What's the most intriguing matchup in this series?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Sad to see Wade continue to morph into Bill Laimbeer.
Not every call against your team is the worst call ever, Dwyane.

And that is the reason why I cannot stand Dwyane Wade.

[damuts222]

As a Bulls fan and huge Butler fan Wade has continued to morph into a Garnett type player.  Only Heat fans root for him anymore.  Loved seeing him bitch that Butler threw his arms up driving to basket and he thought it was flail.  Wade is the king of flailing his arms when he is stripped of the ball.

[buckchuckler]

Pissed. Chalking up this game to rust. Thats what it came down to.

No it isn't.  They just got beat.  They had the lead with 2 minutes left. 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Pissed. Chalking up this game to rust. Thats what it came down to.

The Heat and their fans sure like finding excuses. "It was the rust." "The refs did not give us any calls." etc. So obnoxious.

[Aughnanure]

Every major star complains a lot. And every fan hates when its against their team. But guess what? It works.

[Markusquette]

I can't remember anything more ridiculous lately than Bron's rescinded technical foul vs. the Bucks.

[TallTitan34]

Every major star complains a lot. And every fan hates when its against their team. But guess what? It works.

Derrick Rose never complains and doesn't get half the calls he should driving to the hoop.  I actually wish he would complain more so he can get more calls.

Assuming he ever returns.

[Pakuni]

Every major star complains a lot. And every fan hates when its against their team. But guess what? It works.

Durant, Rose, Paul.... even LeBron - none of them complain half as often as Wade.

[4everwarriors]

Credit Coach Crean for Wade's whinin'.

[JoBo2756]

Let's not hate on DWade. Excited that two Marquetters are goin up against each other in the NBA playoffs. And love that JFB is playing prime time.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Let's not hate on DWade. Excited that two Marquetters are goin up against each other in the NBA playoffs. And love that JFB is playing prime time.

Zero sympathy for Wade.

[MUfan12]

Like the Bucks couldn't have used Butler. The cat is playin' right in their own crib and Hammonds and his "scouts" can't extrapolate the talent?

No kidding. Or Wesley, for that matter. He's exactly the type of 2 guard they needed.

[TomW1365]

The Heat and their fans sure like finding excuses. "It was the rust." "The refs did not give us any calls." etc. So obnoxious.

I've never fealt so much vitriol against any fan base than I do against Miami.  I fealt this way even before the SheBron-Bosh signing a few years ago. With the exception of the Dolphins and the U, they don't show up. When they do show up to Heat games, they aren't there until the 2nd quarter.  With the game in the balance yesterday (and Nate at the free throw line with Bull leading by 3 w 15 secs left) they were leaving the arena.  They dress like chumps, whine like pigs, and might be the dumbest fan base in America.  
They've won two World Series and have a gorgeous stadium for the Marlins and its completely wasted by these pitiful creatures of Florida.  
To calm down i must summon my inner Cura Pesonalis chi.  

[frozena pizza]

I've never fealt so much vitriol against any fan base than I do against Miami.  I fealt this way even before the SheBron-Bosh signing a few years ago. With the exception of the Dolphins and the U, they don't show up. When they do show up to Heat games, they aren't there until the 2nd quarter.  With the game in the balance yesterday (and Nate at the free throw line with Bull leading by 3 w 15 secs left) they were leaving the arena.  They dress like chumps, whine like pigs, and might be the dumbest fan base in America.  
They've won two World Series and have a gorgeous stadium for the Marlins and its completely wasted by these pitiful creatures of Florida.  
To calm down i must summon my inner Cura Pesonalis chi.  

They don't show up for "the U" either.  Have you seen this picture?  Looks like about 50 people at this game.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/10/inside_the_numbers_college_foo.html

[Golden Avalanche]

The Heat and their fans sure like finding excuses. "It was the rust." "The refs did not give us any calls." etc. So obnoxious.

Eh.

Conditioning was a legitimate concern for the Heat. Plain to see they were a step slow for majority of the game. Against a team that has been playing regularly for the past two weeks in the Bulls, "rust" was exposed.

[Pakuni]

Eh.

Conditioning was a legitimate concern for the Heat. Plain to see they were a step slow for majority of the game. Against a team that has been playing regularly for the past two weeks in the Bulls, "rust" was exposed.

Oh, please.
If anyone were going to be a step slow, it should have been the team that less than 48 hours earlier played a Game 7 on the road with a seven-man rotation.

Stop with the lame excuses. The Bulls outplayed them and deserved to win. Might be their only win of the series, but they earned it and deserve credit for the effort.

[Lennys Tap]

Sad to see Wade continue to morph into Bill Laimbeer.
Not every call against your team is the worst call ever, Dwyane.

I'll never forget Wade vs the Mavericks in the NBA finals. He drove past them, around them and jumped over them, and all the Mavs could do was whine that he was getting all the calls - because they couldn't guard him. Dwyane was an incredible story on and off the court.

Sadly, he has not aged well. The guy who was a poster boy for doing it the right way now exemplifies what many hate about the NBA. No one in the league acts more entitled on the court - and only the most myopic of the MU faithful don't see it. Give me JFB (and Novak, Crowder and Wesley) any day.

[Lennys Tap]

Eh.

Conditioning was a legitimate concern for the Heat. Plain to see they were a step slow for majority of the game. Against a team that has been playing regularly for the past two weeks in the Bulls, "rust" was exposed.

The Heat shook off whatever "rust" they had and were in control, up 7 at home midway through the 4th quarter. The Bulls simply out-toughed Lebron and co. down the stretch. I'm surpised they won a game this series, and I'll be really surprised if they win another. But then again, they had no business beating D Williams, J Johnson, B Lopez et al. Hats off to a really tough team and a really good coach - they're the pros answer to the Marquette Warriors.

[jmayer1]

Sadly, he has not aged well. The guy who was a poster boy for doing it the right way now exemplifies what many hate about the NBA. No one in the league acts more entitled on the court - and only the most myopic of the MU faithful don't see it. Give me JFB (and Novak, Crowder and Wesley) any day.

Maybe it's just Bulls fans who feel this way. I think Wade does his fair share of arguing, but not considerably more than a lot of other great player.

I also think Wade has aged quite well. Shot a career high this year and once again led all NBA SG in PER.

[Golden Avalanche]

Oh, please.
If anyone were going to be a step slow, it should have been the team that less than 48 hours earlier played a Game 7 on the road with a seven-man rotation.

Stop with the lame excuses. The Bulls outplayed them and deserved to win. Might be their only win of the series, but they earned it and deserve credit for the effort.

Not really. Both in the NBA and NHL it is a greater advantage to continue playing so as to maintain rhythm. The only negative is when you're an inexperienced bunch like Golden State, who jumped out on a slow and rusty team only to puke on shoes.

Charles Barkley agrees with me that Miami looked a step slow. Say what you will about his knowledge on the college game but Barkley owns any Chicagoland homers (and otherwise) when it comes to NBA credibility.

[willie warrior]

Derrick Rose never complains and doesn't get half the calls he should driving to the hoop.  I actually wish he would complain more so he can get more calls.

Assuming he ever returns.

Rose never complains? I would say that his 2 month pansy sit after Dr.'s cleared him is a huge complaint. Ooops, sorry, that was the Wardle creeping into my sentiment.

[willie warrior]

Durant, Rose, Paul.... even LeBron - none of them complain half as often as Wade.

And you have data to back that up. Kind of suggestive isn't it?

[setyoursightsnorth]

Rose never complains? I would say that his 2 month pansy sit after Dr.'s cleared him is a huge complaint. Ooops, sorry, that was the Wardle creeping into my sentiment.

...
Enough of this. I've been sick and tired of EVERY single Bulls game having to mention his ACL rehab. I completely respect him for his decision. Look at Rubio. Came back and isn't the same. Shumpert lost a step. He's a franchise player with a career-altering injury. Lay off and piss off.

[Pakuni]

Not really. Both in the NBA and NHL it is a greater advantage to continue playing so as to maintain rhythm. The only negative is when you're an inexperienced bunch like Golden State, who jumped out on a slow and rusty team only to puke on shoes.

So having a longer rest time between games is a disadvantage. Unless it's not.
Good theory.

I like that you reference Barkley as an NBA expert though, given these comments he made:

"Dwyane has become like the Miami group, a little whiny," said Barkley.

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/09/charles_barkley_dwyane_wade_ha.php

[Pakuni]

And you have data to back that up. Kind of suggestive isn't it?

Yes. NBA statisticians keep data on whining.
My comment is not suggestive (do you even know what that means?). It's observational. Stay away from the big words.