Series Thread: 3) Miami Heat (48-34) vs 6) Charlotte Hornets (48-34)

[WiggyRuss]

Charlottes arena really wasn't intimidating at all, and this will be the first attempt at a close out for many of their starters.
The Heat easily have the ability to win, but they'll need to play much better/smarter to do it.

absolutely...Charlotte could get tight.

This is where the Heat really need to add a guy like Delly- or i think - and i cant believe im saying this- used a guy like Chalmers- to play on Lin and Kemba...i just dont like Dragic and Wade having to put max effort defense in against these guys...I think thats why Richardson is getting so many minutes- and he has played solid at home for hte most part but its tough relying on a pair or rooks to play 30 minutes a night each and carry your bench.

Im not sure - is Green just garbage or has Spoelstra lost confidence totally in him?


I thought Dwade played great for the most part. I didnt watch the whole game- about half and half...The Hornets got some surprising performances that im not sure they can count on...i think kemba will prob be a little better at home though.

It ll be an interesting game. Joe Johnson has been pretty damn efficient this series on offense- as has Whiteside...id like to see htose 2 guys get a few more attempts- or just amp up their aggresiveness on the offensive side if thats whats needed.

 

[wildturkey]

If I'm the Heat, I'd almost be tempted to just start playing a zone or a hybrid of it. They can't keep Lin and Walker in front of them and are getting roasted by them slashing in to create offense. Charlotte shot the 3 well this year but it might actually be a better option to just pack it in with a zone to jam things up and hope the Hornets miss more outside shots than they make.

 

[WiggyRuss]

If I'm the Heat, I'd almost be tempted to just start playing a zone or a hybrid of it. They can't keep Lin and Walker in front of them and are getting roasted by them slashing in to create offense. Charlotte shot the 3 well this year but it might actually be a better option to just pack it in with a zone to jam things up and hope the Hornets miss more outside shots than they make.

surprisingly- i looked up the Charlotte 3 pt numbers...they were tied for 7th in the league in percentage and were 4th in the league in makes per game...thats a lot better than I would have expected. They have put together a team that can shoot the 3 kind of out of nowhere...I mean- they did win 48 games.

 

[bksballer89]

As I mentioned on the Heat board, Spo playing Wade and Hassan just 32 minutes in a must win game is a joke. Josh McRoberts who's awful getting 16 minutes is absurd. On top of that after starting the 4th with that shitty lineup for 5 minutes is inexcusable. Up 6 in the 4th and you leave Hassan and Wade on the bench for the first 5 minutes?

 

[WiggyRuss]

As I mentioned on the Heat board, Spo playing Wade and Hassan just 32 minutes in a must win game is a joke. Josh McRoberts who's awful getting 16 minutes is absurd. On top of that after starting the 4th with that shitty lineup for 5 minutes is inexcusable. Up 6 in the 4th and you leave Hassan and Wade on the bench for the first 5 minutes?

yah you gotta ride your horses in that situation i think....

Itll be interesting to see how Miami chooses to defend in Charlotte. I tend to agree that stopping the 3 is the most important thing...especially at home where role players can get hot. j

Id really like to see Joe Johnson get 12-15 shots....and Whiteside in double digit shot attempts as well. Both ahve been very efficient offensively.

 

[Kold]

Dude....literally look at what bk just posted. That's a blatant hack on the arm. Lee is literally impending Wade from shooting the ball, physically. Literal photographic evidence. Everyone and their grandma knew that was a foul.

Yeah, I agreed with Bk on that one

 

[bksballer89]

yah you gotta ride your horses in that situation i think....

Itll be interesting to see how Miami chooses to defend in Charlotte. I tend to agree that stopping the 3 is the most important thing...especially at home where role players can get hot. j

Id really like to see Joe Johnson get 12-15 shots....and Whiteside in double digit shot attempts as well. Both ahve been very efficient offensively.

The sad part is we're one of best shooting teams (in terms of fg%) and we haven't been able to make shit the last 3 games. We shot 47% during the season. The highest fg % we shot over the last 3 games was 42% last night. If we can get to at least 45%, we would win the final 2 games

 

[bksballer89]

Yeah, I agreed with Bk on that one

Also with Stu Jackson tweet. It confirms that not only did Lee foul him (which we all agreed on) but Zeller also fouled him with the body. Pretty disappointing

 

[Heatles84]

absolutely...Charlotte could get tight.

This is where the Heat really need to add a guy like Delly- or i think - and i cant believe im saying this- used a guy like Chalmers- to play on Lin and Kemba...i just dont like Dragic and Wade having to put max effort defense in against these guys...I think thats why Richardson is getting so many minutes- and he has played solid at home for hte most part but its tough relying on a pair or rooks to play 30 minutes a night each and carry your bench.

Im not sure - is Green just garbage or has Spoelstra lost confidence totally in him?


I thought Dwade played great for the most part. I didnt watch the whole game- about half and half...The Hornets got some surprising performances that im not sure they can count on...i think kemba will prob be a little better at home though.

It ll be an interesting game. Joe Johnson has been pretty damn efficient this series on offense- as has Whiteside...id like to see htose 2 guys get a few more attempts- or just amp up their aggresiveness on the offensive side if thats whats needed.

I think it's more the latter. Which is sad as Spoelstra has known to be very stubborn with his rotations. He did that in game 4, but once Green played, he did decent.

 

[bksballer89]

The best part of last night was when Spo said he liked McBum's minutes lol. Expect 10-15 more minutes of him tomorrow night.

 

[bksballer89]

Great blog by Ethan. Johnson was at fault for the offensive rebound by Lee. He makes another good point about going offense for defense late in the game when to comes to Johnson and Winslow. Hard to believe Winslow falls asleep at the wheel and doesn't box out there.

Who was at fault for Courtney Lee's late rebound? | Heat Check

 

[trojanfan12]

Great blog by Ethan. Johnson was at fault for the offensive rebound by Lee. He makes another good point about going offense for defense late in the game when to comes to Johnson and Winslow. Hard to believe Winslow falls asleep at the wheel and doesn't box out there.

Who was at fault for Courtney Lee's late rebound? | Heat Check

Not quite as costly, but it sounds an awful lot like when Pop had Timmy out of the game in game 6 vs. the Heat.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Well Gerald Green has been a huge disappointment

 

[WiggyRuss]

Well Gerald Green has been a huge disappointment

yah..he looked like he might be a decent pickup early on in the year but he has pretty much become unplayable.....

If the Heat lose and end up getting beat 4 in a row you would think major changes are coming.

 

[bksballer89]

@Mecca both of our teams season likely end on Friday night.

How are we celebrating?

 

[Mecca]

yah..he looked like he might be a decent pickup early on in the year but he has pretty much become unplayable.....

If the Heat lose and end up getting beat 4 in a row you would think major changes are coming.

I think major changes are coming regardless.

Hassan, Wade and the Rookies are the only ones safe....Imo

Outside of Bosh, they don't have any upgradeable deals when you remember the cap jump.

My Clips are in a similar shifty position.

But, there are literally 15 or more Teams you can trade a guy to, without having to take anything back, because of the cap.

It will cost you a asset or a pick. But, that's the cost of doing business.

The Clippers did that with Zach Randolph the year we got Blake.

 

[Mecca]

@Mecca both of our teams season likely end on Friday night.

How are we celebrating?

The Clippers are done..

I'm still taking the Heat.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I think major changes are coming regardless.

Hassan, Wade and the Rookies are the only ones safe....Imo

Outside of Bosh, they don't have any upgradeable deals when you remember the cap jump.

My Clips are in a similar shifty position.

But, there are literally 15 or more Teams you can trade a guy to, without having to take anything back, because of the cap.

It will cost you a asset or a pick. But, that's the cost of doing business.

The Clippers did that with Zach Randolph the year we got Blake.

I think they PROBABLY could move Dragic if they wanted to- not that i really think they want to. Id imagine it would be good for them to bring Joe Johnson back as i think he fits their system well. Deng will be gone.

They need to get younger, more athletic, and better defensively more than anything in my opinion. Winslow and Richardson are good starts- but its hard to augment your roster with no draft picks since those are the type of guys you can develop and are cheap...if i am the Heat i try and add a young-defense first point guard in the draft somehow along with a young stretch 4 that can guard a little bit. Tyler Johnson continuing to improve should help with a little depth but he cant play PG- and they need a PG that can shoot a 3 and play a litle D to take pressure off Dragic.

McBob - you are prob right about -they cant unload him without attaching an asset or taking a problem back one would think.

 

[Mecca]

I think they PROBABLY could move Dragic if they wanted to- not that i really think they want to. Id imagine it would be good for them to bring Joe Johnson back as i think he fits their system well. Deng will be gone.

They need to get younger, more athletic, and better defensively more than anything in my opinion. Winslow and Richardson are good starts- but its hard to augment your roster with no draft picks since those are the type of guys you can develop and are cheap...if i am the Heat i try and add a young-defense first point guard in the draft somehow along with a young stretch 4 that can guard a little bit. Tyler Johnson continuing to improve should help with a little depth but he cant play PG- and they need a PG that can shoot a 3 and play a litle D to take pressure off Dragic.

McBob - you are prob right about -they cant unload him without attaching an asset or taking a problem back one would think.

Yeah, they could send Dragic to the Knicks, or Philly, not sure which situation would be worse..lol

McRoberts has been awful. But, Paul Pierce has been worse. I hope he retires because he has 2 years left.

Your guys look good.

Looking forward to seeing OKC vs. Spurs.

What do you think about that series?

 

[WiggyRuss]

Yeah, they could send Dragic to the Knicks, or Philly, not sure which situation would be worse..lol

McRoberts has been awful. But, Paul Pierce has been worse. I hope he retires because he has 2 years left.

Your guys look good.

Looking forward to seeing OKC vs. Spurs.

What do you think about that series?

I have no clue. I read an article not too long ago that said if Pop was the coach of OKC that team would never lose a game.

OKC is healthy for once and has more depth than they have ever had and with free agency approaching this ver very well might be their best team ever. I think they finally have a solid stable of big men to throw at the opposition...they need the guards- Waiters and Roberson to shoot well from 3 and to guard well.

Its really hard for me to pick against the Spurs but for some reason i think OKC might get this series. I think the Durant/Leonard matchup should be absolutely awesome to watch.

I of course have very little confidence in this pick as i ahve no idea how this series will go- but i think OKC matches up well with the Spurs and will win in 6. Like I said- if OKC cant get it done right now- they never will in all likelihood.