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ShareSixers vs. Heat Game 3 Preview - 4/20/2011
The Sixers witnessed what the Miami Heat are capable of in the second game of this best-of-seven series. Miami is a developed team, headlined by three of the best players in the world. In order to extend this first-round series back to Miami, the Sixers will need to play flawless basketball on their home floor and improve their performance in several key areas.
Capitalize on Free Throws
Although the Sixers shot half a percent better than Miami in Game 1, Philadelphia attempted only 15 shots from the line compared to Miami’s 39 attempts. The most telling statistic is free throw attempts in the fourth quarter: Miami had 15 while the Sixers had just 2. “We beat them in every statistic,” Doug Collins said, “except the free-throw line.” In Game 2, Miami ended up with only nine more free throws than Philadelphia. The problem was that the Sixers shooting dipped from 80% in Game 1 to 65% in Game 2, while the Heat continued to hover around 79%. The Sixers cannot compete with the pure athleticism of the Heat. Getting to the line and making easy shots becomes crucial for the underdog Sixers.
Make Bosh Work
Chris Bosh is seen by some as the least of three evils on a team dominated by James and Wade. However, with 46 points and 23 rebounds in the first two games, Bosh is definitely a factor. Elton Brand, along with Thaddeus Young, has been given the task of limiting Bosh’s productivity, though he does not have the length or speed of Miami’s big. Bosh likes to step back and take mid-range shots, which creates a problem for Brand, who prefers to camp out down low. Brand has to find creative ways to limit Bosh’s production in the paint.
Andre Must Score
Yes, Andre Iguodala has done much more for this Sixers team than score. He has provided crafty playmaking, given the young squad veteran leadership and become one of the top perimeter defenders in the NBA. He has done a commendable job on the superhuman LeBron James this series, keeping his scoring total to below 30 in both games. That being said, Iguodala has not added much to Philadelphia’s scoring, totaling 9 points over both games. Iguodala is the unspoken star of this team and needs to play accordingly. Other parts of his game, including assists and rebounds, are there (8 rebounds and 9 assists in Game 1, 7 and 7 in Game 2). For Iguodala to have success, he must do what he does best: attack the rim with his athleticism. With his natural abilities, he is usually able to score or get fouled, both of which the Sixers have been lacking this series. He must also focus on limiting his turnovers, as he has accounted for nine of the Sixers’ 20 turnovers so far in the series.
Lou Williams
Doug Collins has referred to Lou Williams as the “voice” of the team. Since his hamstring injury, Williams has not looked the same. His injury normally requires around 3-4 weeks of rehabilitation; Lou is trying to recover in about half that. Williams sparkled in the regular season, frequently scoring off the bench and given the ball with the game on the line. Though he has performed admirably after returning from injury (10 points and 4 assists in Game 1, 8 and 6 in Game 2), the Sixers need him back to his midseason form, where it was not uncommon to see Lou score 20 points in a night and take over in the fourth quarter.
Limit LeBron’s Production on the Road
The scariest part for the Sixers should be that James normally saves his best for the road. During the regular season, LeBron averaged about 3 more points on the road, along with improving in every other major offensive category. James said he feels most at home on the road, and he led Miami towards finishing the regular season tied with the Dallas Mavericks for the league’s best road record (28-13). The Sixers, on the other hand, are 26-15 at home this season and have enjoyed playing in front of the Philly fans. Hopefully, this boost in confidence will take the series back to Miami.
