Billy Donovan was talking about the Miami Heat.
It could have easily been mistaken as a discussion on a single-minded predator.
“The one thing I respect from afar, people can look at where organizations are at a particular time, but with them it’s only about one thing, winning,” the Bulls coach said about the Heat. “It doesn’t make a difference what their roster is, it’s all about winning. That’s always the focus. They’ve obviously gone through difficulties and challenges throughout the season, and they really weathered and are playing good basketball. It’s only about winning. It’s not about years later, the draft. They are worried about what’s in front of them now and I really respect that.”
What’s directly in front of Miami is a visit to the United Center on Wednesday night to face a Bulls team they haven’t beaten all season long.
That’s exactly what has Donovan guarded.
He knows the “Heat Culture” doesn’t care about recent history, point spreads or feel-good stories for the opposing team. It is a no nonsense, whatever-it-takes mentality that has sent the Bulls home the previous two play-in tournaments.
And while Donovan has arguably put together his best season as the Bulls coach, Erik Spoelstra is in the debate for one of the top three coaches in the entire Association year after year.
COACHING ADVANTAGE: Heat
BACKCOURT
Josh Giddey and his injured right hand got in some light shooting on Monday and was able to go through the Tuesday practice. The Bulls guard will have one more opportunity to see where the injury is in the Wednesday shootaround, but it sounds like a pain-tolerance test for Giddey and one he has passed with flying colors the last few weeks. Count him in.
Why is his health status so key?
The first-year Bulls guard has been a Heat Killer all season long, averaging 26 points, 10.3 rebounds and 10 assists in the three games. Add Coby White’s 20.3 points per game against Miami, and the Bulls will go as far as the backcourt takes them.
Miami does have an All-Star guard in Tyler Herro, who has averaged just under 25 points per game against the Bulls this season, but he’s also been held to 28% from three-point range. As far as the other guard spot, Spoelstra has played musical chairs, with veteran Alec Burks getting a majority of the starting work lately.
Kevin Huerter is a third guard in the Bulls’ starting lineup, meaning Giddey will have to play big and guard forward Andrew Wiggins.
BACKCOURT ADVANTAGE: BULLS
FRONTCOURT
Miami center Bam Adebayo has All-Star on his resume but his consistency this season has come under fire, especially through the first half of the year.
Trading Jimmy Butler has put more responsibility on Adebayo, evident by the fact he’s coming off an April in which he averaged 23.8 points per game and shot 56.5% from three. That means Nikola Vucevic will have his hands full, whether he’s on Adebayo or gets switched to 7-foot rookie Kel’el Ware.
Vucevic won’t be alone in that responsibility department, either, as rookie Matas Buzelis will have to grow up quickly. He’s performed well against Miami this season (18 points per game/57.1% from three), but the stakes have never been higher.
Wiggins could be the X-factor in this game, coming from a championship pedigree with Golden State and having take-over ability.
FRONTCOURT ADVANTAGE: Heat
THE BENCH
It will be interesting to see if Donovan shortens the rotation up or because of the pace he wants to play with keeps it the same, but either way he has more options to throw at Miami for matchup purposes.
The one danger is Duncan Robinson, who the Bulls have to make sure doesn’t start heating up from outside.
Just too many pieces for Donovan to choose from.
BENCH ADVANTAGE: BULLS
PREDICTION: Throw the three regular-season games out the window. Miami is a different animal this time of year, but styles also make the fight and “Heat Culture” doesn’t do well against pace and has been questionable at best in the fourth quarter of games. Both are strengths of this Bulls team.
WINNER: BULLS 118-115