"Dear Miami,

No, it's not snowing. Thanks for asking.

In fact, this winter has been quite mild, aided in part by that smoking-hot, regular-season machine known as the Bulls. Well, that, and the feverish worry over Derrick Rose's toe, Luol Deng's wrist, Carlos Boozer's lift and if there's enough offensive firepower to unseat the Heat.

You will notice many of the same principals remain from last season's epic collapse, er, battle in the Eastern Conference finals. They all have been obsessed with righting the wrongs exposed in the Game 5 meltdown at the United Center last May 26.

Joakim Noah has righted himself after a bumbling, somnambulant start. Rose is Rose, turf toe or not. And depth, once again, is this team's second star. See Taj Gibson's dunk over Dwyane Wade from last spring as Exhibit A."