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Bulls stifle Heat in easy opener
Source: Agencies |
May 17, 2011, Tuesday
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CHICAGO'S defense stifled LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to set-up an easy 103-82 victory over the Miami Heat in the opening game of their Eastern Conference Finals series on Sunday.
Chicago's Derrick Rose, the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP), scored 28 points but it was the Bulls' defence that really stood up, limiting Wade to 18 points and James to 15. The third member of Miami's 'Big Three', Chris Bosh, managed a playoff-high 30 points but the Heat will have to find a way to improve their offense before Game 2 of their best-of-seven series in Chicago tomorrow.
For the Bulls, their triumph was a continuation of their regular season domination over Miami when they won all three matchups. But despite their track record and status as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Chicago found itself viewed as the underdog against Miami heading into the series.
"There are a lot of opinions out there, but we're not getting caught in that," Bulls forward Luol Deng told reporters after finishing with 21 points and playing suffocating defense against James.
"We've won 62 games. We know we're a good team. In order to win you have to think you're the best."
Chicago was clearly at its best during a dominant second half where it outscored the Heat 55-34. It seized momentum in the third period where it used a 10-0 spurt to turn a one-point deficit into a 67-58 advantage, then let loose in the fourth with three-pointers and vicious dunks as its home fans celebrated the rout.
After overcoming the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics in the second round series, Miami found a much different challenge in Chicago.
The Heat were pounded inside where the Bulls tallied 31 second-chance points to just eight for Miami.
In Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant scored 39 points and Russell Westbrook had his first playoff triple-double as Oklahoma City beat Memphis 105-90 in Game 7 to advance to the Western Conference finals.
Chicago's Derrick Rose, the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP), scored 28 points but it was the Bulls' defence that really stood up, limiting Wade to 18 points and James to 15. The third member of Miami's 'Big Three', Chris Bosh, managed a playoff-high 30 points but the Heat will have to find a way to improve their offense before Game 2 of their best-of-seven series in Chicago tomorrow.
For the Bulls, their triumph was a continuation of their regular season domination over Miami when they won all three matchups. But despite their track record and status as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Chicago found itself viewed as the underdog against Miami heading into the series.
"There are a lot of opinions out there, but we're not getting caught in that," Bulls forward Luol Deng told reporters after finishing with 21 points and playing suffocating defense against James.
"We've won 62 games. We know we're a good team. In order to win you have to think you're the best."
Chicago was clearly at its best during a dominant second half where it outscored the Heat 55-34. It seized momentum in the third period where it used a 10-0 spurt to turn a one-point deficit into a 67-58 advantage, then let loose in the fourth with three-pointers and vicious dunks as its home fans celebrated the rout.
After overcoming the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics in the second round series, Miami found a much different challenge in Chicago.
The Heat were pounded inside where the Bulls tallied 31 second-chance points to just eight for Miami.
In Oklahoma City, Kevin Durant scored 39 points and Russell Westbrook had his first playoff triple-double as Oklahoma City beat Memphis 105-90 in Game 7 to advance to the Western Conference finals.
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