Who ever thought the Chicago Bulls would be forcing the Miami Heat into "must win" situation in the second round of the playoffs? The Heat and Bulls hook up for Game 2 of their second round matchup and yes, this one is a must win situation as Miami will look to avoid an 0-2 hole as the series will shift to Chicago. The Bulls are playing motivated ball, so does this mean LeBron James needs 40 to help his Heat win tonight?
First of all, this might bother some Heat fans, but James can't score 40 on the Bulls defense. Weird to say the best basketball player on the planet can't score 40 on a team, but the reality is that James complains too much about foul calls. He is in all his right to complain, the referees miss a lot of calls similar to how Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony don't get theirs. James has to once again get over this dilemma and continue finishing at the basket like he did against Jimmy Butler in Game 1. That is the James that will guide this team to victory.
Let's be serious, the Heat does not need 40 points from James in this matchup. If the Bulls eventually folded against the Brooklyn Nets, then they are bound to get trampled by the Heat. Miami has to play motivated ball and all the Bulls did in Game 1 was provide a wakeup call for the Heat. LeBron & Co. now have to realize that they have a target on their back and the Bulls are serious about dethroning them after winning consecutive Eastern Conference titles.
The Heat will have to face the Bulls physicality because there is no getting away from it. Dwyane Wade will have to stop expending his energy and risking his health while chasing after loose balls in the stands. Though you commend his hustle, he is far too valuable. That's something you applaud Udonis Haslem for attempting, but when Wade goes flying into the stands, Heat fans grimace and hope he's okay.
James has to be effective and smart with the ball, while at the same time look out for himself and realize that, though he wants to get his team involved, once he starts going, things are better for the Heat. The Bulls aren't going to back down and they know the Heat will come out firing. The question is, how badly do the Heat want to win Game 2?
The Bulls are 2-1 at home in these playoffs and they will be a tough team to beat on the road, especially as word has it that Derrick Rose is coming back in Game 3. James might want to leave his 40-point performance for that game. For now, LeBron, leave your fancy MVP sneakers at home and put on your balling shoes because the Heat will need you to start out on fire.
Final Score Predictions: Miami Heat wins 103-91.
