Heat Lose to Bulls

Bosh goes 1-18 in loss
The loss of the Heat to the Bulls exposed the weakness of the Heat. With Wade, LeBron, and Bosh most analysts were predicting championships for this team. It is not working out that way. They have a losing record against winning teams. Why is that do you suppose?

First, Bosh is not as good as hyped. Remember, he led the Raptors last year, and they were way ahead of the Bulls in December. But, the Raptors started losing and were eventually caught by the Bulls to make the final playoff spot. So, he couldn't even get his team into the playoffs. That is NOT what you see from elite players. He lacks passion for the game. Notice how losses don't phase him. Jordan, and now DRose, get upset over losses. Their pride is challenged. Not with Bosh.

Next, the Heat have a limited roster. After the big 3 there is a big drop off in talent.  Weak teams don't have the ability to take advantage of that. That will be exposed in the playoffs. Good teams will find the weak man on the floor, and funnel their scoring through him.  In the playoffs, all 5 on the floor must hold their own defensively or else. 

The Heat are weak at the 4 and 5 spots, so they are weak inside at both ends of the floor.  LeBron and Wade will not be able to penetrate enough to score consistently inside, despite their athleticism. They are also weak at point guard. This prevents them from being able to get the most out they talent they do have on their roster. Even Wade and LeBron cannot produce consistently at high levels without a quality point guard.  When they came together last summer, many felt that the Heat would be a high scoring unstoppable juggernaut. And they may well have been, it they had a high quality point guard like Deron Williams, Rondo, or even DRose.  With an elite PG they would have been fearsome. 

But, now, they are just the Wade and LeBron show. Whenever they get the ball, it is their individual athleticism operating in isolation that gets them the score. Their effectiveness as a team is limited because they don't have a true team.

The Heat don't have a team with balance or depth. Only 8 players were played in the loss to the Bulls. When Wade or LeBron sit down, there is a huge drop in ability. With the Bulls, Boozer sits and Taj comes in. DRose sits and C J Watson comes in. When Noah sits, Asik or Thomas comes in. At SG, teams either face shooting ace Korver, or defensive ace Brewer. (Please don't ask me why Bogans starts. Some mysteries cannot be understood.)

The subs of the Bulls often extend the lead. When have the Miami subs done that? 

This year, the Raptors will likely not make it past the first round.  However, next year might be a different story.  If they can find some inside and outside help over the summer from the draft or free agency, then 2012 might be a different story. 

In conclusion, I do wonder if Wade and LeBron now regret not coming to Chicago. Chicago wanted them, and the Bulls had the cap space to get them. Imagine a starting five of DRose, Wade, LeBron, Taj Gibson, Noah.  4 all stars and a solid smart player. Now THAT would have been awesome, and unbeatable. But, now it will be the Bulls and the Heat fighting each other for the next decade.