NBA – A quick look at the NBA Playoffs (Part 2)

Let’s keep on going with our attempt to answer some question about the NBA Playoffs. Let’s talk a bit about the Miami Heat, before we get on to take a look at the team that holds the best record in the league: the Chicago Bulls. Let’s look at the facts. Miami has had a season filled with ups and downs. The 9-9 start, followed by a strong comeback in December, was then filled in with a series of downfalls that culminated with head coach Erik Spoelstra saying that there were guys in the locker room crying after the Heat lost at home against the Chicago Bulls 87-86.

Yes, after a 3-0 whopping series against Boston, the squad finally man-up to defeat the defending champions earlier this week. Still, Boston managed to finished with the third best record in the league, but to be quite honest, the Heat regular season was not as brilliant as the Big Three of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chrish Bosh might make it sound like. The Miami starting trio said that the season had been a success. Well, it will only be a success if they can turn that record into something spectacular once the season kicks in.

Sure, the Heat could have it fairly easy on the first round, playing against the Philadelphia 76ers. No one I really expecting the 76ers to stay alive further then a 6th or maybe a 7 game series. But things will not be that easy once they have to match up to either the Celtics or the New York Knicks.

The Bulls have something of an easier road down the stretch. The Bulls will have to start the season against the Indiana Pacers and should (and let’s face it, they probably will) make it pass the first round, they would probably find either Orlando Magic or the Atlanta Hawks on the second round. If we had to make our picks we would say Orlando. And the thing is that Derrick Rose might be too much of a matchup against Dwight Howard and the Magic.

There is something of a motivational component to this whole performance by the Chicago Bulls. They haven’t played like this in a long-long while. As a matter of fact, the last time we saw them played like this, they won 6 national championships. So yes, like we’ve said before, Derrick Rose is not Michael Jordan, but the people in Chicago might start believing that he is, and given the home-team advantage they have throughout the Playoffs, they are going to be a tough team to beat at home.