2013 Heat vs 1996 Bulls - Eastern Finals

[bulls96]

Is the Heat Lebron the peak Lebron?

Personally I think its the Athletic peak of LBJ. Basketball wise its the 2018 Lebron.

I like the Het more than the Cavs though.

I play the 2013 Heat in the Eastern Finals. Did a little Hype Video.

https://youtube.com/shorts/JX130wS4dgQ

Game 1 on Saturday.

[bulls96]

CHICAGO -- WIth another debate to settle, Michael Jordan and the '96 Bulls face Lebron James and the 2013 Miami Heat, arguably Lebron's basketball-peak years.

Game link: https://youtu.be/9ADFara30lE

Lebron started the game appearing he had something to prove. He had a fast start offensively, scoring Miami's first 9 pts. The Bulls offense was more balanced, as they take a 3-pt lead in a low scoring affair. 22-19.

Lebron and MJ were both on the bench at the start of the 2nd, and a quick flurry from Ray Allen had the game evened up. But Kukoc and Kerr both came off the bench and socred a combined 11 for the Bulls as the Bulls went into the half up by 5, 49-44.

The 3rd quarter started with a monster dunk by Jordan over Udonis Haslem. This led to a hot streak by MJ. He made his first 5 shots en route to a 15-pt quarter. He was unstoppable, and the Bulls led by as much as 15 pts. Wade finished strong for the Heat and with Mike Miller & Chris Bosh, got the Heat to within 11 with 2.7 to go. But Pippen would connect on a last second shot from way behind the arc to make it a 14-pt lead for Chicago heading into the 4thQ.

The Heat were not able to make up much ground ion the 4th, missing several easy shots, and perhaps bothered by the Bulls D. Lebron did score 5 straight points late to cut the lead to single digits (8) with 2 minutes remaining. But Jordan, who has been brilliant all game, would score on 2 consecutive baskets to effectively close the door to a Heat comeback.

Bulls take Game 1 94-82.

Jordan was player of the game with 45 pts 4 rebs 4 assts 1 stl. Pippen added 22 pts 6 rebs while Kukoc had 16 off the bench.

Lebron finished with 26 pts, could not follow up a strong 1st half showing in Game 1. Wade added 19 while Bosh finished with a double-double, 12 pts 14 rebs.

[bulls96]

CHICAGO -- After a convincing win in Game 1, the Bulls look to build momentum and continues to dominate in Game 2. Let's see if Lebron can take it up a notch.

Game link: https://youtu.be/F5nJ0kFfG1E

Game 2 continued with the style of play we've come to expect from both teams. Low scoring, highly defensive. Bulls were up by a slim 1-pt after one. At the start of the 2ndQ, Jordan scored 10 straight points on 5/5 shooting to propel the Bulls to a 9-pt lead early on. As he sat, Wade and Lebron were able to convert and close the gap. A late 3-pointer from Chalmers made it a 5-pt Chicago lead going into the half.

The Bulls started the 3rd on an 11-2 run and led by as much as 12. Wade and Lebron would combine fo r15 to keep the Heat in the game, but it was Steve Kerr who met their offensive output. He shot 3/4 from 3 and scored 11 off the bench for the Bulls as they were clearly the better team at this point. They carried a 12-pt lead into the 4th.

The 4th quarter saw the Bulls start to pull away, leading by as much as 16. Wade and Lebron got going and cut the lead to just 7 with 4 mins to go, but with his killer instincy on full display, Jordan went on a rampage, closing out the period and closed the door on a Heat rally scoring 8 of his 20 4thQ points in the final 3 mins.

Bulls win convincingly 104-93.


Jordan was POG with 46 pts. Pippen added 21. Steve Kerr was the key man in Game 2, scoring 20 pts off the bench, including 4/5 from 3.

Lebron finished with 30 pts 7 rebs 4 assts. Wade had a double-double with 18 pts 10 asst. Ray Allen had 16 off the bench.

[bulls96]

MIAMI, FL -- In a series that has been dominated by Jordan & the Bulls, LeBron James & co. try to get into the series at home in Game 3. And they battled in what is the best game of the series thus far.

Game link: https://youtu.be/grY_ulbMAdY

The Bulls got off to a terrific start, doing what they needed to do in Game 3 on the road. They went up early 13-2. Pippen and Jordan were on fire, combining for 19 and the Bulls led by as much as 14. Wade caught fire late, especially as MJ sat down to rest and had Kerr on him. Wade would have 10 pts and cut the lead to 7 going into the 2nd, 27-20.

The Heat's second unit gave the team a much needed boost in the 2nd. Led by Ray Allen and Bosh, the Heat quickly tied the game in the first 2 mins of the 2nd. After a quick timeout, the Bulls regrouped and Michael Jordan was reactivated. Jordan would explode for 21 pts in the 2ndQ, scoring from everywhere on the court. Lebron would catch fire late and the lead would be kept at a manageable 5 pts going into the half.

The 3rd quarter saw the 2 superstars go head to head. Pippen would commit his 4th PF early and had to sit, leaving Kukoc and Jordan to guard Lebron. Jordan had another terrific quarter but he was matched on the other end by James. THey found themselves matched up against each other often times, and both had something to say. It led to an even period for both teams as they go into the 4th period with the Bulls still up 5.

In the 4th quarter, the Bulls seemed to be in command for the most part and about to take a 3-1 lead in this series. But the home team and the home crowd were able to cook up a comeback from 7 pts down in the final 3 mins to make it close. Mike Miller hit some big shots, and some timely baskets and defense from James on Jordan had the game tied with 22 secs left.

In the final possession, it was Jordan guarded by Lebron in the left shoulder. MJ ran down the clock and shot a fadeaway over Lebron from about 17 feet out at the top of the key. HITS THE FRONT RIM and bounces out. NO GOOD!

We go to OVERTIME.

In OT, it was, unfortunately for the Bulls, all Heat. Home crowd bolstered them to into 6/7 shooting. The Bulls struggled in OT, shot 4/9. Longley even missed a dunk on a putback. Pippen also fouled out.

Heat steal this one away with their solid play towards the end and make it a series to win Game 3.


Lebron delivered down the stretch for the Heat. He finished with 40 pts 5 rebs 4 assts 3 stls. He outplayed Michael Jordan in OT, scoring 7 on 2/3 shooting. Dwyane Wade also had a big game with 28 pts 6 assts. Bosh had 18 pts 11 rebs. Mike Miller was the X-factor in Game 3. He had 17 pts , hitting big 3-pointers in the 4thQ and Overtime.

Jordan tried to do it all, finished with 61. But he needed more help. Pippen had 20 While Kerr and Kukoc had 14 and 10 respectively.

[bulls96]

Miami, FL --- The Miami Heat look to even the score with Jordan's Chicago Bulls in Game 4. Can they sustain their momentum from their Game 3 win?

Game link: https://youtu.be/6c3NW6QvB44

James and Jordan showed up early to play in Game 4. They were both aggressive on offense, Jordan with 15, James with 11 with ample support from their co-stars, Wade and Pippen. It was tied after one.

The Bulls second unit outplayed the Heat's unit as the 2nd quarter started. They went on a 15-4 run to start the period and grabbed a double digit advantage. Despite Lebron coming back, the Bulls momentum continued, and they led by as much as 13. The Heat would score 10 straight to end the quarter and had the lead down to 5. But Jordan buried a buzzerbeating jumper over Lebron as the clock expred in the 2nd to keep the Bulls lead at 7.


The Bulls continued to show great defense in the 3rd as they get their lead back up to 11 halfway thru. The Bulls decided to give MJ an early rest to prepare for the end game and the Heat took advantage. Ignited by Lebron and Ray Allen off the bench, the Heat raced back in the game with a 16-4 run and retook the lead on a 3-pointer from Ray Allen with 1:04 to go. Bulls managed to score the last 4 pts of the period to regain the lead. But what looked like an easy W for the Bulls early on became anybody's ballgame as the Bulls lead is just 3 going into the 4th quarter.

At the start of the 4th, Dwyane Wade got into a zone, igniting a 7-0 run to start, including a huge And-1 dunk over 7-foot Bill Wennington. The Heat grabbed the lead early and it was getting clearer that all the momentum has now gone to Miami as the Bulls couldn't get anything going offensively. Still they had Michael Jordan and he kept the Bulls in the game. It was still just a 2-pt lead for the Heat with about 2 mins to go.

The key play came at around the 2:15 mark with the Heat clinging to a 2-pt lead. Mike Miller came down fromt he top of the key and got hacked by Dennis Rodman on the way. Dennis was called for a Flagrant 1. Miller sank the 2 FT's and on their kept possession, the Heat got 2 more on FT's from Bosh after he was again fouled. This lead to a 6-pt Miami lead with less than 2 mins to go. This was followed by a 3-pointer from Lebron that quite sealed the deal giving them a 9-pt lead. \


Final score. 98-91. Miami ties the series 2-2.

Lebron led the Heat with 29 pts 7 rebs 3 assts 3 stls but it was Dwyane Wade who was Player of the game. He 27 pts, 13 pts in the crucial 4th quarter, to lead the Heat to ivctory. He also added 6 rebs 5 assts 3 stls. 5 Heat players were in double digits, rounded out by Bosh, Allen, and Andersen.

Jordan finished with 46 pts. But had little support. Pippen had 18, and no one else in the double digits.

[bulls96]

CHICAGO -- The biggest game of this series in Chicago. The Heat have the momentum after winning the last 2 games, outplaying Michael Jordan and the Bulls with solid team defense and timely baskets. Can the Bulls stop the tide in Game 5?

Game link: https://youtu.be/qT9Uuf3-kHo

THe Bulls got off to a great start, making their 1st 5 shots, while holding the Heat to 1/5 shooting, to open up a 15-4 advantage. This forced an early timeout from Erik Spoelstra. They were able to regroup and put together some defensive stops to get back in the game. They outscored the Bulls the rest of the way to keep them within 2 pts, 26-24 after one.

In the 2nd quarter, Norris Cole gave the Heat a big lift off the bench hitting 2 early 3-pointers in the quarter to help Miami gain the upper hand and claim a 4-pt lead with just under 2 mins gone in the period. The Bulls also suddenly could not make a shot from the outside. Lebron would score on consecutive long jumpers, to make it a 7-pt lead for the Heat. The Bulls regrouped, tightened their defense and clawed their way back. Pippen and Jordan would find tight lanes to the basket, and they would reclaim the lead, 3-pts, until Dwyane Wade drilled a jumper all over the Bulls defense at the buzzer to make it a slim 1-pt lead for the Bulls heading into the half.

As it has been all series, the 3rd quarter was a huge quarter for MJ. He had 16 pts, including a 3-pointer, which gave the Bulls as much as a 7-pt lead. The Heat however, was able to stay in the game, and as MJ took a rest for the 4th quarter with about 3 mins to go in the 3rd, the Heat would go on a 10-2 run, including a jump hook from Bosh over Kukoc that would give the Heat a 1-pt lead heading to the final quarter.


Jordan scored 6 early points in as they began the 4thj to have the Bulls up by as much as 5 pts. The Heat defense held up though, and did not allow them to get away too far, and by the time both teams starters are back on the floor, it was just a 1-pt lead for the Bulls. They would eventually take the lead on a tough fadeaway jumper from Wade with 4:30 to go.

Bulls call timeout. Game 5 was still in the balance. With a 1-pt lead 84-83, can Miami hold on to win and gain an advantage over Jordan and the Bulls 3-2 in this series?

WIth a Micharel Jordan on your team, you cen never count them out. It was a matter of who would make clutch baskets down the stretch, and Jordan delivered. He would score 6 pts in the final minutes and an assist to Steve Kerr who also cconnected on a huge 3-pointer. Lebron tried to play hero, but Scottie Pippen effectively shut him down the stretch.

Bulls take Game 5, 91-96


Jordan led the way with 46 pts, including 14 in the 4thQ. He added 5 rebs 8 assts 3 stls. Pippen had 16 pts 5 rebs 4 assts

Lebron James finished with 20 pts 6 rebs, and could not quite score when the Heat needed it down the stretch. Wade had a good game with 17 while Bosh had another double-double with 13 pts 16 rebs.

[bulls96]

MIAMI, FL -- Lebron and the Heat have not lost at home in this series. Can they make one more home stand to force Game 7? Only 2 teams have forced Jordan to a Game 7 in their 6 title runs. Can the 2013 Heat do the same?

Game link: https://youtu.be/EYvyKAbvAaQ

It was a high scoring 1stQ as both teams came to play. Michael Jordan was feeling it early, 7/10 from the field for 15 pts while Pippen also finished in double digits. Wade and James combined for 17, and it was a 2-pt lead for the Bulls after a buzzerbeating 3 from The Birdman at the end of the period.

Things slowed down in the 2nd quarter as shooting percentages went down. The Bulls had more success with Jordan and led by as much as 7 pts late. But a late surge by the Heat, including another buzzerbeating heave, this time from Mike Miller, from the opposite side of the court had both teams tied again going into the half.

Still anybody's game at the break. 51-51.

With Lebron aggressive early, the Heat got up 3 pts on the Bulls midway thru the 3rd. But the Bulls would go on a 9-0 run that would put the Bulls firmly ahead. Jordan would score 14 pts in the 3rd, including a buzzerbeating fadeaway over Ray Allen as the 3rd quarter closed. Bulls lead by 8, 82-74 heading into the 4th and final quarter.

Pippen and Wade led their teams to start the 4th as both Lebron and Jordan started on the bench to rest for the final push. Pippen outplayed Wade on both ends and had the Bulls up by as much as 11. When both MJ and Lebron came back, the Bulls would go on a dominating run defensively and offensively. Bulls would hold the Heat to just 2 pts in a 4 minute span while MJ scored 8 in a 19-2 run that completely broke the back of the Heat. Lebron was extremely quiet, and even got overworkedby Wade in the final minutes who was the only aggressor the whole game.

Bulls win convincingly 99-92.


The 2 Bulls superstars showed up to play. Jordan led everyone with 46 pts 10 assts. Pippen was solid with 27 pts 9 rebs 6 assts 2 stls 1 blk. Rodman grabbed 14 boards.

Wade led the Heat with 25 pts 3 rebs 7 assts 3 stls 1 blk. Lebron was mostly a no-show with 19 pts on 7/19 shooting.

[bulls96]

Made a TOP TEN PLAYS video from this series.

https://youtu.be/OOclm_OC704

Top plays include: