1. Keep a Quick Pace
Since the All-Star break, the Miami Heat have picked up its pace of play considerably. This is due in large part to the acquisition of veteran Joe Johnson, but also to a new-found sense of identity on the offensive end. For the past few months, Miami has quickened its pace significantly and now holds an offensive efficiency rating of 104.2, good for 12th in the NBA.
Before the break, the Heat was one of the slowest moving teams in the league. A top-caliber defense has helped them get turnovers and run out in transition more often, and increased team ball movement has caused an uptick in offense. If the Heat wish to advance to the finals, it must continue this trend.
Next: Play Team Basketball
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2. Play Team Basketball
As mentioned earlier, Miami has done an excellent job of moving the ball as of late. The team consistently sees four or five players scoring in double-digits. That has become the true offensive identity of the team.
At times, Miami loses focus and turns to isolation play through Dwyane Wade or Johnson. This is not the way for Miami. With such a formidable collection of talent, speed, size and strength, the key to victory for Miami is getting everyone involved. The higher the Heat’s assist total is at the end of each game, the better chance of victory. Playing true team basketball, like the Spurs in San Antonio, has proven to be a winning formula over the years, as opposed to letting guys be selfish and play hero ball when the game is on the line.
Team basketball also refers to team defense. Defense wins championships and Miami knows that. That’s why they’ve stressed a focus on the defensive end ever since the season kicked off. As a team, Miami holds opponents to a mere 98.4 points per game, good for fifth-best in the league. They must continue to play lock-down defense in order to advance.
Next: Win Individual Matchups
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3. Win Individual Matchups
There will be so many intriguing matchups throughout Miami’s playoff run, given that they advance to the NBA Finals. Currently, the matchup of Goran Dragic on Kemba Walker is one to watch. Hassan Whiteside on Al Jefferson is another.
Though team basketball is the key to victory for the Heat, winning individual matchups is also vital to the team’s success. The game of basketball is all about exploiting matchups and Miami has done a superior job of this over the years. Head coach Erik Spoelstra will have to read deep into the scouting report in order to assess his best possible matchups throughout each series and work to hone in on one-on-one domination in those areas.
If Miami meets LeBron James in the Eastern Conference Finals, it’s no shocker that a one-on-one matchup versus James will not work out. The “King” can’t be stopped, but he can be slowed, and Miami will have to rely on team defense to get the job done. Having said that, the individual matchups of Johnson, Justise Winslow and/or Luol Deng on James will be key when Miami cannot afford to spare another defender, say, if Kyrie Irving or Kevin Love gets hot in the series.
Next: Get Whiteside Going
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4. Get Whiteside Going
Heat fans should hope that finishing third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting will tick Whiteside off and turn him into a man on a mission. Since the All-Star break, the big man has been on a tear, posting 17.5 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 3.4 blocks per game.
A high-quality big man who can score, defend and instill fear in opponents is so valuable in today’s NBA because a guy like that is just so rare. In addition to blocking and altering opponents’ shots, Whiteside must crash the boards like never before and be ready and willing to reel in lobs from guys like Dragic, Wade and Johnson for easy dunks and layups. The 7-footer must bring a new level of focus, determination and grit to each playoff game from here on out.
Next: Take Advantage of LeBron’s One Weakness
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5. Take Advantage of LeBron’s One Weakness
ESPN’s Jalen Rose said it best:
“So besides the obvious Golden State and the Spurs, the individual intriguing series that I’m looking forward to will be that one, because the dynamic that’s going to have to play out is something we as fans really wanted to see every time the Cavs went back to Miami, and in particular the last time when they got blown out and LeBron was fraternizing with D‑Wade during the game, and we know from talking to Coach Blatt and talking to the general manager, he’s basically played great basketball since. So the great thing that’s going to have to happen for the Cavs to advance is there’s going to have to be a hatred, there’s going to have to be a dislike that LeBron is going to need to carry versus that former jersey that he hasn’t and against his brother Dwyane Wade and against his team that he won two championships with, and vice versa. I’m really fascinated to see how that’s going to play out because Wade, if they were losing by 25, if he was down there fraternizing with LeBron, I don’t know who would have go to him first between Pat (Riley) or Spo (Spoelstra).”
Essentially, the Heat cannot afford to treat James like a friend or former teammate. They have to get mean and nasty and play him harder than he’s used to being played. It seems like the former MVP has a soft spot for Wade and his former team, as showcased by the losses he takes every time he visits Miami. The Heat will have to exploit that as a weakness and do everything they can as a team to stop him from getting into a rhythm.
It’s unlikely you will catch the look of determined hatred in James’ eyes at any point against Miami. You know the look; the one he had in Boston in Game 6 of that 2012 series before he went on to dominate and lead the Heat to an NBA championship. In the East, the path to the finals goes through James. That’s simply the way its been for years now and Miami must keep that in mind if they do indeed get the chance to face off against him and the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
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