supposed to take the NBA by storm, with renewed chemistry and vigor.
But something's off. The Heat may be 33-11, but they are currently trailing the Bulls in the Eastern Conference. They were supposed to beat the Bulls last Wednesday, given the Bulls were without their star Derrick Rose, who is still nursing a groin injury. Instead, the Bulls beat them. Why? Because the Bulls simply played with more heart and showed the chemistry fit for a championship team.
The Bulls' leading scorer was John Lucas. As for the Heat, James and Wade combined for 71 of the Heat's 102 points. The Heat's bench was outscored by the Bulls' second-stringers, 56-15, and shot 4-of-14 from the floor.
You can attribute the Heat's loss that fateful day to Bosh if you want. After all, he shot 3-of-15 from the floor, committed four turnovers and grabbed a grand total of three rebounds.
But the fact of the matter is, the Bulls simply looked like the better team. Even when Michael Jordan was dominating in Chicago, he had a cast of characters who stepped up when their numbers were called. The Bulls are a more complete team than the Heat, it's that simple.
The reality is, even three superstars doesn't guarantee you a title...or even make you the favorite. It takes a collective effort from everyone stepping up their game. Lucas' performance these last few days is a prime example of that. Here you have an undrafted benchwarmer who followed up his 24 points against the Heat last week with 20 points against the Orlando Magic on Monday.
The Bulls have nine players averaging 7.5 points or more. Carlos Boozer is their second-leading scorer with 15.5 points per game.
The Heat on the other hand, have James, Wade and Bosh, and then Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole.
Some may say that the Heat's loss to the Bulls was insignificant. It was a regular-season game after all. But the Bulls beating the Heat without Rose exemplifies the main ingredient for Chicago and the missing ingredient for Miami: championship-level chemistry and heart.
So much for the Heat blowing past everybody this season. The real Beast of the East is the Chicago Bulls.
NBA Power Rankings (3/20)
1. Chicago Bulls
2. Miami Heat
5. Orlando Magic
11. Atlanta Hawks
12. Indiana Pacers
14. Houston Rockets
15. Phoenix Suns
16. Utah Jazz
17. Boston Celtics
18. New York Knicks
21. Milwaukee Bucks
22. Detroit Pistons
24. Sacramento Kings
25. Toronto Raptors
26. New Jersey Nets
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