Despite a tough, four-point loss, the Miami Heat have reasons to stay confident about Game 5.
Returning to Philadelphia for Tuesday’s contest, the Miami Heat are ready to put everything on the line to ensure Game 6 is a reality.
Hassan Whiteside played his best game in these playoffs by far. Dwyane Wade returned to his usual, leader self. Most importantly, all of the Heat’s players were ready to scrap.
As a collective, Miami provided a unified front to face the rising Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4. The total team effort left the burden of defeat on everyone, which might point to even greater motivation in Game 5.
"“Each individual feels like they lost the game because they turned it over or because we got a bad shot or because we messed up a defensive assignment,” Wade said after Game 4."
Despite the turnovers or defensive stutters, Miami managed to print a basic formula for success in Game 5. Their spotty defense was enough to disrupt the Sixers’ bevy of 3-point shooters; Philadelphia was held to just 26 percent from downtown, their second worst mark since Game 2’s 19 percent.
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And in the turnover war, Miami preyed on Philadelphia’s relative inexperience. The Heat won the turnover battle with 19 to Philadelphia’s 26, while converting a series-high 18 steals.
Aside from the worrisome fourth quarter, Miami has the makings of a team capable of extending the series to at least six games. The keys to returning to Miami? Defense and free throws.
Miami is well established as a physical team – Goran Dragic’s injury history and Tyler Johnson’s missing teeth should be more than enough evidence. Their effort ran the Sixers off the 3-point line and made Joel Embiid’s interior scoring suffer.
Miami held Embiid to 2-for-7 inside the arc and 0-for-4 from 3. If the 7-footer wants to beat Miami from deep, so be it. But making his life down low difficult, stagnates an important cog in the Sixers’ offense.
For all of Philadelphia’s missed shots however, Miami was unable to keep them off the charity stripe. When J.J. Redick couldn’t beat the Heat from deep, he shifted to attacking the basket, leading to 6-for-6 from the free throw line.
Though Miami managed to get to the line 25 times, only 13 free throws hit their mark. Simple math says the Heat’s 12 missed shots erase their four-point loss, further underscoring the need to convert.
Luckily, Miami has already taken one game on Philadelphia’s turf. Pushing the series to six games is fully in play, assuming Whiteside continues his path to rebirth he began in Game 4.
Next: Miami Heat: Hassan Whiteside was finally having fun again
The Heat have an uphill battle ahead, but possess the tools to continue their postseason run.