Four questions for Miami Heat-Toronto Raptors Game 6

The Miami Heat haven’t quite looked like themselves so far this series.

Down 3-2 to the Toronto Raptors, the Miami Heat face elimination from the NBA Playoffs Friday night. Here’s some questions they need to answer to push this series to a Game 7.

1. Can small ball work? Without Hassan Whiteside, who won’t be available for Game 6, the Heat will once again rely on its super-small lineup of five perimeter players. The Heat managed a win in Game 4, playing this lineup five minutes in regulation and for all five minutes of overtime, during which the Heat outscored the Raptors by 14 points.

The Raptors tried to match Miami’s size in Game 5 but opted to stay big with center Bismack Biyombo in Game 6. It worked, as Miami’s small-ball lineup didn’t get the same results and struggled to score in the paint.

Erik Spoelstra told NBA.com that the Heat will have to take better advantage of its smaller size.

"“We’re putting bodies on them,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We’re getting thrown around and they were able to get some important extra possessions. We had some advantages the other way. That’s the give and take of it. Tonight, they were able to take advantage of it.”"

The Heat have to play with a faster pace when it goes small and force Toronto’s bigs out of the game. Beat them in a race down the court. But, to do that, Miami’s passing and player movement will have to be much better.

2. Can the Heat improve their ball movement? In the five games this series (three of which went to overtime), the Heat have yet to rack up more than 15 assists in a game. Passing has been a chore, with the Heat averaging 14.2 turnovers to 12.8 assists this series.

The Heat seem to be at a loss of how to get the ball around. At one point during Game 5, just as the Heat were going small, Erik Spoelstra frantically motioned at Justise Winslow to cut to the basket. Winslow, standing aimlessly at the elbow, perked up and darted for the rim. He got the pass and the foul. Spoelstra is imploring his guys to move and cut and swing the ball around.

However, with a group of isolation heavy ball-handlers like Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson and even Goran Dragic, and without a pick-and-roll threat of any gravitas currently healthy, the Heat are struggling. I can’t remember the last time I saw the ball swing from one side of the court to the other before getting bogged down in dribbles.

The Heat aren’t just working hard for points, they’re working hard to just pass the ball against Toronto’s length and size. The best way for Miami to free themselves up will be in transition and semi-transition. Grab defensive rebounds, let the forwards push the ball up the floor and have everyone else fill the lanes.

3. Will Deng play? Deng, who injured his wrist after falling over a camera in Game 5, was diagnosed with a bruise on his wrist and is questionable for the game. Meanwhile, Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll is also questionable with his own wrist injury that he suffered after taking a hard fall in the second half of the same game.

If Deng’s not available for the Heat, it could mean Justise Winslow playing center in that small-ball lineup, and more Gerald Green, Tyler Johnson or even Dorell Wright. Deng said after the game that the only thing that would keep him out was a doctor ruling him out. That’s not the case, so we’ll see if he can go, and how effective he can be.

4. Will someone, anyone, get hot? Meanwhile, all the problems are solved–or at least not so much of a problem–when dudes are making shots.

Joe Johnson and Luol Deng, each of whom had big series against the Hornets in Round 1, have been ice cold. Johnson has made just one of his 17 three-pointers this series, and Deng hasn’t drained it from kaboom-town since Game 2, missing his last six. Josh Richardson briefly got it going late in Game 5, hitting a pair of three-pointers in the second half, but mostly has been quite.

More heat: With the Cavs looming, does Heat vs Raptors even matter?

The Heat need someone besides Wade to contribute consistently, especially with Toronto’s All-Star backcourt seemingly finding their way again. The Heat have to work hard for each shot, and when they get open ones and they don’t go in, it can be demoralizing. Meanwhile, when the shots start falling the ball tends to pick up energy, Miami’s spacing improves and the Heat can take advantage of its small-ball rotation. Of all the questions, this is the most important.