1. SIGNS OF SHAQ-A-TOSIS
The dunk on the first possession was fairly unmistakable. As were the 15 first-half points. Two alley-oop dunks early in the second half proved Shaquille O’Neal can still operate, with 22 points and seven boards in Game 2. In other news, after tweaking Shaq before the series, the Tribune’s Sam Smith is set for induction into the Miami Heat Media Hall of Fame.
2. THE GLOVE IS OFF . . . BUT BEN IS GENTLE
Ben Gordon, who scored 35 points in Game 1, was not a factor late, shut down by Gary Payton. Gordon shut himself down early in Game 2, benched after two minutes for poor defense. He was mouse-quiet the rest of the way, finishing with 13 points on 5-for-16 shooting.
3. HEAT SENSORS
TNT analyst Steve Kerr noted early on that the unsung hero of Game 2 might actually be Udonis Haslem’s mouthpiece. Well, sort of. Without their suspended power forward, Miami slid Antoine Walker to the “4” spot, creating four shooters around O’Neal and ultimately wearying the frazzled Bulls’ defense. Miami had six scorers in double figures.
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4. IN THE BULLS’ RING
Kerr minced no words–no Haslem, no Alonzo Mourning, a limping Dwyane Wade and O’Neal on one day’s rest made this a must-have for the Bulls. “They know they have to get one win in Miami,” Kerr said. “I think tonight’s the night.” Oops.
5. BENCH MARKS
Scott Skiles kept his team in the game early by benching Gordon and Michael Sweetney after a lackluster start. Maybe even more important, his club typically was game to the end, cutting a 20-point deficit to four with 1 minute 15 seconds to play. But the Bulls had no answers when it counted, as Miami rained jumpers to spread the floor. Pat Riley gets credit for refusing to rein in the pace early.
6. SWEET HOME . . . MIAMI?
Former Richards star Wade limped off with a charley horse after 14 fourth-quarter points in Game 1, but there was no cramping his style in Game 2. He finished with 21 points, seven assists, five rebounds and four steals, highlighted by an absolutely backbreaking drive and floater with 1:04 left that hurt the Bulls’ comeback.
7. SURPRISE STAR
Not that Andres Nocioni hasn’t been consistent all year . . . but 30 points? On 13-of-15 shooting? After an 18-point, 16-rebound Game 1? His three-pointer late in Game 2 made things very interesting, cutting the deficit to four with just more than a minute left. The Bulls didn’t see the ultimate benefit of a win, but they may be seeing a cornerstone in the making.
8. YOU DIDN’T NEED A $125 SEAT TO SEE . . .
The very large insect that landed on a TNT camera lens at the end of the first half during a Miami possession. For a second, you thought Mothra was maybe Skiles’ secret weapon to stop O’Neal. Too bad the bug didn’t take a charge on Wade’s dagger-like steal-and-dunk to end the half.
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