Heat Can't Run With The Bulls In Game 1
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Miami Heat find themselves in a position they're not quite used to in the last two years, behind in a NBA playoffs series. The Heat collapsed against the Chicago Bulls in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals and now must regroup in a hurry.
The Heat played lethargically at times in Game 1 and wound up on the losing end of a 93-86 game. What was even more staggering was the way Miami's offense couldn't solve the Bulls' stunningly good defense or get out on the fast break.
It's only one game, something plenty of Bulls players and coach Tom Thibodeau pointed out incessantly afterward. But even a 1-0 lead in a series typically leads to advancement, so for the Heat, adversity has arrived in a big way in a season where little has gone wrong.
"It's not going to be pretty but playoffs are ugly," said Bosh, who was held to nine points on 3-for-10 shooting. "That's what it's about. It's been a little bit too pretty around here, to be honest with you."
Pretty was definitely something you couldn't say about the Heat's performance in Game 1. The Heat were outrebounded 46-32 and two different players for Chicago had at least 10 rebounds including Joakim Noah grabbing five offensive rebounds.
The Heat got nearly zero contribution from Bosh who shot just 30 percent from the field and pulled down just six rebounds. Dwyane Wade shot less than 50 percent from the field but was the only other player besides LeBron James in double-figures.
"I'm not stunned," James said. "This is what the playoffs is all about. We're going against a really good team."
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra now has to figure out how to get Miami out of the gates fast in Game 2 against the Bulls.
"There's no excuses," said Spoelstra, whose team had not played in more than a week. "We're not making any excuses for time off or anything else."
The Heat has won 41 of their last 44 games, but two of those losses have come to the Chicago Bulls.
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