Are Bulls in a better position to beat the Heat in a 7 game series?

[All Net]

Yes, they are, but it has less to do with the Bulls' improvement (though there is some there) than the Heat's regression, specifically tied to the implementation of a doomed, new offense.

Fun fact: if not for 3 last second shots (2 Wade; 1 Bosh), the Heat are 5 - 7 now instead of 8 - 4.

Do you put all this down to Wade's injury woes or is it something deeper here in terms of him starting to decline slightly?

[I.R.Beast]

They need someone who can create offense in a pinch. Rip helps but he plays off the ball.

this.....they should still be trying to acquire oj Mayo....throw some cash and picks at the grizz or something.

[jrong]

Do you put all this down to Wade's injury woes or is it something deeper here in terms of him starting to decline slightly?

Are we talking about Wade or the team itself? With Wade, who knows. He may just need to sit out and rest for an extended period of time or this may signify that his body is beginning to break down.

But, the Heat's problem is that the new up-tempo offense makes it physically impossible for them to play the same level of defense as last year. They are a soft 8 - 4, not just because of the aforementioned possibility that they could easily be 2 games under .500, but also because they've either been beating bad teams or teams that were bad at the juncture when they played them. And sometimes they've only been barely beating the bad teams. Right now, this is only an above average ballclub, not a contender.

[All Net]

Are we talking about Wade or the team itself? With Wade, who knows. He may just need to sit out and rest for an extended period of time or this may signify that his body is beginning to break down.

But, the Heat's problem is that the new up-tempo offense makes it physically impossible for them to play the same level of defense as last year. They are a soft 8 - 4, not just because of the aforementioned possibility that they could easily be 2 games under .500, but also because they've either been beating bad teams or teams that were bad at the juncture when they played them. And sometimes they've only been barely beating the bad teams. Right now, this is only an above average ballclub, not a contender.

It's early days though, they look like they lack focus....

[burnsy87]

this.....they should still be trying to acquire oj Mayo....throw some cash and picks at the grizz or something.

I am so sick of the "they need someone who can create there own shot" stuff.

They have someone who can create their own shot. His name is Derrick Rose.

What they really need is someone that can hit the open jumper on a consistent basis. They got that man.

[jrong]

The Bulls would thrash the Heat at this moment in time for the simple fact that they are playing defense at the same level as last year, while we've decided, **** defense, we want to become the Phoenix Suns East. Last year, we beat them because our defense was just as good and the stars made plays to win games at the end (Haslem's return was huge too). This year, so far, the way the Heat are playing defense (which again is inextricably linked to the new offense), it wouldn't matter. The games wouldn't be close enough for Miami's stars to make a difference.