Two weeks ago, the Chicago Bulls won an ugly battle against the Miami Heat at home.  Today, they won an ugly battle against Miami on the road.

In both contests, Derrick Rose cemented his status the leading MVP candidate this season.

Rose, who openly prefers to penetrate and at times is reluctant to shoot from the perimeter, continued to put pressure on Miami’s defense.  He craftily worked the pick and rolls, attempting to get matched up with weak opposing defenders.  When he did, Rose went to work, on his way to 27 points and 5 assists.

But as always with the Heat, this game came down to the final possessions.  And as we’ve witnessed so many times, Miami was unable to come away with the win.

Miami was trailing by five points (84-79), when Mario Chalmers ignited a 7-0 run for the home team with two consecutive baskets. 

With 25 seconds on the game clock and Miami leading by two, Chicago took possession in what would be the game’s most critical juncture.  The Heat played great denial defense on the inbound, not allowing Derrick Rose to touch the ball.  Luol Deng ended up with the rock, and was forced to make a move off of a screen when he was bailed out with a foul.

Deng stepped to the line, making the first of two free throws.  But still trailing by a point, the Bulls forward missed the second and a battle ensued to capture the rebound.  The basketball caromed back to Deng, who attempted the catch the ball in rhythm and make a strong move towards the basket.  In the process, the officials blew the whistle for a foul on Mike Miller, who appeared to be reaching in to deter Deng’s drive to the hole.

  

 

 

D-Rose is the underlying force driving the Bulls to success this season.

On a clearer replay, it seems the call was missed – and it looked as if no contact was made on the play.  Regardless the call stood, and Deng converted on both freebies this time around.

But such seems to be the burden of the Heat, as they were once again forced to make a game-deciding play on the offensive end of the floor.  From the lack of offensive fluidity that occurred in this game, the advantage immediately appeared to be in favor of the Bulls.  Common sights throughout the game included heavily contested shots, awkward field goal attempts, and a complaining Dwyane Wade (who was a bit overly expressive to the refs on drives to the basket during which he thought he fouled).

So, the Heat dispersed the team huddle, and the resulting inbound produced a formation that began with LeBron having an isolation at the top of the key.  The ‘play’ reeked of the one which concluded in a recent loss to the New York Knicks.  The reigning MVP executed a right-to-left crossover dribble which yielded a slight advantage on his defender.  James dashed toward the basket, but the Bulls were prepared.  As they had craftily done all game, a Chicago help defender rotated over and forced James into a left-handed layup with a high-degree of difficulty.  The shot missed, but the weak side rebound was recovered by Wade.  With only a few ticks remaining of the regulation clock, Wade quickly launched a turnaround jumper.  It was off the mark.

And once again, so were the last second efforts of the Heat.

The air hastily went out of the American Airlines Arena; it was almost as if the weight of underachievement could be felt by each ticket holder.  Miami has now lost four in a row.  And it’s not so much that the Heat have lost four in a row (as absurd as that would have sounded when the Big Three first joined forces), but the various manners in which they have lost those four.

They blew a 15-point advantage against New York, and lost the game in its clutch moments.  They blew a 3rd quarter, 24-point lead to the Magic.  They got worked by the San Antonio Spurs, who never let them in the game.  And finally, they lose another close game to Chicago.

Miami has a month to get things on the right track.  This is a team that has to finish within the top two teams in the Eastern Conference because they absolutely will not have the confidence to tangle with a team like New York, or even Atlanta in the opening round of the postseason.

The Heat have to turn it around.  And we’re about to find out if they’re mentally able to do so.

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