Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat: Defense and Rebounding Key in Eastern Finals

With the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat tied at one game apiece in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals series, defense and rebounding have been the two biggest factors in each of the two games. 

The Bulls blew out the Heat in Game 1 by unleashing a fury of offensive rebounds that led to 31 second-chance points. In Game 2, the Heat evened the series by playing suffocating defense against the Bulls in the fourth quarter. 

Chicago managed only 10 points in the fourth quarter of Game 2 and were constantly trapped and double teamed in vulnerable places on the floor, which led to easy stops and rushed shots. Credit must be given to the Heat for coming out knowing that going down 0-2 would put them in a very tough spot to win the series.

For the Bulls, it was a game of what ifs. With about seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 73. From that point on, the Heat outscored the Bulls 12-2. The Bulls gave themselves plenty of chances to win this game. They had 17 offensive rebounds, forced 15 turnovers and took 14 more shots than the Heat. 

However, the Bulls only managed to shoot 34.1 percent from the field and score 75 points. For as many second-chance points the Bulls had, those low numbers are not going to be good enough to beat Miami.

Offensively, the Bulls were not hitting jump shots. In Game 1 the Bulls made 10-21 three-point shots, but were only 3-20 in Game 2. Kyle Korver and Keith Bogans are the two players that need to be able to stretch the floor and create driving lanes for Derrick Rose. 

Rose did not have a good game in any facet offensively. His shot was off, the driving lanes were not opening up for him, he could not get out in transition and even his free throws were off. The few times he was able to penetrate the lane he was just not hitting shots.

He said after the game that shots he normally hits he was not able to. For the Bulls to be successful in this series and advance, they will need those shots to start falling.

Carlos Boozer was effective for stretches of Game 2, but his inconsistency on defense saw him sitting on the bench for the entire fourth quarter. The Bulls need Boozer to be the second scorer in this series to relieve Rose of having to carry the entire offense.

Defensively, the Bulls did a pretty decent job in Game 2 up until the last seven minutes of the fourth quarter. The Bulls kept the Heat from running, but during one stretch when the Heat opened up the game, they were able to get transition baskets.

LeBron James played extremely well down the stretch and showed why, if the Heat are going to advance, it is going to be on his shoulders to do it. Against the Celtics, James showed he can close out games and series. All the talk has been about how Dwyane Wade needs to be the Heat's closer, but James is reminding everyone why he is the best player in the world.

Chicago was playing good defense in the fourth quarter with Rose, Ronnie Brewer, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson and Omer Asik. Then, Asik went out of the game with a cut under his chin and did not return. That may have been the turning point in the game as that line up has been playing very good together since Game 5 of the Atlanta series.

Game 3 is not until Sunday, so the Bulls have plenty of time to clean up some of the defensive breakdowns that plagued them late in Game 2. They will also need to find their shooting touch during the break. Boozer should have plenty of time to rest up and try and get as close to 100 percent as he can.

The Heat will have a few days to feel good about themselves and listen to how this is what they were supposed to be doing. The Bulls did that for three days after winning Game 1, and it bit them hard in Game 2. The Heat will have to not let that happen to them. 

The winner of the rebounding battle, especially offensively, will have the best shot at wearing down the opposition late in games.

With the series tied 1-1, it is a best of five starting Sunday in Miami.