Czar’s Playoff Preview: Heat vs. Bulls Eastern Conference Finals

The two teams with the best records in the East have held their ground in the postseason. Last year’s MVP King James and newly crowned MVP Derrick Rose will go head to head when the Miami Heat battle the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals for a shot at the ultimate title. The hugely anticipated series is loaded with superstars who are excited to compete at this level and eager to pack the highlight reels.

The Bulls will be making their first appearance in the conference finals since 1998, when Michael Jordan led his team to their third straight title. Now All-Star PG Derrick Rose, who’s so hard to contain off the dribble, will try to lead the Bulls to the first championship of the post-Jordan era. Although Chicago won all three regular season games against Miami, the Heat are playing their best ball of season. Rose will certainly need all his teammates to step up and deliver in order for the Bulls to get past the Heat. Perhaps the best news for Chicago is that Carlos Boozer, who suffered a toe injury in the first round, appeared to be returning to form in the last few games against Atlanta. Chicago labored through the early playoff rounds against less talented teams, so they need to get off to a quick start in this series and capitalize on their home court advantage.

The Heat has been the team everyone loves to scrutinize and beat ever since LeBron James announced that he would be heading down to Miami to make history. So far in the postseason the title-hungry Heat have put their money where their mouth is. They’ve been playing outstanding ball and will be riding a tidal wave of confidence after disposing of last year’s Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics in the Semis. The Heat will try to steal one of the opening games along with the home court advantage before returning to Miami for Games 3 and 4. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have been simply fantastic in the playoffs. Chris Bosh has been a very solid third performer for the Heat as well. And the sharp shooting of James Jones coming off the bench has been vital to their success.

These are two of the best defensive teams in the league so both sides will have to earn their win-worthy buckets. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals tips off at 8:00 PM ET on TNT.