Can Chicago Win Game 2?

The Bulls shocked Miami in Game 1. Can they do it again? (Credit Opertinicy)

The Miami Heat had over a week of rest heading into Game 1 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals after dismantling the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. The Chicago Bulls had just finished off a rigorous series with the Brooklyn Nets, culminating in a Game 7 road win. Chicago was without Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, and an ailing Luol Deng. The entire Miami Heat team was healthy. The Bulls were starting their third-string backcourt. So the outcome was obvious.

Chicago Bulls 93, Miami Heat 86. Wait, what?

Led by rugged interior defense and larger-than-life performances by Nate Robinson and Jimmy Butler, the Bulls stunned the home crowd in Miami and stole Game 1 from the Heat, who were 41-2 over their last 43 games. The Bulls allowed LeBron James to have his usual solid game (24 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists), but held the tandem of Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade to 23 points on a combined 10-of-26 shooting.

Robinson shot 50% from the floor to score 24 points along with his 9 assists, and Jimmy Butler had a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds over an effective 48 minutes. More importantly, Robinson and Butler combined to score 22 points in the fourth quarter. While LeBron did his best to counter with 15 fourth quarter points of his own, the other two members of the Big Three pulled a late disappearing act. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade combined for just 2 points in the final period, on one made field goal by Bosh.

The Chicago Bulls were given little to no chance by anyone to win Game 1 of this series. Even after a shocking victory, the media storyline seems to remain the same: the Bulls are hurt, the Heat are angry, and Chicago stands no chance to win Game 2 on the road. The question is – what if they’re wrong? Can Chicago win Game 2?

Four Keys to Chicago winning Game 2

1. Joakim Noah must be dominant. Noah has been a vocal, emotional and physical powerhouse for these Bulls in the 2013 NBA playoffs. He single-handedly willed Chicago to their Game 7 victory at Brooklyn with his 24 points, 14 rebounds and 6 blocked shots. Over the 2013 NBA playoffs, he ranks 8th in rebounds, 3rd in blocks and 1st in double-doubles recorded (5). One of those double-doubles came in Game 1′s win over Miami, where he scored 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in 38 minutes of work. If the Bulls are to win Game 2, Noah must again shut down the interior, play Chris Bosh physically and detract LeBron from getting in the lane.

2. Quality minutes from Taj Gibson. Gibson contributed a tough 25 minutes off the bench in Game 1, utilized for his frontcourt defense and length. Carlos Boozer will be asked to provide scoring from the power forward position, but Gibson may be called on against late in the 2nd and 4th quarters to defend against the penetration of James and to occasionally step out on the wing to guard Ray Allen. Gibson’s effectiveness will play a major role in Chicago’s Game 2 fortunes on the road.

3. Cage the “Birdman”. Chris Andersen has been a vociferous X-factor for the Miami Heat since his arrival, and the Heat have been close to unbeatable since his arrival. Andersen provided the emotional lifts needed off the bench with ferocious dunks and rebounding as Miami easily dispatched the Bucks in 4 straight games. In Game 1 against Chicago, Andersen was limited to just 3 points and 1 rebound in 16 minutes of play. Noah, Boozer and Gibson will be called upon once again to out-hustle, out-rebound, and generally stymie the Birdman in Game 2.

4. Nate Robinson must continue to be fearless. As TNT’s basketball analysts aptly stated during Game 1 regarding Derrick Rose’s injury, “Nate Robinson believes he’s better than Derrick Rose.” At 5’9″, Robinson has been fearless in taking the shots presented to him, and that confidence has bred unexpected success for the Bulls. The trend must continue, and Nate must provide consistent ball pressure on Mario Chalmers as well as create his own shot – as he may be the only healthy Chicago player able to do so off the dribble.

Can the Chicago Bulls win Game 2 in Miami, or will the Heat stampede the Bulls? Let us know!