2011 NBA Playoffs: 10 Things the Heat Series Has Taught Us About the Bulls
For all intensive purposes, this series is over. The dark side of the force has won.
Now the Bulls must examine what to do to compete with these types of teams. Much to the chagrin of many basketball fans, the blueprint is being created.
If and when the Heat win the championship this year, get ready for Chris Paul and other superstars to choose their alliances.
Teams are going to do what they can to compete.
What can the Bulls do to keep up with Miami and their clones next year? Surely, Miami will make moves to strengthen their bench.
They won't want this tough of a route to the crown next year. What has this series taught us about competing in the "new NBA?" Here are 10 lessons we learned:
10. Bulls Must Add More Athleticism Across the Front Line
1 of 10
The Bulls have good athleticism at the 4 and 5 spots in Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah and Omer Asik. Carlos Boozer and Kurt Thomas are not athletic and Boozer's lack of bounce is augmented by his lack of passion on defense.
Kurt Thomas is 700 years old, so it is understandable for him. Miami Heat bigs Joel Anthony, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem outplayed the Bulls front line in this series.
Add in the freakish talent that is LeBron James you see one of the issues we've had this series.
The Bulls are on the right track here, but adding another big, athletic rebounder and shot blocker for front line depth would be helpful.
It'll probably have to be at the expense of Kurt Thomas, or maybe a big trade that includes Carlos Boozer.
9. Bulls Need More 2-Way Players
2 of 10
Now there are always going to be players that do one thing best. The problem the Bulls have is that they have too many players that are completely inept on one end of the floor.
Kyle Korver is the most hopelessly one-dimensional player in the history of mankind. His shooting spreads the floor when he is making his shot. When he's not, his defense spreads a horrible disease that infects the entire squads' ability to contain good teams.
Omer Asik is the opposite of Korver, and Ronnie Brewer is nearly in the same boat, but not quite as bad as the aforementioned two players.
The Bulls must find guys that can stretch the floor and at least be capable of performing on a professional level in other vital aspects of the game.
8. Bulls Must Trust Their Stars
3 of 10
As bad as Dwyane Wade has played at times in this series, Spoelstra has stuck with him in the fourth quarters and crunch time.
I am in no way saying that Boozer is on the same level as Wade, but he is a part of what has to be considered the Bulls' core with Derrick Rose and Luol Deng.
You bought that horse, you better ride him. If he lets you down, at least it lets you know what kind of horse you have.
Then make the adjustments from there. Don't lose a game with the ones you bred to win the race still in the stable.
7. Bulls Offensive Play Calling Must Improve
4 of 10
For all the good Tom Thibodeau did this year, many of his coaching shortcomings were exposed in the Heat series.
The sets that were run at key times in this series were a little robotic and lacked options.
The inbounds plays in Game 4 were terrible. They were clearly for Rose to take the inbounds pass and when he didn't get open fast enough, the player inbounding the ball (Deng) would not pass it to other players who were clearly open.
It destroyed the continuity of the play and often ended in a wasted possession.
Thibs must get better in this area or take more suggestions from his more offensive minded assistants, i.e. Phil Jackson or Tex Winter.
6. Derrick Rose's Outside Shooting Still Needs Work
5 of 10
The trapping defense is one thing. The athletic and long defenders that Miami can switch on to the MVP is another.
These things considered, Rose has still had good looks from behind the three-point line. He is an abysmal five for 22 from three-point range in the series.
If that number is nine for 22, that is 12 points, which is huge in this tight series. Not to mention the way it alters the Heat's defensive attention.
Although LeBron and Wade are elite defenders, if Rose is making his shot, they must get right up in his chest.
This will allow for Rose to get by them easier, drawing another defender and opening up opportunities to dish off.
5. Luol Deng Is Playing Too Many Minutes
6 of 10
"Gluol" has been just that to the Bulls great defense. He takes the most difficult defensive assignments most nights. The issue here is the Bulls need his offense as well.
After chasing the likes of Joe Johnson and a guy named James, he rarely has the energy left to score in the fourth quarter.
Even before Thibs made him a favorite and began to keep him on the floor with the second unit, he wasn't known for his crunch time scoring.
It is too much to ask of him to score and play all out defense for over three quarters of the game.
More dependable defenders and scorers at the 2 and 3 will help to lift some of this weight.
4. Bulls Need Scoring off the Bench
7 of 10
Korver has proven an inconsistent scoring option and CJ Watson lacks assertiveness. The other members of the bench don't have the goods offensively from a talent standpoint.
The Bulls need a scorer off the bench, a killer that can get to the line, allowing the Bulls to capitalize off of the stops the second unit generates.
3. Turnovers Will Kill You
8 of 10
From Rose to Noah and Boozer, some of the passes that are attempted with a crack of daylight to get through are just bad plays. In tight games, these plays are back breakers.
The Bulls have far too many of these at crucial times.
Most of them are due to stagnated possessions from a smothering defense. Here is where composure has to come in.
This year's experience should help to limit these on next year's team.
2. The 2 Guard Problem Is Real
9 of 10
Rose is the only player capable of scoring in isolation on a consistent basis.
We've heard it before, but watching James, Bosh and Wade convert back breaking baskets in these situations have driven the point painfully home.
The next starting 2 guard needs to be able to get his own shot.
1. The Bulls Need to Go Get Dwight Howard
10 of 10
As much as I love Joakim Noah, we are talking about the most dominate force in the middle in the league in Dwight Howard. If you match that with Derrick Rose, it is a match made in basketball heaven.
If it means packaging Noah, Boozer, four first round picks and Deng for Howard, Arenas and a second round pick, I'd have to pull the trigger.
I love Deng and Noah. I haven't given up on Boozer, but Howard and Rose at 25 and 22 years old is too much to pass on.
Arenas' contract is terrible, but maybe he can be the sixth man you need. If not, it's a small price to pay for "The New NBA'" version of Kobe and Shaq.
