One-Dimensional Bulls Won't Rebound from Loss to Miami

COMMENTARY | The Chicago Bulls lost to the Miami Heat Tuesday in overtime 101-93. This was the fourth game of the series. After winning the first game by blowout, the Bulls have been struggling. What is their problem? Can they come back? I don't believe so.

Shandel Richardson has posted an article on the NBA.com website titled "Bulls-Heat notebook." Richardson tells us some facts of the game. The main fact is, Chicago didn't have to lose.

Basketball pundits have argued about the Bulls and their one-dimensional offense. That is Derrick Rose. Chicago does not have a player who can step up and score a lot of points to support Rose, at least on a regular basis. Yet that is not why the Bulls lost last night.

It's true that Lebron James scored 35 points and Chris Bosh also scored 22 for Miami. However, the Bulls were able to stay in the game all the way to overtime and while Miami played some good defense, Chicago did also.

It should be noted that the player who broke the Bulls' back was Mike Miller, a reserve who became red hot and scored 12 points. This helped bring the Heat back from a five-point fourth quarter deficit.

Unfortunately, what I saw out of Chicago is disturbing and will, in my opinion, keep them from coming back and beating Miami.

On any basketball team there are five players. These five players should be in constant motion, doing a job they've been trained to do. Not all are pegged to be major shooters. However, these are five professional players. All of them have the capability of scoring a basket.

Yet at the end of the game, when Chicago had a chance to win the game (twice), Rose eschewed the pass, shooting over defenders and having the shots blocked and deflected. Behind him was a player who had a wide-open shot. Why didn't Rose pass the ball?

Perhaps we get some insight in his post-game comments. He was quoted as saying, "Tonight, definitely it was on me. I had two opportunities to end the game. Couldn't do it. If anything learn from it -- " And on and on it goes, Rose saying he has something to learn, the loss is on him.

Sadly, even in losing the team is not allowed to play a role in the game. Rose made just eight baskets from the field. He was obviously struggling.

Why would a team that needed a basket go to a player who has had shooting woes all night?

Simply put, the star is given all of the say in what happens.

That is why the Bulls will not win the Eastern Conference Final.

Reference:

NBA.com Website, Shandel Richardson, "Bulls-Heat notebook"