2011 Playoffs: Heat Tie Series 1-1 With 85-75 Victory

The Chicago Bulls fell to the Miami Heat 85-75 at the United Center, and now the Eastern Conference Finals is tied 1-1 as the series heads back to Miami. The Bulls looked to be in a good position to beat the Heat late in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 73 after going on a 17-6 run.  The Bulls had held the Heat to only two points in the first 7 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter behind a defense anchored by Omer Asik. Unfortunately for the Bulls, on a great defensive stop of a driving Dwyane Wade, Asik got nailed in the chin and started bleeding, forcing him to be taken out of the game.  The Bulls put Noah in for Asik, the defensive intensity collapsed, and the Heat went on a 12-2 run to finish out the game. This is a problem going forward for the Bulls, what to do with Noah and Asik.  I think that Asik has to get the bulk of the center minutes, as he is just a far superior defender to Noah, and anchors the defense with superior rotations and defensive smarts that Noah just does...