• One Bullet point devoted to the X’s and O’s. Coach Erik Spoelstra went to Lebron James on the ball early in this game, and it cost him dearly. Not because it was a bad move, but because Lebron James readily conceded switches off of Tony Parker and it broke down the Miami Heat on 4 of 5 possessions to the tune of 9 points. A perfect clip on switches where Parker converted on Norris Cole twice for 2-2 shooting, once on Mike Miller for 1-1 shooting, and a kick out that found the weak side for a Danny Green Three. Lebron James cannot play that soft when he is handed an assignment. His “trust level” was at 10 when he needed to take his charge more seriously. In the end, the Heat’s defense was as poor as it could be from the very start. Only Chris Bosh was doing his job on rotations, and the Heat seemed preoccupied with keeping the post pass difficult and the Spurs were content with passing it on the perimeter This resulted in shooting wide open threes if they got them. They didn’t. The Spurs got 3 open threes in the first half from reversing the ball toward the weak side, and you can live with that, since they only shot 2 of 3 from these superior offensive possessions. A result that was damning, but survivable. What you cannot live with is the poor on the ball defense that resulted in the rest of the Spurs FG%. Whether it was Manu Ginobili that scored 8 points on contested paint takes, or Tony Parker that scored 10 points on contested paint takes, or whether it was Tim Duncan that scored 6 points on post catches, the overall Miami Heat defensive disposition was as poor as it has been in a while. More of the same. Back to that win one, lose one mentality. Something had to give, and it was the Heat’s defense that gave out this night.
• Here is where the conspiracy reaches another level. The NBA will assign Danny Crawford or Joey Crawford (likely Danny Crawford) in game 6. I am almost sure of it. The Heat will be handed a rigged game in game 6. Game 7 will be called in a manner that is hands off and that will allow for a regular flow of play from both teams, that usually allows for the better team to win. In the end, can the Heat win a rigged game? They will have to in game 6. They didn’t in 2011 when the NBA handed the game over to the Heat in game 6 and they failed to take advantage of it. This Heat team is better than than the one in 2011. Just got to get to game 7, and let your game, which is better take over.
• You want a a nuanced piece of analysis? Here it is: Lebron James has to play much better. If he does, the Heat is up 3-2 in this series.
- The Miami Heat return home for game 6 on Tuesday, Tipoff is at 9:00pm.
