Miami's depth is starting to show.
A couple of flashes of brilliance from Rose that game but not himself at all. Really off his game.
Couple of thoughts from me.
1. What is wrong with Kurt Thomas? Asik goes down injured, and instead of going to the savvy veteren PF/C that can really fill the lane and score if needed, they run Noah and Boozer into the ground. Why not use Thomas even for spot minutes???
2. Rose...playing like a rookie, not an MVP. How the hell do you settle for a ridiculous step back on Lebron James at the end of regulation when you have 8 seconds to attack, possibly draw a foul, make the defense collapse and leave a player wide open, etc etc? But he dribbles it out and settles for an air ball step back over a 6'8 guy who can jump through the roof...
The Bulls cannot win if Rose won't pass the ball. The Bulls can't win if the best they can do on 2 clutch possessions is allow Rose to try and step back on Bron...he did it twice in the final minute. Ridiculous.
Props however to the heat, played a great game considering the Bulls did an awesome job stopping them scoring in the paint.
For all the talk of Rose not playing like an MVP. The Heat have done at terrific job defending him. The last few games apart from a few times, Rose's only points in the paint have come in 1 on 1 situations or in transition. The Heat are throwing multiple bodies at him, and the help defense has been terrific. Once he beats his man the wing players are right there, and big men (e.g. Bosh, Haslem, Anthony) are stepping up and giving Rose nowhere to go.
Credit to LeBron for great defense as well. I don't know what's going on in Rose's mind, settling for those jumpers - but I can only guess he doesn't think he can get past LeBron. Great defense from LeBron and leadership stepping up and drawing that assignment. Rose had a terrific regular season but still has a lot to learn.
Lets get some persepective here.
1. Agree totally with the Asik situation. Thomas played fantastic for the bulls during the reg season when called upon. His experience could have got them over the line.
2. Bit harsh on the young fella. Only in his 3rd season and 1st conference finals. Even the likes of MJ, Bron, Kobe etc made these bad decisions early on in their careers. Rose is the type of bloke though who will take that criticism away and work on it and I am 100% sure he will be better off for it next season.
3. If Rose didn't take the shot, much like the situation lebron is in, he would get critisized for not taking it.
4. This series is now over. Bulls may snatch the next one at home and would love to see it. After such a brilliant season it would be a shame to go out 4-1.
5. I think the bulls need to fill the no. 2 spot in the off season. Bogans is not a starter. I have heard rumours that iggy will be available. I think he would be perfect fit. He has a nice shot on him, can hit the 3 and spread the floor, and his defensive efforts are also fantastic.
6. Props to the heat. Been clearly the better team, however still believe Mavs are playing almost perfect bball atm and would be the fairy tale ending to Kidds career. The big Dirk cannot be stopped.
Yep absolutely Brilliant D by the Heat. I am saying Rose isn't playing like an MVP simply because the heat are playing him perfectly, but he won't change what he's doing in any way...even though it's not working. That is why great players are great players. Because when they are stopped, they make the pass, they change it up. So he thinks he can't score on Bron...so don't. Don't put yourself in a position that only you have the chance to score with then. Attack the rim, maybe get a foul, if not, because you've created something then you can make the pass instead. But dribbling it around and then settling for a stupid jumper isn't helping anybody. That is why I'm saying he's not playing like an MVP. Not because he's not putting up the numbers or any such, but because he's not playing to help the team.
It's not over till it's over man. I see the Bulls going home and coming out and blasting the Heat, or losing due to not believing they can win. It all starts with Rose.
The criticism Rose has garnered is warranted. If you win the MVP, that makes you eligible for the criticism - regardless of how young you are. LeBron was the same age when he took the Cavs to the Finals against the Spurs, and he got a lot of criticism. It comes with the territory.
Iguodala would be interesting. I don't think he's a good enough shooter. He's similar to Deng offensively, but a worse 3 point shooter, and a better ball-handler and passer.
---------- Post added 25-05-2011 at 02:02 PM ----------
I understand what you mean now Ben, and you're exactly right.
He's still very young though, clearly he needs a season or two before he reaches the level of a LeBron or Kobe (not this year, but previous years). Rose stepped up in a big way this regular season, now teams are switched on to his game - and it shows as the playoffs hasn't been great for the Bulls overall with a relatively easy road they haven't been dominant. He's going to have to go away and grow, mature his game etc. And I have no doubt he'll respond. He's a great player.
This will be the worst Heat team you see (baring injuries) for the next 5 years.
Agreed. The youth is showing. But I am sure he can add a new element to his game to combat how teams are defending him. But right now, it's looking very average and like he's stuck. Just seeing him charge into 4 defenders at the rim and still try and put the shot up rather than kick it out was driving me nuts. There's being aggressive, and then there's being stupid aggressive. If you're 1 on 4, there's 3 open players around you. Boozer on 1 play was standing right there baseline wide open. If not Booze though, you've got Korver, Deng, Bogans all standing around waiting for the ball and yet he's attacking a wall of defense for nothing.
The Heat are going to be hard to stop. I like how they have adapted their game over the year from a continuous isolation/pummel it inside game to a nice well rounded game. Haslem and Miller firing also makes the HUGE difference as we all knew it would though
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?