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NBA -- Heat oust Bulls, advance to East Finals By Ricardo Gardunio PhilBoxing.com Thu, 16 May 2013  CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bulls went down swinging as their season came to its conclusion Wednesday night at the hands of the defending champion Miami Heat, losing 94-91. The Heat move on to the Eastern Conference Championship and will await the winner of the Pacers/ Knicks series, where the Pacers hold a commanding 3-1 series lead. Chicago looked like a team primed for the off-season, starting the game down 18-2 early in the first quarter. But the Bulls refused to fold, clawing their way back and led 53-47 at halftime. The Bulls kept charging in the third period and took a 77-69 bubble entering the fourth quarter. The Heat, however, wouldn't be denied as the defending champions closed out the show with a 25-14 run. Jimmy Butler had a wide open 3 that could have potentially tied the score in the waning seconds, but the desperation attempt sailed wide. Butler played all 48 minutes for the fith time this postseason and finished with 19 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Carlos Boozer also contributed 26 points and 14 rebounds. Nate Robinson bounced back with 21 points after a dismal Game 4, where he shot 0-for-12.. The Miami Heat were led by, none other than, Lebron James who netted 23 points, with seven rebounds, and eight assists. "We gave it everything we had," James said. "I have no energy left." Dwayne Wade also contributed 18 points and made some huge plays down the stretch in the final period. This resilient Bulls squad has fought through adversity all season long. A team without their one bona fide superstar for over a year, and missing 2 starters in the playoffs. Injury plagued and ill, the Bulls personified the phrase that Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau loves to use, "Next man up." The Chicago Bulls are a tough nosed team led by a tough as nails coach and when they were up against all odds they showed their true heart and grit. You cant ask for much more than that! "Obviously we're disappointed in losing the series," Thibodeau said. "But I was never disappointed in our team. I thought our team fought hard all year long. There was no quit in them." "Its hard right now because we just lost,..... but there's a lot of positives, we're a young team that has experienced a lot at a young age," Joakim Noah said after the game, "We're going to come back healthy and we are going to be able to compete with these guys for a long time, I think that one day we will get our shot!" While this season has ended, the Bulls enter the post-season with a lot of question marks on their roster. The front office will have to decide if they are willing to pay more money to go deeper into the luxury tax to re-sign Nate Robinson and Marco Bellinelli. The Bulls don't have a lot of options this off season, as they can only offer the Mini Mid-level Exception. There will be one player who the Bulls will add next season though. A player that can change the whole landscape of the Eastern conference in favor of the Bulls once more. The Return: Part II, aka Derrick Rose. (With a report from Katrina Barnett) Photo: LeBron James (L) scored 23 points to lead the Heat in Game 5, 94-91. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ricardo Gardunio.  |
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