Game 1 Post Game NBA Finals

[WD]

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/29462/why-did-miami-abandon-their-game-plan-on-defense

This article is great. We desperately need to stop switching so damn much. I wish Sebastian Pruiti (dude who wrote the article) was our coach instead of Spo.

We've been switching since Pat Riley got here..here is the problem I have with it TODAY!
You bring in guys that have NEVER switched in their careers(Bosh and others), and force them to learn how to switch on defense, thus taking away their natural defensive instincts and replaces them with more thinking and being grossly out of position.

[Aiolos]

It really is such a simple adjustment.

In the 4th quarter Haslem in foul trouble, you replace him with Joel, not Battier. We're not going to win because our offense was better, we're not going to win a shootout, I don't get why some here thought it was the right decision to play Battier just because he made a couple of 3 point shots. We were down 1 point in the 4th quarter, you bring in Joel and play your best defense.

I think Westbrook's penetration is what really **** us. Joel could have helped trapped him a bit and maybe get a couple of block shots or contest the shots at the paint. Battier isn't going to do that for us.

I don't even know if Spoelstra will make this simple adjustment but honestly, it is sad that we have to lose to make an adjustment, he refuses to make any substitutions in the 4th quarter unless there's foul trouble. And he can't make any adjustments in game, it has to be when the game is over. **** dumb.

I believe this as well.

Wade basically was just playing rotating door defense on him

[SweetTouch]

I don't understand why people are saying put Wade & LBJ on Westbrook all times

Wade was guarding Westbrook most of the 3rd. He needs a big man help (Joel)
cuz Bosh was offering no resistance once Wade was beat

It forced SPO going desperate and switching Wade & LBJ assignments.
If Wade is on KD, he has to try harder at denying him the ball

[Aiolos]

I don't understand why people are saying put Wade & LBJ on Westbrook all times

Wade was guarding Westbrook most of the 3rd. He needs a big man help (Joel)
cuz Bosh was offering no resistance once Wade was beat

It forced SPO going desperate and switching Wade & LBJ assignments.
If Wade is on KD, he has to try harder at denying him the ball

Not sure if serious?

Wade will get destroyed by Durant. Wade should never be on Durant consistently, recipe for disaster.

[SweetTouch]

I don't understand why people are saying put Wade & LBJ on Westbrook all times

Wade was guarding Westbrook most of the 3rd. He needs a big man help (Joel)
cuz Bosh was offering no resistance once Wade was beat

It forced SPO going desperate and switching Wade & LBJ assignments.
If Wade is on KD, he has to try harder at denying him the ball

Not sure if serious?

Wade will get destroyed by Durant.

With the Heats switching, I think we all have to come to the realization that Wade will end up guarding KD some.

[Slot Machine]

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/29462/why-did-miami-abandon-their-game-plan-on-defense

This article is great. We desperately need to stop switching so damn much. I wish Sebastian Pruiti (dude who wrote the article) was our coach instead of Spo.

We've been switching since Pat Riley got here..here is the problem I have with it TODAY!
You bring in guys that have NEVER switched in their careers(Bosh and others), and force them to learn how to switch on defense, thus taking away their natural defensive instincts and replaces them with more thinking and being grossly out of position.

I don't have a problem with the switching per se, but the overswitching is the problem. At this point, you could see OKC exploiting the switch every time just so they could get a favorable matchup.

[Aiolos]

I don't understand why people are saying put Wade & LBJ on Westbrook all times

Wade was guarding Westbrook most of the 3rd. He needs a big man help (Joel)
cuz Bosh was offering no resistance once Wade was beat

It forced SPO going desperate and switching Wade & LBJ assignments.
If Wade is on KD, he has to try harder at denying him the ball

Not sure if serious?

Wade will get destroyed by Durant.

With the Heats switching, I think we all have to come to the realization that Wade will end up guarding KD some.

Thats understanding on some occasions but they should avoid it at all costs.

[Woolyy]

TOO. MANY. JUMPSHOTS.

I love LeBron but 3-24 in the last few games on jumpers? It's clear his biggest strength right NOW is attacking the rim, and over the SUMMER he can work on his game.

With that said lol, if we win Game 2 all the momentum switches because thankfully we have 3 straight home games.

[EscapoTHB]

The good thing about game 1 is that there are a lot of adjustments we can make to steal game 2. I think we made strategic errors moreso than that there is a talent gap. If Spo can shore up what we're doing after looking at the tape, and widen his rotation just a smidge, we can steal game 2 and then come home and finish the series off.

Oh and the reason Lebron's J have left him, isn't a mechanical thing he can work on in the offseason. It's the direct result of his fatigue. He has no lift on his jumper. Fortunately he's a smart enough player to get his even with that problem. Wade and Lebron have to play foul line down this series if we want to win. Neither are going to have the legs for jumpers.

[WD]

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/29462/why-did-miami-abandon-their-game-plan-on-defense

This article is great. We desperately need to stop switching so damn much. I wish Sebastian Pruiti (dude who wrote the article) was our coach instead of Spo.

We've been switching since Pat Riley got here..here is the problem I have with it TODAY!
You bring in guys that have NEVER switched in their careers(Bosh and others), and force them to learn how to switch on defense, thus taking away their natural defensive instincts and replaces them with more thinking and being grossly out of position.

I don't have a problem with the switching per se, but the overswitching is the problem. At this point, you could see OKC exploiting the switch every time just so they could get a favorable matchup.

Actually our transitional defense is hurting us, many times last night and in the Boston series we just run down the court on defense "pointing" to a spot and/or looking to get to a spot instead of a particular man,. It seams that we do not really know from each possession who is suppose to guard who. OKC plays a traditional defense, we play IMO a gimmick defense.

[Slot Machine]

Actually our transitional defense is hurting us, many times last night and in the Boston series we just run down the court on defense "pointing" to a spot and/or looking to get to a spot instead of a particular man,. It seams that we do not really know from each possession who is suppose to guard who. OKC plays a traditional defense, we play IMO a gimmick defense.

Yes. Exactly. All the switching, overhelping, trapping, is good and effective but only for periods of time. We can't rely on that as our primary defensive scheme. Just like the fronting was good for a while and got exposed, we have to know when one of our schemes is getting exploited so we can either a) move away from that idea and onto plan B or b) just go to a traditional defense. I'm not sure whether it's Spo being too slow to react and adjust or just the fact that we don't have a traditional defense to fall back on.

The transition defense is a joke at this point but it's less of a defensive scheme problem, and more of an effort/critical thinking problem which HAS to be fixed.

[OtW]

Six things Miami needs to do to win Game 2
Kurt Helin Jun 13, 2012, 5:31 PM EDT

This series is not over. From the Memorial Day Massacre to the Heat winning Game 1 last season, there is a long history of Game 1 of the NBA finals not mattering.

But Game 1 also gave hints of what could be the Heat’s undoing. They can no longer just expect to be the most athletic, fastest team on the court and overwhelm teams. They need to execute.

Here is a list of six things that need to change for Miami in Game 2.

1) Stop coasting. What we saw in Game 1 is what the Heat do all the time — they had a good first half with Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers stepping up, and they got comfortable. They took their foot off the gas and coasted for a while. Every time they do that this series the Thunder will pounce — to use Erik Spoelstra’s word, the Thunder are relentless. Miami is going to have to play its best basketball of the season for 48 minutes a game, not just in spurts. There are no more possessions off, no more quarters off.

2) Transition defense — try it. There was a moment in the second half of Game 1 where Derek Fisher — 37-year-old Fisher who has make a career out of being solid in the half court — led a fast break, beat every Heat player down the court, attacked the rim with Dwyane Wade there and scored over him. Lakers fans everywhere laughed. Fisher leads about three successful breaks a season and if he beats you down the floor and scores it’s on your defense. Miami was terrible in transition.

The best way to slow the break is to score more. But you’re going to miss and you need to get back, communicate and find your guy. The Heat didn’t do that in Game 1.

3) Defend in general, and stop switching everything. In the first half, the Heat trapped a lot off the pick-and-roll and that worked pretty well. But near the end of the first and at the start of the second half the Thunder started to adjust, so the Heat went to switching every pick. OKC ate that up and destroyed it. No more LeBron James on Kendrick Perkins (even if you are thinking about the switch).

And more energy on defense for the full 48. Please see item No. 1.

4) A couple guys from the bench needs to play quality minutes. That was essentially a six-man rotation for the Heat, who need to expend a lot of energy at both ends against the one team that can match them athletically. Scott Brooks could sit Sixth Man of the Year James Harden most of the fourth quarter because guys deep off the bench were playing well. LeBron and Dwyane Wade will wear down if they have to be the best players at both ends for 48 minutes.

The problem for Erik Spoelstra is: Who is that? Mike Miller is so injured he can’t play near the level needed. Joel Anthony doesn’t exist on the offensive end. A rookie in Norris Cole? Eddy Curry? When you sink all your money into three players it’s hard to get quality around them. (Don’t laugh Thunder fan, your cap/tax issues are just about to kick in big time.)

5) Get more out of LeBron James. This is a bit unfair as he was one of the few Heat players to show up ready to go for Game 1, but this is the reality of Miami right now — LeBron needs to have a legendary, epic game for the Heat to compete. That doesn’t mean he needs to score more — Erik Spoelstra needs to put him on Kevin Durant and have him defend. LeBron isn’t going to shut Durant down, nobody can, but you can make him less efficient, make him work for it. The problem is if you expect LeBron to expend that kind of energy on defense, somebody needs to step up the offense.

6) Get Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh involved in the offense. Nobody with the Heat will come clean about it, but does Wade look healthy to you? He shot 7-of-19 from the field and was just 1-of-5 at the rim — he can’t elevate and finish like himself. Spoelstra needs to find a matchup he can still win — get Wade matched up on Derek Fisher off a switch — and get him going.

Bosh — start him. Stop playing around. Next, get him in the paint. He took 10 of his 11 shots from beyond 10 feet — he has value stretching the floor, but he’s also a 6’11” post player. He can score on Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka from the block. In the regular season Bosh was about 50 percent in close, 50 percent from distance and Miami needs that balance again.

Skip to Comments (1)

[WD]

Only down 1 Game

[imchillin]

One of the reasons I really wanted us to get chauncey billups is because we need someone who can control the game.

Lebron can play point fine but then we lose his off rebounds and placement in the post.
As much as lebron is smart, billups' ball iq is amazing and I feel we need that.

I personally don't want wade running the point, he not only makes weak telegraphed passes on the perimeter, It also allows him to jack up bad shots.

I still say if we managed this game better and played Heat defense, with lebron on durant in yhe 4th we win, we contain westbrook we win, we play great transition defense we win

[imchillin]

One of the reasons I really wanted us to get chauncey billups is because we need someone who can control the game.

Lebron can play point fine but then we lose his off rebounds and placement in the post.
As much as lebron is smart, billups' ball iq is amazing and I feel we need that.

I personally don't want wade running the point, he not only makes weak telegraphed passes on the perimeter, It also allows him to jack up bad shots.

I still say if we managed this game better and played Heat defense, with lebron on durant in yhe 4th we win, we contain westbrook we win, we play great transition defense we win

[OtW]

According to Chris Sheridan's podcast, Dwyane Wade is not 100% health-wise. He is considering skipping the Olympics over it.

Lil Wayne
Again I was treated like **** by the Thunder arena staff...dam..I hope da Heat beat da dog **** out em!!

[HEAT111]

According to Chris Sheridan's podcast, Dwyane Wade is not 100% health-wise. He is considering skipping the Olympics over it.

Lil Wayne
Again I was treated like **** by the Thunder arena staff...dam..I hope da Heat beat da dog **** out em!!

That's old. That was rumored since the Indiana series.

[Slot Machine]

Honestly, I don't want any of our guys in the Olympics, let them work on their games and heal up. I highly doubt Bron and Bosh skip it though.

Also, lol @Weezy. With him on our side, we're guaranteed a title!

[Vertical Limit]

Honestly, I don't want any of our guys in the Olympics, let them work on their games and heal up. I highly doubt Bron and Bosh skip it though.

Also, lol @Weezy. With him on our side, we're guaranteed a title!

He was on our side last year, placed a ridiculous multi million dollar bet that we would win, then he lost, and then he went to the clubs to party with the Mavericks.

Dude is the biggest front runner in the world. Forget that ****. Can we censor the words "Lil" "Wayne" and "Weezy" from RealGM please?

[OtW]

For some reason, I am not scared of the Thunder like I was of the Spurs or Boston in late game situations. They can make big plays, and despite their poise, there are weak links (see: Russell Westbrook being erratic).

I am not scared of OKC, 1st half showed that if we stick to our game plan (and play better defense at that, they were shooting 56% at half time!) we can definitely hang with them. Our mental errors and dumb choices are much more scarier than OKC, IMO.