4/19/12 - Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls - 8.00 p.m. ET - TNT

[DWadeno3]

vs.

MIAMI HEAT

C - CHRIS BOSH


PF - UDONIS HASLEM


SF - LEBRON JAMES


SG - DWYANE WADE


PG - MARIO CHALMERS


CHICAGO BULLS

I don't even care who plays for them.

Preview:
According to a Bulls beatwriter, Derrick Rose will most likely be out while Luol Deng may play. As evidenced by our two losses against Chicago, Rose is not our biggest problem though. Their good ball movement and their tall and active frontline dismantled our defense badly, which is why we'll need to play that much harder and smarter tonight. We got off to a pretty good start with the Bosh-UD frontcourt the last time we faced them, so it'll be interesting to see how well they'll perform against them over a longer stretch.
While we cruised to an easy win against the Toronto Raptors last night, the Chicago Bulls (minus Deng and Rose) destroyed Charlotte from the first minute on, which means both teams will be pretty rested for this showdown. We're currently 2,5 games behind the Bulls. If we win, we'll still have a chance to catch them for the #1 seed. Given that Chicago is a pretty good hometeam, HCA against them will help in the playoffs, even though we eliminated them at their place last season. Thus, this game is the most important one at this stage of the regular season, so let's go out and gain revenge for the two losses we suffered at their place and make the rest of this lockout-shortened season a little more interesting!

Ashley and Odaymis are there for good luck, even though we hopefully won't need any:

[BIRDMAN BIRDMAN]

/inb4

Korver 8/8 from 3
CJ Watson off balance 50 foot bankshot buzzer beater FTW
John Lucas 30 pts
Rip Hamilton open looks all game long
Noah or Boozer 20-20
Chicago bench points 55, Miami bench points 5.

[TRG]

Odaymis <3 <3 <3

Seriously though the role players better step up tonight or else I'll have no hope for them in them in the playoffs. We just can't become so reliant on the Big 3. If LeBron has a big game that will probably seal his MVP chances, and a big win tonight might be what this team needs to build its confidence up going into the playoffs. A lot at stake here tonight... Gotta give it our all!

Common Heat!!

[RexBoyWonder]

haha nice starting line-up


seriously, let's destroy these mofos.

[Lord Hades]

God, I love Ashley.
...and yes, nice starting lineups.

The #1 seed is a long shot (and if we truly wanted it, then we should have bothered actually playing worth a damn in the last two Chicago games), there won't be any 'statements' made with the injuries they're nursing, so let's beat the **** out of them just because they're on the schedule.

Here's hoping to an enjoyable, fluid, pre-All Star game Heat performance.

Alternatively, we can have another round of playing 'The Sky is Falling'.

Let's Go Heat!

[Cliff Levingston]

Heat by at least 30 points. The Bulls have a 0% chance to win this game.

[RhapidKid]

Heat by at least 30 points. The Bulls have a 0% chance to win this game.

FAIL!!! JINXES DON'T WORK AROUND HERE!

[DefenseWins]

I think we look better as of late... Wade has taken like 2 days off, he should be ready to go today.

I actually expect to win this game unlike the other 2. It's just hard to win in Chicago because Chicago is an energy type team, and feeds off their crowd a lot.

We should win if there's no Deng or Rose. If we don't, it's a disgrace.

But I just want everyone to be healthy right now....

And nice preview. Yup it's their bench that kills us, not Rose. Rose himself. Him actually playing hero ball helps us...

But Taj Gibson, Omer Asik and their ball movement kills our defense. Our (Please Use More Appropriate Word), trapping defense.

[Rodrizzle]

I dont care who wins I just want to see the marquee matchup tonight




VS

[deputy]

Not even trying to jinx this, I seriously don't think the Bulls have any chance in this game. Not saying it won't be close, or that it will be a blowout, but at the end of the day, the Heat will win. (w/ or w/o Rose).

[Cliff Levingston]

Heat by at least 30 points. The Bulls have a 0% chance to win this game.

FAIL!!! JINXES DON'T WORK AROUND HERE!

It's not a jinx. Cliff Levingston doesn't see any way the Bulls can win this game without a healthy Derrick Rose even if they do have a hobbled and one-handed Luol Deng.

[dafunky1]

Win for you guys.Y'all got the best home record in the league.The story remains the same tho,a close game.They always are close games,but Wade gets it done this time.

[DefenseWins]

lol I read the Bulls forum and some do believe the Heat will win.

I don't know, it's just one of those feelings. Especially Heat on their home court, wanting to get better and momentum for the playoffs. Unless some conspiracy theory happens and Heat play like absolutely crap just to not show their "cards". Idk.

I'm interested to see how our defense is though... again their ball movement kills us.

I'm also interested to see how Mike Miller does and if he does more facilitating. He was good in that role last night.

[FlashKing]

Bulls got the Mavericks and Pacers to deal with after tonight's game. it's not out of the realm of possibility that we could overtake them for the #1 overall seed. gotta win out though.

[MissileMike]

Bulls got the Mavericks and Pacers to deal with after tonight's game. it's not out of the realm of possibility that we could overtake them for the #1 overall seed. gotta win out though.

This is exactly correct. The number one seed is still very much in doubt, thanks to the bulls' shocking home loss against the Wizards. Indiana plays the bulls tougher than any team in the league and there's quite a bit of bad blood. So if Miami wins tonight, and they probably will, it's anyone's eastern conference.

[Akshan]

IF we win tonight we can get the one seed and face the Sixers who will always matchup well with. Bulls without Rose and Deng still got to beat a Dallas team trying to get a better seed and an Indiana team which has been flourishing with Leonardo Barbosa. I am hoping for a good win and another MVP game like performance from LeBron so that he can bring the MVP trophy to Miami.

[DefenseWins]

If the Bulls lose the next 3 we'd definitely get the 1st seed. That is, if the Heat the opportunity. SO MANY times the Heat have been close but never capitalized.

edit : we're closer to the 2nd seed than I thought... Chicago has played 1 more game than us...

[dafunky1]

I don't see why either Bulls or Miami fans would worry about who is the 1st seed.If both teams are of championship ilk,they will dispose either of NY or Philly.

[This IsMy House]

If I were Thibs, Id sit Rose and Deng again. Let Miami win just so they feel they have a chance at the 1 seed and continue to play hard, going into the playoffs and are tired.

Honestly we don't really have at shot at the 1 seed. After tonight and maybe the game against Boston, the Big 3 should just be resting or playing LOW LOW minutes and treating the game as if it were a scrimmage. Run some new plays, test some things, and then sit the rest.

The amount of rest came back to haunt Miami last year.....

[RhapidKid]

I don't want the #1 seed. I want us to face NY. Love to have the privilege of spanking them.