Fathead Blog

The Bulls have to win tonight. If Chicago loses Game 4 in Miami and the Heat take a 3-1 lead in the series, the Bulls shot at reaching the NBA Finals will be about as good as the world ending when someone predicts it will. (The new date is October 21, 2011 for those of you scoring at home). 

The Heat have taken control of the Eastern Conference Finals in the last two games. How can the Bulls take it back and even the series at 2-2? 

PUT THE KIBOSH ON BOSH

Chris Bosh scored 30 in Game 1 and 34 in Game 3. He is shooting 65.9 percent in the series. The Bulls have to shut him down and shut him down early. They cannot let Bosh get off to a good start and get comfortable. Wade and LeBron are too good. They are going to score. If Bosh does too, consider the series over and the Heat closer to winning the NBA Finals.

GET HELP FROM THE JAZZ

Make that, the former Jazz. Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, and Ronnie Brewer played for the Utah Jazz last year. These three NBA players need to produce in Game 4. Boozer had 26 points and 17 rebounds in Game 3 and it wasn’t good enough because he was outplayed by Bosh. He has to play better defense. 

Korver is supposed to be Chicago’s outside threat.  This NBA player is one of the best shooters in the league. He needs to start knocking down shots in this series like he did in the previous rounds of the playoffs if the Bulls want to make it to the NBA Finals. He has scored just three points in each game against Miami. A couple long-range buckets from Korver would help spread the floor and take some pressure off of Derrick Rose. 

Brewer has done a nice job of playing defense so far against Miami. He hasn’t done much else, scoring just 19 points total in the three games. His lack of offense has made things easier for the Miami defense. A double-digit offensive effort from Brewer would enable Tom Thibodeau to leave one of his best defenders in the game longer. 

M-V-P

Derrick Rose is the league MVP and he needs to have an MVP performance. Miami has given him trouble in the last two fourth quarters. He will have to give Miami trouble in this fourth quarter. He needs to attack the double-teaming defense the Heat have been sending at him and make the defense pay for leaving an open man. 

BRING BACK GAME 1 EFFORT

Derrick Rose and Luol Deng combined for 49 points. Chicago beat Miami 45-33 on the glass. They kept two of the big three in check. Udonis Haslem was not a factor. The Bulls wanted it more than the Heat and they played that way. A similar effort in Game 4 tonight should be enough to even the series and reclaim home-court advantage. 

The Bulls Must Use Game 1 Effort to Win Game 4