Miami Heat Look for Home Win Against Chicago
By David Ramil
The Miami Heat (35-43) still have a slim hope for a postseason berth but the Chicago Bulls (46-32) might stand in their way. As the Bulls try to integrate their broken-down superstar, can the Heat find a way to steal a win from one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference?
Start Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
Location: Game will be played at Miami at the AmericanAirlines Arena
TV Info: TNT
Radio: 104.3 The Ticket
For all the talk about the (L)Eastern Conference, this playoff race is pretty damn exciting. Miami is one of five teams that can climb as high as the East’s six-seed or drop out of the race altogether: five different fan bases clinging to hope.
And the Bulls are hopeful as well – a season of championship aspirations has taken a turn for the worse, with numerous players breaking down over the course of the year. Jimmy Butler, one of the most improved players in the league, missed several games as did Joakim Noah. Both of those players will be on the floor tonight against Miami. But no player will be as scrutinized as Derek Rose, the one-time MVP that has battled numerous knee injuries for the last few seasons.
Rose returned to action on Wednesday night in a loss to Orlando, playing under 20 minutes and scoring nine points on 3-of-9 shooting. He’ll continue to play limited minutes with the hope that he’ll round himself into form before the playoffs. But the Bulls need him to mesh with the rest of their bandaged-up team and the Bulls have a window of opportunity that is closing fast.
As big winners during past regular seasons, Chicago has fallen short in the playoffs on numerous occasions (often with Miami standing in their way). Scoring had always been an issue, one which was greatly improved by the removal of Carlos Boozer and the addition of All-Star Pau Gasol. Still, Rose’s balky knees are the literal hinge of this season, one that has been more tumultuous than expected. As players continue to break down and head coach Tom Thibodeau’s methods begin being questioned, this is a team that has fallen apart at the wrong time.
Miami’s lingering issues have been, if nothing else, consistent. While the team that defeated the Hornets on Tuesday was fairly close to “full” strength, there’s no guarantee that will be the case on Thursday night. Moreover, Miami’s recent shooting problems could doom the team once and for all.
As ESPN points out, Miami has “gone 10 for 55 (18.2 percent) from 3-point range in the past three games and they’ve made just 5 of 35 in the two matchups with the Bulls, one of the league’s best at defending the arc.”
Still, there’s hope, namely the play of Goran Dragic, who scored 28 points in the win over the Hornets – his highest total since joining the Heat. And you can’t overlook Hassan Whiteside, who scored one of the most impressive triple-doubles of the season when he last faced Chicago.
The Bulls have also struggled away from home, losing 12 of their last 16 road games – a startling statistic.
Miami haven’t played particularly well at home but can still hope to duplicate their recent home success against other contenders (namely Cleveland and Portland). After all, during a season that has proven this above all else, anything can happen.
Check back with All U Can Heat after the game for a full recap, post-game grades and more.