The Chicago Bulls have eyed the Miami Heat since media day in September. Billy Donovan made no secret of it on media day, emphasizing the team hadn't forgotten their season-ending Play-In loss to the Heat last year. The Bulls want to mirror Miami's identity — the very traits Bulls fans have seen flashes of this season.

Their best win of the year, an overtime victory over Cleveland on November 10, showcased something beyond "Heat Culture." It was the camaraderie — proof that every player on the roster could produce something meaningful. That's exactly what the Bulls wanted to achieve, the ideal form they presented when their bench overwhelmed opponents and significantly impacted winning. Though rough and still taking shape, the identity felt within reach. When Chicago beat Portland 122-121 before hosting Miami on Friday, the bench soared to 60 points.

Then everything fell apart in the Heat rematch.

The Heat, moving onto another chapter without Jimmy Butler, obliterated Chicago 143-107. The Heat have reformed their identity without their former star. Bam Adebayo remains their anchor, but on Friday night, he wasn't even their best player. Eight Heat players scored in double figures, including all five starters. Miami wasn't just deep; they were relentless.

It makes sense why the Bulls aspire to be the Heat. Despite finishing on the playoff bubble in recent years, Miami has proven capable of punching elite teams. Their miracle run to the Finals as an eighth seed remains the blueprint. Everything Miami does provides a positive template for Chicago, which emphasized physicality, the cliché word repeated on and off the court, as its cornerstone this season.

Meanwhile, the Heat are playing the ideal basketball that Donovan preaches to his team. They lead the league in scoring (124.9 points per game) and assists (30.6), while ranking top five in paint points and fastbreak points. Many offensive traits mirror the Bulls, with both teams occupying high spots in those categories. But what separates Miami is its ability to pause even while playing at the fastest pace. They rank 12th in defensive rating, balancing aggression with discipline.

That's the gap Chicago can't bridge yet. The Bulls lack the defensive consistency to complement their high-tempo attack. They rank lower than Miami in nearly every meaningful category, and Friday's blowout exposed the chasm between aspiration and reality.

At this stage, it's not that the Bulls lack talent to accomplish their identity; it's that they haven't found the balance between high-tempo offense and sustainable defense. Saturday's walk-off escape against a 1-13 Wizards underscored how far they have to go. Chicago nearly squandered a winnable game against one of the league's worst teams, needing to erase a 16-point deficit to survive 121-120.

People say, “A win is a win,” but obviously, Nikola Vucevic didn’t like the way the team won.

The Bulls don't just need to throw punches at elite teams. They need to consistently close out games against manageable opponents. The ability to sustain effort, execute defensively and finish strong are what separate pretenders from contenders.

Miami has mastered that formula. The Bulls are still learning it until they find that balance. They'll remain a team chasing what the Heat have already achieved.

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