Derrick Rose, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade: Dancing without the Stars
Star light, star bright. First star I see tonight.
The pivotal Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals is on the horizon and surprisingly, the three biggest superstars in the series have shunned the limelight and underwhelmed fans in the first three games.
The Miami Heat notched a 2-1 series lead after a 96-85 Game 3 victory over the Chicago Bulls in which the Heat’s LeBron James scored an uncharacteristic 22 points and Dwyane Wade contributed a complementary 17 points. James averaged 28 points a game vs. the Boston Celtics in the conference semifinals while Wade lit up Boston with 30.2 PPG.
The Chicago Bulls’ reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose didn’t perform much better, scoring 20 points and delivering five assists. Rose averaged 29.8 PPG and 9.8 assists per game against the Atlanta Hawks in the conference semifinals.
Of course, if you’re a Bulls or Heat player, coach or fan you just want your team to win—doesn’t matter how.
But the nationwide audience remains on the edge of its collective seat knowing that any of the three superstars could have a breakthrough performance in Game 4 while wondering what’s happened to three of the top 10 players in the NBA.
Wade (led all playoff scorers last year with 33.2 PPG), James (last year's NBA MVP is averaging 22 PPG in this series) and Rose (shooting less than 40 percent in this series and has scored fewer points in each game, from 28 in a Game 1 win to 21 and 20 in losses the next two games) have been far from spectacular up to this point and are clearly playing less than their best.
By Any Means Necessary
There are four 2011 Eastern Conference All-Stars playing in this series: Miami’s James, Wade and Chris Bosh and Chicago’s Rose.
Go ahead and pat yourself on the back if you thought Bosh would be the leading scorer in the series thus far. You deserve it.
The rest of us are shocked and amazed watching Wade shoot 35.3 percent from the field and commit four turnovers while contributing only three assists.
James has played solidly on both ends of the court, but the hype surrounding his departure from Cleveland—“I’m bringing my talents to South Beach”—demands more from the player widely considered the best in the NBA.
Okay, give Udonis Haslem some credit for his key play in Miami’s Game 2 victory along with praise for Bosh’s Game 3 gem.
And yeah, Miami has the series lead and that’s why you play the game, right?
Still, one wonders if the Heat are playing out of sync and how far they can go with Bosh as their leading scorer.
No one expects the King and his running mate to be down for long and here’s hoping both resume their regularly scheduled superstar output in Game 4.
Bulls May Need Perfect Rose
While Miami assembled its talented trio this summer in search of a NBA championship, Rose is Chicago’s only superstar and the key to its offense.
The third-year point guard is under extreme pressure as the Bulls’ best passer and best scorer. Mental and physical fatigue may begin to play a factor.
Rose usually has to direct the offense, bring the ball up the court and have a good scoring night for his team to win and the Bulls' confidence often seems to wane as Rose struggles.
Miami has used team defense to shutter the promising superstar and without a pristine performance from Rose, Chicago’s chances could be slim against the Heat.
Chicago could let another player bring the ball up the court or direct the halfcourt offense, leaving Rose fresher throughout the game and also allowing him more—and better—scoring opportunities.
Already down two games to one, with its superstar slumping and playing in a hostile environment on the road, the Bulls need Rose to have one of his patented highlight-reelers in Game 4 to stay in the series.
Quick Notes
Chicago’s Carlos Boozer made a valiant effort during the Bulls’ Game 3 loss, scoring 26 points and grabbing 17 rebounds to quiet talk of Taj Gibson starting at power forward after Gibson outscored Boozer in a loss in Game 2.
Boozer, 29, signed a five-year, $80-million deal last summer and although he’s missed plenty of games due to injury in his career, Chicago signed him with other free-agent power forwards on the market including Bosh, the New York Knicks’ Amar’e Stoudemire and the Golden State Warriors’ David Lee.
Boozer has shown he can be a matchup problem for the Heat—especially when he’s aggressive. Chicago could definitely use some more firepower in Game 4.
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra has been the target of much criticism for his team’s play this season. Pat Riley, Heat president, went on a NBA shopping spree and brought the best players available to Miami.
While managing egos, high expectations and with Riley looking over his shoulder, Spoelstra has his team right where everyone expected them to be despite a 58-24 regular-season mark.
The superstars should shine brighter in Game 4 with the balance of the series at stake and if the goal for superstars is to keep fans wanting more, consider it accomplished.
