Basketball On The Internet.

LESSON learnt. Lecture delivered.

The Miami Heat left no doubt about how they felt about Game 1's conclusion and erased Chicago 115-78 in Game 2 at AmericanAirlines Arena today.

There was no fightback or even fight left in the Bulls, who instead let their talking do the talking.

In a game filled with technical fouls, trash talk, shoving and ultimately the fourth-quarter expulsions of Chicago's Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, the Heat turned up the heat and the Bulls wilted.

"All the toughness areas - our guys came in with a tougher disposition tonight,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

If this was a Miami statement, it was delivered with a sledgehammer - the largest playoff victory in franchise history, eclipsing a 35-point victory over the Orlando Magic in the first round in 1997.

It also was the largest playoff defeat in Bulls history.

"We've got to have more fight, more determination. They're a great team. They were more aggressive, more determined. We were back on our heels,'' Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.

That pretty much summed it up.

While many expected the Heat to show more fire in Game 2, this was an absolute blast furnace, the Bulls little more than steak well done. Whether they were charred will be revealed in Game 3.

LeBron James made his first six shots and Dwyane Wade his last six. In between, the Heat displayed an intensity rarely seen, or even needed, in recent weeks.

Games 3 and 4 are Saturday and Tuesday (Australian time) in Chicago at United Center.

"We're capable of much better,'' Thibodeau said, "and we're going to have to be a lot better.''

To quote Steve Carfino: "No kidding.''

MIAMI followed New York in being a top seed caught with its pants down at home in Game 1, New York fighting back yesterday to make its series against Indiana 1-1.

Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points, 16 during a 30-2 second half Knicks onslaught as they routed the Indiana Pacers 105-79.

And here I was starting to think Charles Barkley was right and the Pacers would just about sweep...