Typically, a team playing for playoff seeding in late March has an extra sense of urgency. Every possession is magnified and the attention to detail increases.
For the Miami Heat, every game became a must-win game to avoid the play-in. And for a brief moment, while a fourth-consecutive play-in appearance was never out of the realm of possibility, the Heat were competing for a top-5 seed in the East after an 11-3 stretch.
Suddenly, though, the Heat came crashing back to Earth. Defensively, the team — a top-5 unit for most of the season — was wilting, allowing 134-plus points to the Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Cleveland Cavaliers and, most recently, the Indiana Pacers.
The first half of Monday’s 10-point win over the Philadelphia 76ers didn’t feel much different. Philadelphia was on pace for 122 points while shooting 46.0 percent from the floor, despite Tyrese Maxey, Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. going a combined 1-of-6 from 3-point range.
Still, the Heat saw themselves down three heading into the break. Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. revealed that the stoppage allowed them to regroup and, to a certain extent, air plenty of frustration out, given the downward trend of the team’s play.
“I thought everyone really came together at halftime,” he said. “It was one of our best halftimes ever since I’ve been here, at least. [Tyler Herro] and [Bam Adebayo] really brought us together during that time for sure. … It was great to see those two really pull us through. When those two are going, we feel unstoppable. So when them two are on the same page, it was great.
“We just followed their lead.”
Miami’s defense buckled down in the second half, holding Philadelphia to just 37.0 percent shooting (6-20 3PA) over the final 24 minutes, including 34.8 percent shooting in the final frame.
“We had a really good halftime,” head coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We had a lot of pent-up anger, frustration, disappointment. Collectively, we feel like we’re better than what we’ve been the last two weeks. It’s been extremely frustrating. And tonight, everybody was able to focus on the task at hand and it was all the multiple efforts that we needed that led to the karma of the game we’ve been talking about.”
As a result of Monday’s win, the Heat are now tied for the No. 9 seed in the East, slicing the deficit for the No. 7 seed to 1.5 games with just six games left. It doesn’t get any easier, with a home game against Boston on Wednesday, with three more crucial games against Toronto and Atlanta, where each will be more important than its last.
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Much of the excitement we had about this team earlier in the season was because we saw it transitioning away from it’s boring slow down, half-court offense of the past into a fast-paced run & gun offense of the future. A greater emphasis was being placed on offense than previously. It was presumed the team would maintain its top 5 defense. Unfortunately, the offense took one step forward and the defense took one step back.
Offense is a luxury that can be fickle. Hot one day and cold the next. However, a strong defense is the reliable cornerstone of any good or great team. A good defense contributes to a good offense by creating turnovers, rebounds, fast breaks and forced shots. It also frustrates and demoralizes opponents which directly impacts their defensive efforts.
Miami should avoid drafting, trading for or otherwise pursuing any free agents who do not already play solid defense or show the potential to be developed into good defenders. Over the next couple of years, all one way players should be gone and been replaced by two-way draft picks, players obtained in trades or free agents. The only exceptions should be players who are high scorers who posses at least average defensive skills and players who have excellent defensive skills with the potential to be developed offensively.
“Offense sells tickets. Defense wins championships”
~ Paul “Bear” Bryant ~
great post sun.but in reality gotta have both.how many guys didnt get the opportunity to play because they couldnt put the ball in the basket.but prob were great defensively.for our team id take lower scoring pelle any day over no d herro.although last game i saw him make a few defensive stops but thats a rareity with ty.and theres plenty of games where hes 4 for 13 and hes always not guarding.hard to win with ty unless he improves his defense overnight dramatically.
I do agree with this…. If Pelle scores sixteen points and does all the little things he does to help win, he contributes more to the Heat’s success than Herro scoring thirty and not doing all the little important things on defense. And that kind of happened against Indiana but against Philly it was different. Ty did enough of the dirty work on defense that made him easily the star of the game. And further, if a bunch of other players along with Ty played better defense against Indy, then Ty’s thirty would have helped us a lot more. Ty is almost always an overall positive, but Pelle’s game is evolving before our eyes and now he usually contributes more toward winning than even Ty. Pelle is turning out to be an amazing second round pick. Lately, he does that drive to the basket, and lay it directly in move, during crunch time. Pelle is scoring some important baskets.
Herro is not worth ten times more per year than Larsson. Riley should put feelers out this summer to see what interest there is for Herro’s scoring around the league. An expiring contract, a draft pick and a young prospect sounds about right.
If there is no market for Herro, then Riley should make him a low ball offer at around $30M-$35M per year.
I think Herro was playing defense out of pride and desperation. He is athletic enough to be at least an average defender. The only reason he hasn’t been is because he has chosen not to focus on it or make a commitment to defend to the best of his ability.
He knows he is at risk of lowering his value (to Miami and any other teams). He realizes he must play hard nosed defense to the best of his ability. Now that he has shown his hand, Spo should demand the same defensive effort/intensity from him (as well as the entire team) each and every game.
There is absolutely no excuse for the Heat players not giving 100% both ways each and every game. It is Spo’s job to motivate them and to hold them accountable if they slack off.
Great post and I agree with everything. But, like many things, it’s complicated. Highsmith was the perfect example of a one way defensive player who didn’t contribute enough. Even though Highsmith wasn’t drafted, we can’t draft guys like that or the other extreme either.
The truth that everyone around here has finally come to, myself included, is the reality that if you never tank, you get players in the mid rounds who are just flawed enough to keep you in the middle of the pack and the only way out is acquiring a Butler or occasionally tanking.
And, unfortunately even that doesn’t always work. It’s almost impossible to acquire the superstar when your middle of the pack. And if you do tank, you better hit on your lottery draft picks. Even today, with all the scouting available, there are low key busts all over the league, players who slowly transition into being a rotation player and never a number one or two option.
But, look what happens when a Wemby comes along. San Antonio has only built an average roster around him and they may win it all. The Spurs got very lucky and will be one of the best teams for at least the next five years, maybe a decade. Not every draft has a Wemby, but usually the top two or three players are franchise changing talents. And that’s where you get those players.
Highsmith had the offensive potential. He just didn’t have the determination. If he had the aggressiveness of Jaquez, Larsson or even Gardner, he could have been a very good two way player. Remember, Bam started out as a good defender and so-so offensive player.
Shouldn’t need to wait for players to have a heart to heart discussion about 100% effort AND pride. That’s what coaches are for. The only way this team can halfway compete is if they play lockdown defense. Stay within reach then close the game out at the end. Heat could have used a closer like DeRozan and a rotation PF/C this year.