The Miami Heat had struggled in Games 3 and 4 of their second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers. Heading to Philly for a two-game road trip, Miami would take a 2-0 lead into the Wells Fargo Center, only to come out tied at 2-2.
Now, there are a few things that went into why those games didn’t work out the way that the Miami Heat wanted them to, but one of the most apparent reasons was their lack of long-ranged shot-making. Subsequently, that would turn into overall offensive ineptitude as both games moved along.
They knew they had to be better in Game 5. Not only would allowing Philly to take control of a series in which they had been down, 0-2, be devastating, but it would mean that the Miami Heat would be playing a potential elimination game in the same building they had just taken two straight defeats.
The team had to take it seriously. They had to take the two previous defeats personally.
The Miami Heat needed improved effort from everyone in Game 5 to get a home win. One guy in particular, Max Strus, was determined to give them that and did!
They had to take the poor shooting and offense personally. They had to make it all a personal thing and as personal as one particular Miami Heat sharpshooter seemed to do.
Strus was very hard on himself over the weekend. He's very serious, demanding of himself. 11 points in 1st quarter. Heat 20-5 with him starting.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) May 11, 2022
As known by now, the Miami Heat were successful in Game 5, coming out with a resounding defeat, by 35 or so points, over the 76ers. While their overall improved shooting as a team had a ton to do with it, making 13-33 shots from a range and a with that total almost being higher than the 14 they made combined in both of their previous games, the guy in question above had a lot to do with it as well.
Tieing Jimmy Butler for the most blistering start to the game, Max Strus would proceed to show everyone how he catapulted himself into the Miami Heat’s starting five late in the year. He would make range shots, compete his tail off on defense, and even find himself attacking the basket a time or two.
You could tell that he “was very hard on himself”, as he played like a guy that had to check himself. He would go on to finish second on the team in scoring for the night with 19 points to go along with 10 huge rebounds and an assist.
Even more impressive, his 10 boards led his team on the night. It’s safe to say that the challenge he took upon himself was a good one for him and his team, while he would come out of it extremely successful metrically.
Yes—Big Max had himself a game!