From the Inbox: Bulls-Heat Game 1 Overview and Stuff

aubrey had to go to the states for some dubiously non-nba-related business. he wasn't able to catch the ECF game one and asked me for an overview...

dear aubrey,

how could you leave? now, of all times?

i know that wasn't in my initial e-mail but i just had to clear the air.

bulls-heat: both teams played to type, and it seems like if that continues the bulls will continue to win. barkley said chicago is playing the best defense he's ever seen in the n.b.a. and brings some convincing clips to prove it. it was awesome to watch, such a high level of energy and coordination that you just rarely see. you know how usually when someone can ditch their man on a move to drive inside, it's usually some kind of defensive chaos and/or collapse that ensues--either a layup, a kick out to an open man, or a foul? with the bulls you get the feeling their defense is totally in the moment at every moment: someone gets past a perimeter defender, there's like a whole SECOND LEVEL of set defense operating in the paint to smother, block, and rebound--usually without fouling. and they killed the heat on offensive rebounding (i have a blog item coming up about this; i've been slumping a little on my blogging, but it's not against the blog; i think i'm still finding my voice) to where it was just raining second-chances. this was all a symptom of the main thing the bulls had/will have over miami: when the whole team shows up, they are DEEP. i think i'm remembering right that there were, don't remember the number, but a bunch of chicago players with around ten points. boozer was solid, noah was awesome and everywhere and smothering on d, corver knocked down i think two 3's, and man, taj gibson was a MANIAC. oh, and so was Asik! (marv couldn't resist: "THE ROOKIE OUT OF TURKEY") there are two monster highlights from him gibson have to see. they got points and hustle out of ronnie brewer and c.j. watson. rose was his normal special self. and oh oh oh---DENG!!!! was dang special as well.
so basically for most of the game it felt like three on nine. bosh had his biggest game of the playoffs and was good; lebron was okay; wade started strong but then struggled and seemed to get really, really, really tired guarding rose. no other standouts for miami.

the synergy that is taj gibson: both the game- and announcer-highlights coalesced around taj gibson's two ridinkulankulous dunks:

1) driving dunk over wade, taking off from behind the restricted area.

reggie: AAAghhurlpaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kerr: You wanna get off me now, Reggie? It’s getting physical here in the booth.

2) mid-air-catch-tomahawk-dunk-offensive-rebound-putback.

reggie: I HAVE BEEN TO THE MOUNTAINTOP AND BACK!

kerr: giggles and stammers like a schoolboy (literally)

key analysis point: the importance of offensive rebounds for Chicago. Miami doesn’t pound the boards b/c they’re so focused on getting back for transition defense. If Chicago can grab offensive rebounds they have a good chance of finding someone open as Miami scrambles to get back. If Miami grabs it, quick outlet, break, lebron and wade. Kerr: “That’s kind of one of those game-within-a-game type battles that you’re going to have to look for.”