The Miami Heat dropped their second straight game of the series to the Celtics, losing 110-97 on Thursday night in Boston. What was once a 3-0 Eastern Conference finals lead is down to an uncomfortable 3-2. Here’s what went wrong.
Turnovers
Here’s a crazy stat: Before surrendering in the fourth quarter, the Heat actually shot nearly as well (54.5%) as the Celtics (55.6%) through the first three quarters. Miami’s problem was that it took eight fewer shots in that time and coughed up 15 turnovers that led to 25 Celtics points.
There’s been a lot of discussion about the Celtics being hot from deep over these last two games, but they’ve shot 40% from 3 after shooting 39% in the regular season. This is closer to who they are than in the first three games. Against a good shooting team like Boston, the Heat can’t afford to give away possessions and easy points in transition.
Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry were the main culprits. Adebayo had six turnovers, many of them off bobbled passes in the paint.
“They jammed us up several times in the paint with quick hands, strip-downs, things of that nature,” coach Erik Spoelstra said.
Lowry (starting in place of an injured Gabe Vincent) was responsible for four, most of which came off bad passes. This one was particularly harmful for two reasons: First, it was an ill-advised attempt to squeeze a pass to Kevin Love through multiple defenders. Second, because Lowry passed up an open look. It’s been a tough series for Lowry’s shot, but he needs to be ready to pull when he’s open.
Jimmy Butler couldn’t get going
This was Butler’s first truly disappointing game of the postseason. He took just 10 shots and scored 14 points when his offense needed answers. He was far from the commanding two-way force he’s been to help the Heat get to this point.
It wasn’t for a lack of trying. Boston’s defense stifled Butler’s forays to the basket. Jayson Tatum, since shifting to Butler’s primary defender, has bothered him with his length and quick hands. The Celtics started sending timely doubles to get the ball out of Butler’s hands.
This is what the Celtics — with so many long and active defenders — do best. Even when Butler was attacking mismatches against Derrick White or Payton Pritchard, Boston did a good job of sending help and mitigating those chances. For the first time in these playoffs, Butler appeared to be truly out of answers.
“Our offense was disjointed a little bit,” Spoelstra said. “We weren’t able to initiate our offense, get the ball where we needed it to go in spots where you could operate. If we can get Jimmy in his comfort zones and strength zones more consistently, he’ll be just fine.”
For Game 6 in Miami, it’s on Spoelstra and Butler to devise a new plan to help get the Heat’s star in spots he can succeed.
The starting lineup isn’t working
By the time Spoelstra made his first substitution, bringing Caleb Martin in for Love at the 6:56 mark of the first quarter, the Heat had already dug a 10-point hole. The Heat are being outscored by 12 points in Love’s minutes this series.
In the second half, Spoelstra admitted that a change was needed by dusting off Haywood Highsmith, starting him in Love’s place at power forward. Highsmith was among the few bright spots for the Heat, collecting 15 points on a tidy 6 of 9 shooting, two rebounds, an assist and two steals in 36 minutes.
Spoelstra should go with Highsmith or Martin (plus-17 in this series) in Love’s place to start Game 6, with Love coming off the bench as Adebayo’s backup over Cody Zeller, who has struggled to keep up with Boston’s pace and spacing on offense.