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2006 NBA Finals: Mavericks @ Heat Preview, 9:00 PM EST

UD will be ready for game 3, the Heat’s MVP so far…

Keys for Game 3
Miami must find a way to stop Dallas’ runs and refrain from their scoring droughts. Both items are related and can be slowed by getting easy baskets from playing good defense or crashing the offensive glass. Strong defense stops runs and causes turnovers which help spur easy baskets. Amassing free throws slows the pace of the game and gets players off the floor into foul trouble. Miami must find more ways for their defense to lead into their offense. The boxscore in Game 2 reads 18 Dallas turnovers but only six (33 percent) of those were live-ball turnovers, meaning that the ball was still in play. Miami needs to force more live-ball turnovers that lead to good shots. To say that Miami didn’t capitalize on turnovers is unfair because they scored on four of Dallas’ six live-ball turnovers for nine points. Conversely the Heat cannot afford to turn the ball over. Easy baskets are critical because Miami is finding out that their two independent scorers are becoming more dependent on others. The mantra of “every possession counts” has been recited frequently throughout the playoffs and to cure Miami’s offensive woes, the Heat need to find the extra possessions that are critical for easy baskets.

Miami Adjustments
Wade: Look for more isolation sets with the floor spread wide for Wade. He will also attempt to mix his usage of ball screens by driving before the screen is set.

Heat: Miami hasn’t really experimented with any other defensive schemes on ball screens and might look to start in Game 3. Look for Shaq to stay inside at all times and for the Heat to stop showing as aggressively. Dallas is finding more ways to exploit their showing tendencies throughout the series.

Supply Chain Management: Miami did try to post Shaq in other ways and get him on the move instead of staying cemented on the left block only. Like most big men, Shaq is still dependent on other people getting him the ball. Dallas has definitely won the logistical battle of preventing his touches and rotating out after he passes. Dallas was denying the wing, Shaq’s supply route, for side-down passes and reaching around for steals on top-down or high/low passes. Those parallel passes are difficult to make and resulted in three turnovers. Dallas was sandwiching Shaq with traps and were quick to the first pass out of the double team, especially if it was Wade. Dallas really hasn’t been hurt on the double team since quarter one of Game 1. Miami will need to look for Shaq as the second option or on the second side of their offense after the defense has shifted. They could also benefit by mixing up their action along the perimeter after feeding inside and use Shaq as a play-maker. Look for Miami to use whichever player Dallas doubles off of as a screener to free up jump shooters.

Key Players
PG Play: Miami’s point guards are still not giving the Heat enough support. Jason Williams has struggled to remain consistent and has had mixed success in the open floor. He is a theme park point guard in that he can have a roller coaster night of 10-for-10 shooting vs. Detroit then 3-for-10 in Game 2. Williams is a very talented player who is critical to the Heat’s chances. Payton has been playing great defensively but hasn’t helped out with any of the scoring. Combined, these two point guards need to have a 25-point, 10-assist performance to keep the Heat alive.

More internet fodder…
So tonight is the night. We bring the ball back to the AAA, not the AAC. Lots of energy is the natural expectation for game 3 in South Beach. We know the crowd will be raucous. Will the Heat? I think the bottom line is Shaq needs to do whatever it takes to get the ball down low and bring it to the rim with authority. I am not of the mindset that Shaq is a quitter, like some others tend to think. I also refuse to believe that it is over. Dallas did what they were expected to do, preserve home court. Now it’s time for the Heat to do the same. What really makes all this amusing is the fact that Piston fans are still crying there eyes out forcing them to poke fun at things like Dwyane Wade’s shoe’s and Antoine Walker’s facial expressions during games. Pretty sad if you ask me. Especially coming from one of the ugliest teams in the NBA. Anyways this is not about the Pistons. It’s about the Heat getting back into this thing and making it a series. Check out Dan Lebatard’s interview with Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl and he shares his opinions on the 2006 Finals. Check out MiamiSportsDudes take on game 3. It’s an excellent one! I wish The Dude luck on his post game date with Rachel Nicols. RAWR!

[NBA.COM]
[MIAMI SPORTS DUDES]