Step one to beating Heat: Bring 'A' game on defense

There is a reason the Bulls finished the regular season with 12 straight victories over teams with the eight best records in the NBA, but lost home games to Charlotte, New York and the L.A. Clippers.

When the Bulls are locked in defensively, they've been tough to beat. If there are lapses, they can easily lose.

Thursday's Game 6 win in Atlanta was a textbook example of a quality defensive game by the Bulls. Among the telltale signs are taking an early lead and never letting it go, while opponents take a high number of distant, contested shots.

The Hawks finished their season by scoring 73 points and shooting 36.5 percent from the field. Outside of the lane, Atlanta shot 24.4 percent, according to the stat sheet.

So the Bulls are widely expected to lose in the Eastern Conference finals to that scrappy underdog story known as the Miami Heat.

If Bulls fans want some hope to cling to, look no farther than the defense. Bring their best effort and the Bulls should have a good chance to win every game. The question is, can they bring their ‘A' game on ‘D?'

Forward Luol Deng started by talking about why the Bulls were so good in Atlanta on Thursday.

“From start to finish, we were just so focused,” Deng said. “I think we've got to bring that same mentality. We really didn't want that Game 7. I know everyone was talking about them coming back, being a desperate team. I thought we came out like the desperate team. We just kept that focus throughout the whole game.”

Derrick Rose added this assessment: “Our communication has been a lot better, especially (Thursday's) game where everybody was keyed in, got rest, went over the game plan and did exactly what we were supposed to do.”

There isn't any bold secret to the Bulls' defense. It's mostly about giving help, getting to the right spots and clogging the lane with a variety of shot-blockers

Coach Tom Thibodeau suggested there is more to it than even playing defense. Avoiding the turnovers and poor shots that create fastbreak chances are just as important.

“From the start of (Thursday's) game, we got back and got set,” Thibodeau said. “We took care of the ball. We took high-percentage shots that allowed us to get our defense set. If we can get our defense set and we don't give up easy scoring opportunities, I think we're hard to score on.

“We've got to keep the ball in front, keep the ball out of the paint, challenge shots and get the rebound. I think our big guys are doing a good job of protecting the front of the rim.”

While Miami went 0-3 against the Bulls during the regular season, Dwyane Wade averaged 29 points and LeBron James 27.5. The Heat averaged 90.3 points against the Bulls, though, compared to 102.1 overall.

Deng has plenty of experience trying to guard James, including last year's first-round playoff series against Cleveland. Deng has always maintained the only thing he can do against James is just make him work for his points.

“He's still the same player. I really think he's better,” Deng said. “He's got some guys around him that help take a load off him. Last year, our team defense was different. I think we're a better defensive team now.”

The Bulls held a film session Friday and passed out the thick scouting report books. They'll get one day of practice and a shootaround before the series opens Sunday night at the United Center.

Oddly enough, they'll get five days off between Games 1 and 3.

“You couldn't write it any better,” Joakim Noah said. “This is something we've been waiting for for a long time. This is what you work hard for, to be able to play in situations like this.”

The Bulls figure to be America's favorite in this matchup, with James still dealing with fallout from his television special last summer. But Rose isn't taking any chances.

“It's us against the world,” he said. “That's the way we're going to look at it.”