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ShareSixers vs Heat: Keys to Victory - 4/15/2011
The Sixers are clear underdogs against the Miami Heat and it will take hard work and a little luck to get out of the first round of the Playoffs. But if Philadelphia can take care of a few key items on offense and defense, it'll go a long way towards pulling off an upset.
Offense
The Bench
The strength of the 76ers is their bench, with Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young arguably making up the top one-two bench punch in the league. Williams, however, has been dealing with a hamstring issue that could take much of the edge off his athleticism. Andres Nocioni and Evan Turner have picked up some of Williams’ offensive production lately and hope to continue filling the void in the playoffs. The Heat, by contrast, arguably have the shakiest bench in the postseason. But the reliance on Miami’s reserves tends to be minimized in the postseason, with lightened travel, and no back-to-backs.
Team Baskeball
The Sixers were the only NBA team this year with six players 24 or younger averaging at least 7.0 points per game. Nonetheless, with Collins emphasizing ball security, ball movement, shot selection and defensive intensity, the Sixers pulled off the second-biggest turnaround in franchise history this year, improving from 27-55 to 41-41. The Sixers have six double-figure scorers but nobody averaging more than 15 points a game. Elton Brand’s 15.0 average is the franchise’s lowest team-leading mark in 59 years – since Hall of Famer Dolph Schayes led the 1952 Syracuse Nationals at 13.8 points per game. For these reasons, many national sports writers are referring to the Sixers as “the most balanced playoff team ever”.
X-Factor: Jodie Meeks
It is no surprise that the 76ers are much more efficient when Meeks is knocking down threes. He spreads the floor and provides the Sixers with their only true outside shooting threat, and at 40% from beyond the arc this season, Meeks has definitely been a threat. However, over the past few weeks, Meeks has gone cold, going 2-11 in back-to-back games. Jodie will need to return to his old self if he plans on helping the Sixers overcome this tough matchup.
Defense
Adjust On Mismatches
The Heat are most dangerous when they move LeBron James to the 4 or 5 and surround him with Dwyane Wade and two more shooters, presenting a seemly intractable problem. The Sixers have no single man to effectively guard against James’ speed in the post, and bringing help defense opens the floor for James Jones and Mike Miller to load up from beyond the arc. The Sixers will have to solve that defensive puzzle or use their offensive size to force the Heat away from that line-up.
Get in LeBron’s Head
This Heat team has been dissected and broken down by every sort of critic. We have seen teams, players, coaches, and even fans break down LeBron James emotionally in the past. When you get in LeBron’s head, you are breaking down the core of the Heat. Miami will get beat emotionally before they are defeated physically. Andre Iguodala, along with others, will need to frustrate LeBron, force him to take tough shots and play him as physically as the refs will allow. Keep a hand in his face at all times. Once LeBron starts to miss shots, it affects the entire team’s morale. And, as we all have witnessed before, when the going gets tough, LeBron gets going.
Make the Heat go to Bosh
Chris Bosh is clearly the weakest link in Miami’s Big Three. If the Sixers can slow down LeBron and Wade, they will go to Bosh; this is the best scenario for the Sixers. Bosh has been under criticism all year for his style of play and Elton Brand has been excellent as a low-post presence. This season, Bosh has been streaky and, overall, lacks the athletic gifts of James and Wade.
Apply Pressure
Some critics believe the Sixes are carrying a “glad-to-be-here” attitude into the playoffs with no real ambitions to advance. Their only chance at a first round upset is out-hustling the competitive Heat squad. Sixers starters need to play on-the-ball defense and create turnovers to open up their main weapon: fast break offense.
