Clash of the Titans: Wade & Lebron

So the Eastern Conference Finals are set: the Chicago Bulls vs. the Miami Heat; it's exactly the match up that everyone wanted to see. You've got young, explosive talents on both teams and high energy offenses that play an uptempo style of game that will be as fan friendly a match up as we've had in the playoffs in recent memory. This year's MVP, Derrick Rose, dueling against the two time MVP in Lebron James, but that is not the match up that will define this series.

As you can probably deduce from the title, King James and D-Wade will create the most headlines from this series, but for all the wrong reasons. This isn't a beaten down Celtics team with nagging injuries and poor depth that the Heat are coming up against this time. It's a young, fast, athletic group that has quality depth and knock down shooters in Kyle Korver & Luol Deng to compliment Rose's ability to get to the basket at will. They fight for every loose ball and contest every shot. But more importantly, not only did the Bulls sweep the season series, but Chicago has shown a consistent ability to win close games.

The of the Heat's 24 losses, 19 were decided by less than ten points and 13 of them by less than five points. Tough, grind out games have been the story of the Bulls' postseason so far against Indiana and Atlanta (except for game 6) and Chicago has displayed the tenaciy to battle out of those games while the Heat have not just yet. The Bulls' front court of Boozer, and Noah are younger, stronger and more physical than the Celtics. They won't allow Wade or Lebron to get to the rim like they did in the first two rounds. The defense of Chicago will turn the Heat into a perimeter jump shot team, and that's where the problems will come up for Miami.



Photo by Mike Ehrmann/ Getty Images North America


These aren't throw away games like the regular season. Every possession counts. You don't have the luxury of having an off night, and both Wade & James know this as much as anybody on the court. So when they won't be able to get to the bucket with ease like they did in rounds 1 or 2, they'll be trying to find their rhythm with their jump shot. Now if I'm right, and they're forced to do this, how do two superstars that each average over 20 shots per game make each other happy each time down the floor? Better question, (and it's one that people have asked all year) with the game on the line in the waning seconds, who takes the last shot? Wade? It's his team still, right? But what if Lebron's got the hot hand, does Wade still let him decide the game? This is the true dilemma of the Miami Heat. The Bulls have their superstar, and a great supporting cast of role players that compliment Rose's talents. The Heat, with all of their weapons, still don't have a true identity.

I'm going to say it right now....I think the Bulls are going to win the East and go to the finals. Do I think the Bulls are more talented than the Miami Heat? No. But they are the better team.