The Miami Heat will look to get back on track after dropping Game 3 against the Charlotte Hornets.
Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford made an adjustment by going big in his team’s Game 3 win over the Miami Heat Saturday, and now it is Erik Spoelstra’s move. The Heat dropped its first game of the series against the Hornets but still hold a 2-1 advantage in the series, with Game 4 Monday.
Clifford inserted Al Jefferson and rookie Frank Kaminsky into its starting front court, and the Heat were thrown for a loop. The added size of Jefferson and Kaminsky made it difficult for the Heat to get the ball into Hassan Whiteside, who had dominated the first two games of the series. The Hornets also consistently doubled Whiteside early in pick-and-roll situations, making it harder for the Heat ball handler to get the 7-footer the ball on the run.
The Hornets dared Miami’s wings to make open shots, and the ball didn’t fall at the high rate it did in games 1 and 2, with the Heat shooting just 34.2 percent and just seven-of-22 from three-point range.
There are a few adjustments Spoelstra can make. One is to send a second screener to pick-and-roll actions, such as Luol Deng who can become a pick-and-pop threat or at least create more room for the ball handler to take an open jumper. The other is to focus more on getting Whiteside on the run by starting the pick-and-rolls a bit higher.
However, Whiteside is considered a game-time decision after sitting out Sunday’s practice with a bruised right thigh.
If Whiteside doesn’t play, the Heat could try to space out Charlotte’s big lineup with Amar’e Stoudemire and Josh McRoberts rotating at center.
All in all, the Hornets came out with more urgency and played better in Game 3. They committed just three turnovers as a team and held Miami to that low shooting percentage. The Heat got just 79 shots up compared to Charlotte’s 90. Miami should bounce back, but don’t expect a blow out. This is a series, and Game 3 probably reflected more of what the next few games will look like.
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Heat-Hornets Game 2 viewing info:
Date: Monday, April 25
Start Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Charlotte, NC
Arena: Time Warner Cable Arena
TV Info: NBATV, FS-SUN
Radio: 790 AM