Heat handle Bulls head to Finals

It was over in a "Flash". Okay, not really, but the Miami Heat used a furious late 4th quarter rally to come back and beat the Chicago Bulls 83-80 last night and win their best of 7, Eastern Conference finals series 4 games to 1.

It was LeBron James closing the deal, with help from the other two Beatles, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. James nailed three long jump shots in the last 2 minutes, Wade had 10 4th quarter points and Bosh blocked 4 shots along with scoring 20 points to lead the Heat to the win.

The win sets up a repeat of sorts of the 2006 NBA Finals when the Heat beat the Dallas Mavericks. The same two teams square off again, with the only holdovers being Dirk Nowitzki for Dallas and Wade for Miami.

Game 1 kicks off Tuesday night in Miami.

Here's last nights highlights, courtesy: NBAHiilights:

The Heat is on: LeBron dispatches Bulls

And while he hasn't vanquished them from the Eastern Conference finals yet, he's now only one game away from doing it.

LeBron James scored 35 points, Chris Bosh chipped in 22 and the Heat took care of the young Chicago Bulls in game 4 of their series Tuesday night, winning 101-93 in OT.

The Heat did what was necessary to win. The hit each of their final 24 free throws in the game. They played defense too, limiting league MVP Derrick Rose to 23 points, and it took Rose 27 shots to get those points.

Game 5 in the series comes Thursday night, as the Bulls try to stave off elimination in Chicago.

Your highlights from SI.com/NBA.com:

In today's reason to ignore the fans: Joakim Noah says a bad thing ((UPDATED))

This will probably be the "Big Talker" of the Internets today. Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah, not known for holding back his thoughts, appears, on video to say some curse words, including a slur that Kobe Bryant got fined for using just a month or two ago.

Noah had just picked up his second foul in Sunday nights game and was headed for an early seat on the bench, he grabs some water and a towel and appears to gesture towards someone behind him and say something along the lines of #$@%! you...faggot.

Now, it's somewhat difficult to tell what the last word was, but you can pretty clearly tell what the 1st two were, the TNT Sports shotgun mic did it's job, too well.



He later said he apologized to the fan directly, though it probably will not help him avoid a substantial fine. Our pals on SportsCenter play the apology and talk about it:



PM UPDATE: From the NBA their ownselves...

Chicago Bulls forward Joakim Noah has been fined $50,000 for using a derogatory and offensive term from the bench during the first quarter of the Bulls’ 96-85 loss to the Miami Heat last night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Bosh bumps Heat by Bulls

It was the 3rd Beatle that did it. Chris Bosh dropped 34 points, including 8 straight shots, leading the Miami Heat to a game 4, 96-85 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

The win keeps the Heat undefeated at home and puts the Bulls at a 2-1 deficit in the Best of 7, Eastern Conference Finals series.

The Bulls didn't get much from their start, Derrick Rose, though he did score 20, Carlos Boozer led them with 26 points and 17 rebounds. It wasn't enough.

The Heat have a chance to jump out to a hugely commanding lead, with game 4 coming up Tuesday night, again in Miami.

Your Highlights, courtesy SI.com/NBA.com:

Udonis the difference maker: Heat beat back the Bulls

It's funny how a team loaded with All-stars needs a role player to make the difference. But Wednesday night in Chicago, that is exactly what happened.

Led by the bolt of energy that is forward Udonis Haslem, the Miami Heat took game 2 in their best of seven series with the Chicago Bulls, winning 85-75 in front of a sold out crowd at the United Center.

Haslem didn't lead the team in scoring, he had 13, LeBron had 29, but he led them in effort, giving the team the inside presence they often lack and chipped in 5 rebounds and a block shot to boot.

The Heat made league MVP and Bulls point guard Derrick Rose work hard for everything he got and he struggled, scoring 21 points, but the rest of the Bulls, for the most part played spectator.

Next up on Sunday, because the NBA often gives 5 day breaks between games in the playoffs, is game 3 in Miami. It's a game that while not required to win, would be helpful to the Bulls to win if they want a shot at the series, since they've now lost home court advantage. We'll see how that works out.

Your highlights from SI.com/NBA.com:

Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson and the Bulls cool the Heat

Taj Gibson over Dwayne Wade

The NBA's feature Finals series didn't exactly live up to the hype Sunday night. The Chicago Bulls continued their dominance of the Miami Heat, winning game one of their best of seven series 103-82.

As always, the bulls were led by league MVP Derrick Rose who is more and more impressive every time we see him play. Rose dropped 28 on the Heat, but it was the Chicago Bench and particularly Taj Gibson on the bench, who gave the Bulls the boost they needed.

Read your game report from the Chicago Sun-Times RIGHT HERE

The Heat version from the Ft.Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel RIGHT HERE

We don't think this series will end quickly. It should go 7 games. These are probably the two best teams left in the quest for the NBA title. Though if Chicago continues playing this way, they'll be the one left standing.

Well, they've taken down the embed code for the game highlights. But NBA.com does have video of Taj Gibson posterizing Dwayne Wade of the Heat.

Check out the video:



He added this one a little later, for good measure:

Monday NBA Playoffs: Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

How many people had Dallas beating L.A and Atlanta beating Chicago in the first game of their respective series...as the visitors?

Yeah, thought so.

Well, they did. The Hawks got 34 points from Joe Johnson and some solid defense from forgotten backup point guard Jeff Teague and took care of the heavily favored Chicago Bulls 103-95.

The schizophrenic Hawks took control early and never really relinquished the lead. Most so-called "Experts" had them getting swept and beaten in 5 games. And while the 5-game part is still an outside possibility, the Hawks seem to have stood up and said "We ain't going down without a fight".

Your highlights from SI.com/NBA TV:



As for Dallas, the Mavs woke up the Lakers too. Dirk Nowitzki dropped 28 on the Lakers in L.A. with some good defense and making Kobe Bryant try and be the man by himself. Which is probably the only way you have a chance against the Champs.

While the win doesn't forebode a Mavericks trip to the finals, it at least, much like the Hawks-Bulls series says "Ok, we're here to play, you better be ready".

Your highlights again from SI.com/NBA TV:

Calapari and James...A Package Deal?

((ht: fanhouse/chicago tribune))

An interesting story is making the rounds in the LeBron James free agent derby. A report came out this morning stating that James...is being packaged with Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari as a duo to several NBA Basketball teams. It's widely known that the two are friendly and have similar representation, representation that is apparently letting NBA General Managers know that they can be had...as a package.

The story from the Chicago Tribune RIGHT HERE

Fanhouse adds some perspective RIGHT HERE

((Do you believe in this man?//Courtesy: Mark Comelison, McClatchy-Tribune))

We find this report alternately bizzare and very frightening. While we certainly understand the Bulls wanting an opportunity to sign LeBron, we don't know why they'd take a flyer on Calipari. Sure, he's had success in College...even if he doesn't play by the NCAA's rules. Yes, he's churned out quite a few successful pro's. Nobody denies he is a good college basketball coach. However, his 1st shot in the NBA wasn't so successful. He didn't exactly lead the New Jersey Nets to unprecedented success. One might also question why he pledged his "excitement" to return to Kentucky this year. Sorry...not buying it.

This is the 1st of what will undoubtedly be an overload of "Where's Waldo/LeBron?" stories this spring and summer. Yes, we will follow them and see which ones are worthy of mentioning. This one was...not because of one Mr. James....no, it was the other guy who made us scratch our collective heads.

Remember this gem...when former Temple head coach John Chaney expressed his love for Coach Calipari? Thanks You Tube:

Bulls Officially Fire Del Negro

((HT: WFLD-TV Chicago))

The biggest non-secret in the city of Chicago became official this afternoon as the Bulls and GM Gar Forman fired coach Vinny Del Negro after two 41-41 seasons.

Chicago Bulls executive John Paxson says he isn't planning to join fired coach Vinny Del Negro in looking for a new job. Paxson spoke to reporters for the first time since the did-he-choke-did-he-not-choke Del Negro late last month over playing time for the Bulls' Joakim Noah.

Paxson says he accepts the criticism and "people saying I should probably be fired or released." But the executive vice president also says he's not going anywhere and plans to contribute to the Bulls' organization for years to come.

Of course he does, now that his job is safe for another season...

FOSG Corey McPherrin was live at the Bulls offices to hear from Forman...
((HT: MyFoxChicago.com))

Joakim Noah keeps on talking....

We generally like athletes who don't sugarcoat things or stay politically correct and just kind of say what is on their minds. Not only is that rare, most of the mainstream media are aghast when it actually happens. They look up and start running around the room in circles with their arms raised going "AHHHHH!". Mostly because it never happens.

We've also, til now, never been much of a fan of Joakim Noah. He talks...a lot...about whatever is on his mind. We didn't care for him when he was at Florida or when he began his NBA career in Chicago. But...we are changing our opinion, mostly because again...he says whatever he's thinking.

He recently opined about Kevin Garnett of the Celtics when he got suspended, calling him a "Dirty Player". Maybe it is true, maybe it isn't...but nobody seemed to run to Garnett's defense their either.

Noah's latest stream of consciousness, railing on the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Bulls opponent in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs. He steadfastly refused to acknowledge that LeBron James is pretty much beating the Bulls by himself, saying "Yeah, its tough, but we have to play them again and I just don't want to give LeBron all this credit". Hmmm....

Check out what he had to say about the city of Cleveland after Game 2 of the series, it's funny, and if you've ever been to Cleveland...somewhat true.

Video Courtesy: TNT/NBA and You Tube:

Bulls Beat Denver On Last Second Bucket... No, Wait...

It only took ten minutes for the NBA officials to decide who really won the Denver-Chicago game last night...

It looked a lot like the Bulls Brad Miller hit a pivot-and-fire shot with three-tenths of a second left to give the home team the win...

But, wait... there's more...
It went to the video tape and it was determined that no one can do a pivot-and-fire in three-tenths of a second...

Unless, of course, you're Trent Tucker and you can do it in one-tenth of a second...
Here's your highlights from NBA.com...
FOSG Beau Estes has the breakdown...