Heat eager for challenge of facing Bulls’ Rose

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MIAMI (AP)—LeBron James(notes) will take some turns guarding Derrick Rose(notes) in the Eastern Conference finals. So will Dwyane Wade(notes). Mike Bibby(notes), Mario Chalmers(notes) and even Chris Bosh(notes) in some moments, too.

None of them expects to stop him.

Keeping Rose in check, however, is the top priority for the Miami Heat—and is likely a prerequisite for beating the Chicago Bulls and reaching the NBA finals. Game 1 of the East title series is Sunday night in Chicago, the city Rose has led into its first NBA Final Four since Michael Jordan took them there 13 years ago.


“We’re not a team to concede anything,” James said, discussing how to defend the guard who ended his two-year reign as the NBA’s MVP this season. “That’s not our nature. We don’t play basketball like that. We have too many guys that have too much pride to allow a guy individually to just go off.

“Like I’ve said, he’s going to get his. Their team is going to play well. But we’re up for the challenge.”

It may be their biggest challenge yet.

Rose has taken 29 percent of Chicago’s shots in the playoffs, his 256 attempts being almost as many as the total shots for the Bulls’ second and third options, Luol Deng(notes) (154) and Carlos Boozer(notes) (119) in the postseason. He’s not always a shoot-first guard, though, proven by his 90 assists in the playoffs— more than any other three Chicago players combined.

“Sometimes he’s going to slither in there and make some incredible plays,” Bosh said. “It’s going to happen.”

Much like James and Wade, Rose is truly a pick-your-poison opponent for teams.

Play him straight up, run the risk of getting beat 1-on-1.

Overplay him, and he makes you pay with the sharp pass.

“He’s a phenomenal player,” Wade said. “He’s figured out how to be great in this league—fast. We know he’s going to score. He’s going to do amazing things. It’s our job just to make sure that we make it tough on him as possible. He’s the MVP for a reason.”

In turn, the Heat have been one of the NBA’s top defensive teams for a reason.

Source: yahoosports.com