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Wade, Heat start championship defense against Bulls

Apr 21, 2007 - 1:28 PM Miami at Chicago 3:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference First Round Game One

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Ben Gordon and the Chicago Bulls better get over their disappointment very quickly because here come the defending champions.

Gordon and the No. 5 seed Bulls hope to start the playoffs on a better note than they finished the regular season on when they host the fourth-seeded Miami Heat in Game One on Saturday.

Chicago had a chance to lock up second place in the Eastern Conference with a victory against New Jersey on Wednesday. However the Bulls were knocked off by the Nets, 106-97, and instead of playing injury-ravaged Washington they now face the defending champions.

Gordon had an excellent season, leading Chicago with 21.4 points while shooting 86 percent from the foul line. Third-year forward Luol Deng also shined this season, increasing his scoring average by over four points to 18.8 while shooting nearly 52 percent from the floor.

Despite all the good the Bulls did this year, they will have their hands full against Heat superstar Dwyane Wade and legendary center Shaquille O'Neal. Wade, the 2006 Finals MVP, played in five games since returning from a separated shoulder, and may still not be playing at 100 percent.

Still no one can question his heart and desire once the playoffs role around. The same can be said for O'Neal, who sat out much of the first half of 2006-07 with various injuries, only to carry Miami down the stretch until Wade returned with six games to play.

The man who will be guarding O'Neal is four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace, who helped Chicago take three of four vs. Miami. The 6-9 center just completed his seventh straight season averaging 10-plus rebounds (10.7).

Chicago has home court but Miami has experience. The Heat ousted the Bulls in six games in the 2006 playoffs.

Game Two is Tuesday April 24.