This is starting to feel like 1991, when Luol Deng was 6 years old — it seems I was just entering my 60s — and the Bulls won their first NBA title.
It was a young, fast, previously denied Bulls team chasing an aging, veteran NBA defending champion. The Bulls were ahead in the playoffs two games to none, but the Detroit Pistons merely were heading home to take care of their business, as they always had.
But they had aged, it seemed overnight, as Isiah Thomas missed half that season with injuries and was just returning to action. The Bulls were quicker, so the Pistons were relying on their power game and experience.
Sure, the Bulls had Michael Jordan. But don’t be fooled by urban legend. Not once was that team favored to win even its division, even with Jordan. So they went to Detroit confident but wary, convinced they were coming of age, but with no proof.
They went home conference champions.
“Great draft picks, great teaching and development and now great experience,” Miami Heat coach Pat Riley said Thursday of the Bulls when asked how a team finally breaks through. “They’re mature. I read the other day and I think it’s true: They’re not baby Bulls anymore. They’re a veteran, hardened team at the right ages, and with talent.
“We respect they are a year older and better,” Riley said of the team his Heat ousted in the first round a year ago en route to its NBA crown. “We feel like we’re better and have prepared ourselves. We’re coming with what we have.”
That’s Shaquille O’Neal and more O’Neal, and Dwyane Wade and the most he has to give as they are down 2-0 in the best-of-seven first-round NBA playoff series that resumes here Friday night.
“He’s doing the best he can do!” Riley said sharply after practice in response to more questions about Wade’s recovering shoulder. “Period! OK! If he can go to the basket, he’ll go to the basket. We all know what the deal is so free his mind up and just let him play. It’s not what he’s not doing himself. It’s about us as a team.
“We were pathetic. As good as they were, we were pathetic [Tuesday night in losing Game 2]. It’s more than just Dwyane Wade. It’s everybody.”
Got it!
That last one was me, but the Bulls can expect an angry, desperate Heat on Friday.
Win or make excuses.
“I’ve been shooting more pull-ups,” Wade said. “That is not going to win the series. I’m going to be very aggressive the next couple of games. I’m not into making statements. Tune in and watch.”
So, yes, the Heat will be coming Friday, and coming hard.
Wade, who had been drawing comparisons to Jordan because of his epic Finals performance last year and consistent ability in the clutch, finally dunked in this series late in the Game 2 Bulls blowout.
Expect him to attack the rim like he hasn’t in the first two games. The Heat is whispering that if they had that Dwyane Wade they would have stolen Game 1, and after the Bulls’ collapse in New Jersey, it would have been a defeated Bulls team with a home loss to open the series. If … if … if …
Actually, the domination of the Bulls in the first two games has been startling.
Riley recites these things like a mantra. You would think he has charted the number of times they wipe the sweat off the floor.
“They were 26-for-39 from long range, 38-for-50 on jump shots, plus 14 [points] on fast breaks, plus six on second chance, plus 10 boards, 70 percent in the 50-50 game.”
I hated to admit I didn’t know the last reference, but I’m sure Miami will try to change it. Whatever it is.
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This is what I do know: The Bulls outrebounded the Heat, they shot better, got more assists, more fast breaks and more second-chance points.
The Bulls also had more total points, which I personally consider a major indicator of the final result.
The Bulls did that because they executed their plan better.
They protected their defensive boards and outlet passes, and forced turnovers and ran out. That gave them the quick, open shots they seek, which favor Ben Gordon, before the defense sets. Then, when the defense set, they took advantage of Miami’s help mentality because the Heat is an older team without great individual defenders. I also think Riley erred in sticking with Eddie Jones with his long arms and size to run off Gordon, which has worked before. But it left a weakened Wade on Luol Deng, the series’ leading scorer.
The Bulls aren’t great off the first screen, but they are better when they continue their offense with penetration and then get openings when the Heat defenders sag to help. They also tipped the ball out for second shots and drove the Heat to distraction.
The Bulls did enough to annoy O’Neal, who played about how he has all season, averaging 18 points and seven rebounds. The difference was Wade — like Thomas 16 years before — not able to take over a game. So the Bulls didn’t have to help so much and could stay with the other Miami players.
As a result, the Heat bench is outscoring the Bulls reserves 34-26. But Jones is averaging two points and is 1 of 7 shooting and Jason Williams is averaging 6.5 points and is 4 of 15.
“I didn’t get their attention between Games 1 and 2,” Riley said. “The [Bulls] were great. They were as efficient as I’ve ever seen them play. I don’t think we could have beaten them anywhere if they played like that. So we have to affect the rhythm of their game.”
You figure Riley has their attention now. Chuck Daly did once, also, with the Pistons. It wasn’t enough then.
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