2011 NBA Playoffs: 5 Keys to a Chicago Bulls Series Win

The Chicago Bulls will battle the Miami Heat tonight in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. After a big opening win in Game 1, the Bulls have struggled in Games 2 and 3 and gotten away from what got them to the playoffs—and the number one overall seed.

If the Bulls want to have any chance at coming back and winning this series, here are 5 keys they will need to follow.

Get the Second Unit Back on Track

Since Game 1 the Bull's bench hasn't played well at all and while Chicago has had one of the best second units all year, the Heat's bench has outplayed them.

Udonis Haslem had a huge Game 2 and gave the Heat the spark they were looking for all season. If the Bulls are going to win this series their bench needs to out play Miami's and needs to not only hold leads the starters create, but extend them.

The Bull's fourth through ninth men are far better then Miami's and they need to show it. If the Bull's starters start a must-win game strong and take a lead, it is the bench's job to extend that lead and take advantage of having a deeper, and overall more talented, roster.

Get Joakim Noah Back in Rhythm

Joakim Noah has had a bad series, it's as simple as that. He got into early foul trouble in Game 3 and ended up with only one point to go along with 5 rebounds and 6 assists after only scoring nine and gathering eight rebounds in game two.

Noah also hasn't seemed to play with as much energy on the defensive end since game one and who can blame him. When a majority of a player's skill is built around his energy and passion, an off-night where he isn't playing well can affect him. Noah has played so poorly on the offensive end how can anyone take him seriously as he yells and screams after every dunk or block.

Noah will never be a guy who gets you 20 points a game but the way he scores is key to the Bull's success. Noah's tip-ins off of offensive rebounds make a huge impact in the momentum side of the game and can add up to more then just two points.

The Bull's should get Noah involved in the offense by letting him play the high post, allowing him to read the floor better and make some of the smooth post passes we've seen in the past.

Most importantly, however, is getting Noah to shut down Chris Bosh like he did when Bosh shot a NBA low 1-18 in a game during the regular season.

Bosh went off in Game 3 and was celebrating a lot, maybe a little to much. The Bulls need to take that personally, and so does Noah. At some point pride has to kick in and I think Noah is ready to prove why he is known as one of the best post defenders in today's NBA.

Keep Carlos Boozer Rolling Offensively

One, and maybe the only, bright spot of Game 3 was Carlos Boozer's offensive explosion. Boozer dropped 26 points and grabbed 17 boards and was the only reason the Bulls didn't get blown out.

Boozer is one of the most frustrating players to watch on the defensive end and seems to struggle with some of the most basic forms of basketball defense like helping out on drives and even staying in front of his man. Boozer needs to make up for his defense with offense which is exactly what the Bulls need.

I expect Chicago to feed Boozer the ball down low in the early goings and hope to keep up his recent hot streak. Boozer's sub par defense can, and has been, covered up well by the Bulls overall team defense.

As long as Boozer can be the second option to Derrick Rose, the Bulls will have a good shot a winning. If Boozer plays like he did in Game 3 again in Game 4, expect a Chicago win.

Get Derrick Rose Playing like an MVP again

Rose has carried the Bulls all season and through the first two rounds, but has slowed considerably since facing the suffocating Miami perimeter defense.

Part of Rose's first real playoff run will be learning how to score when your best moves aren't working, and your jump shot isn't falling. Rose lives on getting to the basket and finishing at the rim or getting to the free throw line. In this series he just straight up hasn't. 

Rose needs to come out attacking and do his best to get to the rim, even if he is going to miss. Rose's penetration opens up the Bulls offense and allows for Chicago's big-men to rebound freely and get those vital tip-ins we saw in Game 1. When Rose gets to the paint the defense collapses with him, allowing the Bulls to snag offensive rebounds and get open shots.

Rose's success is more vital to his team winning than anyone in the league and right now is the time to show that. The only way the Bulls have any shot at winning this series is if Rose goes from good, to great, and if anyone can do it, Derrick can.

Get Tough

The final key to the Bulls winning this series is getting tough. This is Chicago-Miami. A Midwestern, hard working, hard -osed, straight up tough town against a glamorous, flashy, and warm-weather city in Florida. While we shovel foot after foot of snow 5 months out of the year, they sit on the beach and sun tan. The Bulls need to take on the characteristics of their city. They have played with this mentality all year and it has helped this team identify with Chicago so much.

The Bulls need to take these losses personally and not allow Chris Bosh to scream and show off his ridiculous under-bite by shutting him up on the floor, especially on the defensive end. Miami's "Big 3" are so talented that if the Bulls are going to win they need to beat them in every aspect of the game possible, which includes toughness.

I would love to see Kurt Thomas come in for a few minutes, set a few hard screens, dish out some hard fouls and make Miami pay for getting to the rim. These small acts can get a team fired up and help them get a much needed win.

Game 4 is the biggest game of any of these players' NBA careers and they need to go out and play like it. A 3-1 deficit is far too great to overcome, especially against a team as good as Miami. The Bulls are going to put it all on the line tonight and if they follow those keys, they should be in a great place tied 2-2 heading back to the Chi.