Heat vs Magic Observations: Miami Lets One Slip Away
By Wes Goldberg
Overall, Im feeling good after this game. Why? Because the Miami Heat played its new traditional-style lineup and it worked. Chris Andersen and Chris Bosh, as we know, are a good pair in the front court. Last season, it was Miami’s third-best two-man lineup. The players making up the two better lineups are no longer with the team.
Read more on how starting Chris Bosh and Chris Andersen give the Heat the best chance to win here.
Erik Spoelstra played just eight guys in his rotation, and the rotations were regular with a small dose of small ball (about two minutes in each half) in between bringing Hassan Whiteside in for Bosh. Danny Granger took advantage of a heavy dose of minutes, scoring 21 points (6-of-7 from 3-point range) in 32 minutes. His hot hand may have been the reason we didn’t see Shawne Williams.
Yes, the Heat let this one get away after Granger gave the team a 101-97 lead with 1:38 left in the game. But that happens. Overall, the Heat played well in what may be the first game in the era after small ball. Here are a few more observations from the game.
– Really like the offensive options the Heat have with this starting lineup. Bosh-Bird high-low… Wade-Bosh PnP… Wade-to-Bird back-door cuts… Wade post up… Deng cutting… Bosh triple threat… Chalmers doing Chalmers things….
– DANNY GRANG3R… Granger 5-of-5 from 3-point range in the first half.
– Hassan Whiteside is a bonafide rim protector that the Heat haven’t had in a long time. It’s surprising the impact he’s had so quickly.
– Heat went with a short rotation, playing with just 8 players for the first time this season. No Shawne Williams. No James Ennis. Just the starting five plus Norris Cole, Granger and Whiteside.
– More on that rotation: Cole is Miami’s third guard but always plays the point and Wade always plays the 2 (he brings the ball up often, but still). Even though he’s been moved back into the starting lineup, Chalmers is still the combo-guard, moving from 1 to 2 depending on the other guard he’s playing with…. Granger played mostly at the 4 and, because he played so well, kept Williams on the bench in the first half. Would like to see more Williams at the 4 and Granger spelling Deng at the 3 but maybe I’m just picky.
– Heat got 35 points off the bench, mostly from Granger (21). Whiteside had eight and Cole had six.
– It’s amazing what Bosh being back in the lineup can do. Everything just makes more sense.
– Spo very conservative with subs. First sub in the second half didn’t come until about 6 minutes left in the third quarter, and that was Cole for Chalmers. Granger, the second sub, didn’t check in until 4:22 in the third (and that was only after Andersen got scratched in the face). … Whiteside in at 2:17
– Heat played some small ball with Bosh and Granger in the power spots.
– Turd quarter: 27-24
– Dwayne Wade scored 15 of Miami’s 24 fourth quarter points. Wade and Whiteside combined for 20 of Miami’s 24 fourth quarter points.
– (1:38) DANNY GRANG3R!!!!
– Questionable coaching decisions by Spo, keeping Cole in at the end of the game and Granger in for defense on the Magic’s final possession.
– On the final shot of the game, Elfrid Payton helped off Cole in the corner to double Wade. Does he help if Chalmers is standing in the corner instead? I don’t know, but I do know Cole does’t help Miami’s spacing.