As the Miami Heat enter the NBA Playoffs for the first time since the 2013-2014 season, they have the chance to once again make a serious run. Miami’s success will rely on a number of factors. Luckily for the Heat, they have homecourt advantage in the first round of a competitive matchup against the Charlotte Hornets.
“I think the series will be very similar to what our records are,” Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said after learning the team drew Charlotte in the first round. “I think you have two very evenly matched teams. The styles are a little bit different but they’re extremely well coached. This is going to be a challenge for both teams.”
Here are the Heat’s keys to victory for their first round matchup in the 2016 NBA Playoffs.
1. Contain Kemba Walker
Walker is the engine that makes Charlotte run. Not only is he their leading scorer, he’s also the guy who sets up and runs the entire offense and knows how to get his guys involved. Goran Dragic will have a tough draw when it comes to defending the former University of Connecticut product, as his quickness and grit tend to give opposing teams problems.
Walker averaged 21.0 points and 5.2 assists per game in the regular season compared to Dragic’s 14.1 points and 5.8 assists. Miami will likely enlist the help of the younger, quicker Josh Richardson when it comes to trying to slow down the 25-year-old Walker. If Miami can get in Walker’s way, they will effectively interrupt the flow of Charlotte’s offense and give themselves the best chance of winning the series.
Next: Joe Johnson Needs to Turn It up a Notch
[xyz-ihs snippet=”Responsive-Ad”]
[xyz-ihs snippet=”Responsive-Image-Only”]
2. Joe Johnson Needs to Turn It up a Notch
The days of “Iso Joe” may be over, but the six-foot-seven forward still has plenty of game left in the tank. Since the All-Star break, Johnson has averaged 13.7 points per game. In order to successfully beat out the Hornets, he will likely need to bring those numbers up closer to his career average of 17.0 points per game.
Johnson has been an integral part of the Heat’s success since he took his talents to South Beach. The team will have to rely on his clutch shot-making and particularly his three-point game if they hope to take the series. The Heat are one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league, but the long ball is one of Johnson’s strong suits. If he can get it going from downtown in this series, Miami has a great shot at matching Charlotte’s scoring output.
Next: Hassan Whiteside Must Dominate Down-Low
[xyz-ihs snippet=”Responsive-Ad”]
[xyz-ihs snippet=”Responsive-Image-Only”]
3. Hassan Whiteside Must Dominate Down-Low
Whiteside has been a force of nature since the All-Star break and is likely due for a max contract next season. To secure that max deal, it will help if he can show what he’s truly made of in the playoffs by crashing the boards and being a dominant down-low presence throughout the series.
The Hornets’ Al Jefferson has more experience and a tighter two-way game but Whiteside is, by far, the superior physical specimen. This matchup might be the most intriguing of the series and perhaps the most important. If Walker is contained, Jefferson will look to take over. Miami’s 7-footer cannot allow that to happen.
Next: Dwyane Wade Needs to Be Dwyane Wade
[xyz-ihs snippet=”Responsive-Ad”]
[xyz-ihs snippet=”Responsive-Image-Only”]
4. Dwyane Wade Needs to Be Dwyane Wade
If Wade has proven one thing this season, it’s that he’s still got it. In the 2015-16 regular season, Wade played in 74 of the Heat’s 82 games games and averaged 19.0 points per game. In order to put a hurting on the Hornets, he will likely need to average at least 20 points per game in the series.
Wade tends to play better in bigger games and it would come as no surprise if his scoring numbers see an uptick in his first playoff appearance since LeBron James left town. This will be another chance for Wade to prove doubters wrong and show that he still deserves that “elite” classification in this league. Watch for him to actively take games over in the fourth quarter throughout Miami’s playoff run.
Next: Rely on Playoff Experience
[xyz-ihs snippet=”Responsive-Ad”]
[xyz-ihs snippet=”Responsive-Image-Only”]
5. Rely on Playoff Experience
The Heat have over 555 games of combined playoff experience on its active playoff roster — whereas Charlotte’s players have only 237 career combined playoff games with a mere 123 playoff starts. Guys like Wade, Johnson, and Luol Deng have been here before. They know what it takes to win in the playoffs and how to handle the pressure of increased media spotlight and an uptick in pace of play.
Coach Spoelstra has his fair share of playoff experience as well, after coaching his team to four straight NBA Finals appearances from 2011 to 2014. If Chris Bosh makes a return, that’s one more guy, who has been there and done that, that can help the Heat handle the pressure and get over the hump. The more experienced veterans on the Heat roster will lead the way for younger guys in the rotation like rookies Justise Winslow and the sharp-shooting Richardson.
[xyz-ihs snippet=”Responsive-Ad”]