Udonis Haslem: 5 Reasons Haslem Is Key to Miami Heat Win over Bulls
When Udonis Haslem was set to return to the Miami Heat's roster for the 2011 NBA playoffs, I honestly thought it would mess up the chemistry the Heat had worked so hard on.
Boy, was I wrong.
Udonis Haslem stepped in last night and was the difference-maker for the Miami Heat in Game 2. Without his stellar play, the Heat could be down 0-2.
Haslem scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds in 23 minutes of play. His hustle and hard work on the floor is what gave the Heat an advantage last night.
Not many could have predicted Haslem would be so crucial in this series, but it is now evident that is as important to the Heat as the Big Three are.
Here are five reasons Haslem is the key for the Miami Heat.
5. He's a Warrior
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Nobody thought Udonis Haslem would play all that much in Game 2. It was thought he would get maybe 10-15 minutes of play to let him get back into the swing of things.
That wasn't the case, as Haslem stepped in and immediately started contributing for the Heat.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra told reporters after the game that Wednesday night was the time to use Haslem, and he couldn't believe how great he was. Per the Miami Hearald:
""There was a look in his eye, and I knew it was time," Spoelstra said. "He’s an absolute championship warrior. What he did tonight was absolutely remarkable."
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LeBron James even gave Haslem the game ball in his postgame interview. Haslem definitely deserved it.
4. Chris Bosh Can't Do It Alone
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Chris Bosh was the only dominant force for the Miami Heat in Game 1, scoring 30 points and grabbing nine rebounds.
However, it was clear Bosh needed help down low. Bosh needed another big body on his side helping him crash the boards and defend.
It was thought that Haslem would be able to help a little bit, but he exceeded everyone's expectations. Haslem is back, and the Bulls will have to approach the game a bit differently.
3. His Energy
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Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra was trying very hard last night to find the right combination of players to battle the Chicago Bulls. It was a close game and he wanted the Heat to jump ahead and never look back.
The Bulls are too good to let that happen, but they weren't prepared for Udonis Haslem's return.
Haslem gave the Heat the spark that they needed. His energy on the court hustling for rebounds and diving for loose balls gave the rest of his teammates renewed confidence that they could beat Chicago.
Haslem was welcomed with open arms as he helped the Heat win Game 2.
2. Rebounds
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Udonis Haslem may not have lead the team in rebounding, but he provided the Heat with an extra body down low.
After Game 1, it was very clear that the Heat needed to crash the boards harder. LeBron James and Dwayne Wade stepped up their game, grabbing 10 and nine rebounds, respectively.
However, it was the play of Haslem that allowed the Heat to finally outrebound the Bulls. Haslem had five rebounds last night, but three of those came off the offensive glass, which was very crucial to the Heat's victory.
Haslem is only 6'8", but he used his 235-pound frame to bully the taller players down low.
1. He's the Heart and Soul of This Team
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Udonis Haslem is loved by his teammates.
They were sad to see him get injured but knew that if they worked hard enough he could rejoin them in the playoffs.
Haslem took less money to stay with the Heat because he not only wanted to win, he wanted to win for the Heat and the city of Miami.
He provided this team with exactly what they needed the moment he stepped on the court. He is the Heat, and he is just as important to the team as the Big Three are.
