Credit Where Credit is Due- Bulls/Heats Game 1

I'll combine the credit post with my thoughts I had before the series started. This was the blueprint. Play solid D, pound the offensive glass, make your open shots if they collapse on Derrick. After some first quarter jitters, the Bulls did everything right. Starting with this:



Taj Gibson- 25%

There's once again so much to go around, but I'm starting with Taj, and not just for 2 very memorable playoff dunks. Taj was around the basket on both ends, altering shots and attacking the offensive glass. A hard earned +17 for Taj, 9 points, 7 boards. More of that, please, although hopefully not out of necessity.

Derrick- 25%

Taking smart shots, and playing pretty decent defense on Wade at times. As long as he keeps his turnovers down and keeps knocking down his jumpers, it's going to be hard for the Heat to stop the Bulls offensively.

Deng/TBN/Joakim's defense- 25%

The most important thing about winning this series for the Bulls is shutting down the Wade and LeBron. As we saw tonight, you can let Bosh get his, but if you can keep frustrating 3 and 6, you can keep the Heat from getting off. And it's a very nice luxury that the Bulls frontcourt can switch on almost every pick and be OK, and Joakim did an excellent job whenever he had to pick LeBron or Wade up on the perimeter.

Boozer- 10%

I'm fine if this is how you want to use Boozer, TT. 26 minutes, and he gave them good ones offensively, if not always on defense. But as the Heat like to play Joel Anthony and Jamal Magloire for some reason, Boozer's defensive weakness will only be a problem in rotation. So keep staying hot offensively, Boozer, and we're cool.

TT- 10%

TT outcoached Spoelestra, and it's going to be important that we recognize this mismatch and exploit it all series. The Heat couldn't adjust to what the Bulls were doing to them defensively or find a way to get open looks for his best players. If Riley doesn't give him some tips soon, they can keep taking advantage of this the whole time, and the Heat athleticism won't be able to bail them out.

UC Fans- 5%

I haven't been happy with the UC crowd so far in the playoffs. The one game I went to, there were several great plays and bad calls that Sam and I seemed to be the only people in our section who noticed. A home team's crowd has 2 jobs: Provide energy and momentum after a big play, and let the officials know when they made a mistake so it's in their heads on the next call. They did both tonight. Good work.

I think the Heat will respond and make this a series. But I also think the Bulls are capable of playing 4 games like that, and if it's a chess match between TT and Spolestra, TT will win. Go Bulls.