5 notes from the Miami Heat’s Game 1 win vs the Charlotte Hornets

The Miami Heat dominated the Charlotte Hornets to kick off the NBA playoffs.

In what was poised to be a tightly fought series, the Miami Heat ran the Charlotte Hornets out of AmericanAirlines Arena thanks to a deadly spray of pick and rolls. Luol Deng scored 31 points on 13 shots to headline the Heat’s dominating Game 1 win, while Miami also got a strong performances from Hassan Whiteside.

The Heat dominated from the tip, getting out to an early 11-3 lead and ending the first quarter up 41-22. Miami never looked back, and never trailed, maintaining a 20-plus point lead for most of the game. Here are more notes from the Game 1 win:

1. The Luol Deng Game

There was a lot of speculation about who would need to step up for the Heat if they were going to win this series. Names like Hassan Whiteside, Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic were mentioned often.

Luol Deng wasn’t.

And yet, it was Deng who lifted Miami early and often, scoring 31 points on 13 shots, including hitting four of six 3-pointers. Deng got it done from all over the court, draining 3s, hitting runners and getting easy looks on masterful backdoor cuts.

Deng is one of many veterans on the Heat who not only have playoff experience, but is thirsty for playoff success. After joining the Heat last season and missing the playoffs, Deng is back in the post-season and playing a big role for the first time since he was part of winning teams in Chicago. Deng knows this moment and he’s ready for it. He showed that tonight.

2. Young guys ready for the test

Folded into the veteran roster is a trio of young guys who play key roles in the rotation: rookies Justise Winslow and Josh Richardson, and center Hassan Whiteside.

Whiteside, making his playoff debut, was too wild. He had 21 points on 9-of-11 shots, 11 rebounds and three blocks. He vaporized Charlotte’s defense from the inside by finishing pick-and-rolls in typical Flex fashion.

Winslow seemed up for the task, defending the perimeter dutifully and helping to push the pace that Miami controlled all game.

Josh Richardson didn’t have his best game, going just 3-of-11 from the field, but he made two important 3-pointers that helped space the offense. He didn’t make a lot of shots, but he didn’t hide from the moment, and that’s just as important for a rookie making his debut. He’ll find his stroke.

3. Stoudemire over McRoberts

After Erik Spoelstra reinserted Whiteside into the starting lineup during the last week of the regular season, he opted to go with Josh McRoberts rather than Amar’e Stoudemire as his second string center. The McRoberts experiment didn’t work, as he was consistently beaten in coverages and near the rim. The idea that he could help space the floor didn’t work, with McRoberts too reluctant to shoot.

It was clear that Spoelstra needed to go back to Stoudemire, who played well while starting in place of Whiteside in most of the games after the All-Star break. He did just that, and Stoudemire delivered the goods, finishing with 11 points and playing solid defense.

Udonis Haslem came in for spot minutes, but this is a two center team now with Whiteside and Stoudemire surrounded by perimeter players.

During the regular season, Stoudemire often struggled in back to backs or in games where he didn’t get much rest. Luckily for him, there are no back to backs in the playoffs. That serves the Heat well.

4. Dominating the boards

The Heat won a playoff game by dominating the glass, grabbing 42 rebounds compared to just 28 for the Hornets. We’ve come a long way from the Big Three Era.

5. Death by pick-and-roll

The Heat won this game by pick-and-rolling the Hornets to death. Charlotte just didn’t have an answer for it, whether it was Wade or Dragic as the ball handler or Whiteside or Stoudemire as the rim runner.

Cody Zeller, Al Jefferson, Frank Kaminsky, it didn’t matter who Charlotte had out there, Miami took advantage of them. Whiteside is just too big and too athletic.

It’ll be interesting to see how Hornets head coach Steve Clifford adjusts his defense for Game 2 on Wednesday.