Miami Heat prevail in the battle of the East: NBA Eastern Conference Finals Roundup - Part 1
When the Miami Heat entered the United Centre for the game-1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, they were up against a team that had beaten them three times in a row during the regular season, the last loss out of which became stapled
with the infamous ‘cry-gate’. After the game-1 against the Chicago Bulls finished, Miami had lost four in a row and their big-3 of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were being touted as ‘overrated’.
However, in the next four games, the men from the south beach showcased a blend of offensive artistry and a hard-nosed defense that not only left the Bulls stunned but also stamped the real credentials of the one of the most potent
combinations ever formed in the league. The Bulls however did not give up the fight at any point in the series and like Miami’s Coach Erik Spoelstra said, the series turned out to be a ‘bloodbath’. Here is a review of the five games that were played in the
Eastern Conference Finals.
Game-1
In the series opener, the Heat lost their hold on the game in the second half as the Bulls walked away with a 103-82 victory at the United Center. The league MVP Derrick Rose led Chicago with 28 points and six assists while Luol
Deng chipped in with 21 points, seven rebounds, and four steals in the victory. Deng was also terrific on the defense and reduced LeBron James to just a 5-of-15 shooting.
Chris Bosh was the only bright spot for the Heat on the night. He added a game-high 30 points on a 12-for-17 shooting from the field and nine rebounds. James did not find his way in game as he added just 15 points.
The Bulls played the first half well on the back of 12-point spurt by Rose but the Heat managed to tie the game at 48, heading into the locker room. Chicago turned up the pressure in the second half and outscored Miami 24-15 in
the third. They stretched their dominance in the last frame and earned a 21 points win and 1-0 series lead.
Game-2
The Heat bounced back from a blowout defeat in game-1 and defeated the Bulls 85-75 in the second game, tying the series at 1-1. James led Miami with a game-high 29 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and three steals. The 26-year-old
small forward was terrific from the field, shooting 12-for-21. Dwyane Wade also played well for 24 points and nine rebounds in the victory.
For the Bulls, Derrick Rose had a team-high 21 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in the losing effort. However, Rose was terrible from the field, going 7-for-23 only. The Bulls once again played fantastically in the first
quarter, taking a 26-19 lead into the second. Miami however turned it on in the second quarter and managed to take a 48-46 lead at halftime.
The Heat outplayed the Bulls by a margin of 23-19 in the third, stretching their lead to 71-65 after three.
Chicago got off to a good start in the fourth quarter and tied the game at 73 with 7:16 left. However, LeBron James decided to take over the game at the point. Kings James initiated a scoring avalanche, scoring 9 of Miami’s final
12 points and the Bulls could not handle the pressure down the stretch. The home team was reduced to 1-for-11 from the field.
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