Miami Heat Playoffs: Three Game 1 Takeaways To Use In Game 2
The second key is to know when to be aggressive on defense. The Heat gave up 22 fouls and a good amount were called due to undisciplined gambles.
The Hawks were struggling to make shots and there would be possessions where they had nothing, also then having a bad closeout or late swipe, resulting in free throws. The first quarter ended with the Heat leading, 23-17, and 10 of those 17 were from the free-throw line.
The Hawks only made three shots and yet it was only a six-point game after the first. You can play physical defense, but you still have to be disciplined while doing so and that is what the Heat need to focus on.
Don’t get me wrong, the defense, from start to finish, was amazing, but there were some possessions that can leave everyone frustrated. For example, take this possession with P.J. Tucker on Trae Young.
Tucker had Young on Rikers Island and forced Young into a deep off-balanced floater, but he swiped and fouled him right at the last second. Plays like that can kill the rhythm for a defense and helps slow the game down for the opposing team.
Guarding Trae is hard, but when you get into foul trouble against him, it makes it even harder to guard him. It may seem like a nitpick, but you can always get better on defense.
They should keep playing their physical defense but shouldn’t gamble, trusting themselves.