Call it South Flaw-rida: Heat can’t win with 3-on-5

[Scoot26]

By Mike McGraw

The Bulls understand, obviously, that regular-season victories over Miami and homecourt advantage in the playoffs don’t mean much.

So Thursday’s 96-86 victory over the Heat at the United Center — a triumph of bench play and 3-point marksmanship — doesn’t deserve any deep meaning. But Miami’s mediocre play during the past six weeks (12-10 since March 2) suggests major flaws in the three-star system.

When the Heat lost to the Bulls on March 14, Miami’s unproductive supporting cast seemed to drag down the team. By now, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra appears to be in panic mode.

During the last two weeks, Spoelstra has switched his starting center from Joel Anthony to Ronny Turiaf to Udonis Haslem. Two rookie guards who played major roles at times this season — Norris Cole and Terrel Harris — never got off the bench Thursday.

TNT analyst Steve Kerr noticed the confusion.

“Isn’t it amazing, here we are with 10 games left in the season for the Heat and they’re not settled on a rotation,” Kerr said during the contest.

“They’re sill trying to find their playoff rotation.”

Haslem came down with the stomach flu and didn’t play in the second half, so Turiaf was the Heat’s most productive non-Bosh big man, grabbing 8 rebounds.

Otherwise, Miami’s supporting cast just stunk. As bad as Derrick Rose shot the ball, he wasn’t the worst player on the court. That honor goes to Mike Miller, who went 1-for-9 from the field with 3 turnovers.

Shane Battier needed 31 minutes of court time to contribute 2 points and 2 rebounds. There wasn’t much evidence to suggest Mario Chalmers played, though the box score claimed he logged 28 minutes.

Overall, Miami’s supporting cast combined for just 15 points, while the Bulls’ bench outscored the Heat reserves 47-7.

Did Miami make some bad choices when filling out its roster? Maybe, but these guys have all played well in the past.

Here’s another idea: No role player will succeed in this situation. The divide between the Power Trio and Heatlitos is greater than the distance from Key West to Key Largo. It’s one team with two different worlds.

Miami’s offense is pretty basic — LeBron James dominates the ball for a while, then Dwyane Wade takes over for a spell and Chris Bosh waits in an open spot in case the other team gives too much defensive help (which happens often).

All three of those guys played well on Thursday, but they had nothing left for overtime, when the Bulls outscored the Heat 12-2. James never left the court after halftime.

“We’ve got to trust our bench a little more,” Wade said after the game. “We got to give those guys an opportunity. We need to give then some confidence.”

With Rose off his game, the Bulls basically had no supporting cast and the strong play of the reserves was based on opportunity. There’s no magic formula — guys like C.J. Watson and Kyle Korver have always shot better when given more minutes.

“We’re a team that has a lot of different options,” Taj Gibson said after the contest. “One thing about our team, we never complain. We’re always ready.”

What Miami has is a perpetual cycle of shortcomings. Guys like Chalmers, Miller and Battier are asked to support the Power Trio, but they get to shoot about once every 15 possessions.

Inevitably, they slump, lose playing time and the cycle starts again. Some other role player hoping to earn an easy ring steps into the no-win situation. Who knows what the locker room dynamic is like with the Three Kings and Nine Bricklaying Commoners system?

The Bulls and Heat will likely meet again in the conference finals. Without a doubt, Miami has enough talent to dominate the Bulls. But this much is obvious — the Heat won’t win any titles playing 3-on-5.
mmcgraw@dailyherald.com.

Call it South Flaw-rida: Heat can’t win with 3-on-5 - DailyHerald.com

 

[X]

The Bulls and Heat will likely meet again in the conference finals. Without a doubt, Miami has enough talent to dominate the Bulls..

agreed with everything but that. The Heat can definitely beat the bulls, but unless there's injuries, the Bulls won't be dominated.

 

[B18]

agreed with everything but that. The Heat can definitely beat the bulls, but unless there's injuries, the Bulls won't be dominated.

Yeah that was a poorly written part of the article.. Neither of these teams will "dominate" one another.

 

[Sunbiz1]

The Bulls are deep enough to beat many starting 5 with their bench, not the even the Jordan era teams had that bonus. Coach T. has completely out-mastered Spoelstra, the man had that deer in headlights look the other night. The Heat coaching staff has been lost for over a year, it's too late to be figuring things out.

At this rate, we may not see them next month at all. I smell an implosion upcoming, and a new coach.

 

[X]

The Bulls are deep enough to beat many starting 5 with their bench, not the even the Jordan era teams had that bonus. Coach T. has completely out-mastered Spoelstra, the man had that deer in headlights look the other night. The Heat coaching staff has been lost for over a year, it's too late to be figuring things out.

At this rate, we may not see them next month at all. I smell an implosion upcoming, and a new coach.

Meh. If they don't go to the finals, they'll lose in 6 or 7 in the ECF.

 

[Sunbiz1]

Meh. If they don't go to the finals, they'll lose in 6 or 7 in the ECF.

2 months ago I said the same, not so sure anymore. Someone could very well take the Heat to 7 before/if we see them. 3 stars isn't always enough to overcome suspect coaching and a mediocre bench.

 

[Axl Rose]

Coach T. has completely out-mastered Spoelstra, the man had that deer in headlights look the other night.

Spo always looks like that :lol:

 

[thechosenone]

1st of all I don't give a **** about how they manage to play better.

Secondly the Heat have failed already. Everybody believed (me included) that this big 3 thing will end up by them dominating the league. It didn't happen. It can't happen. They may win one or two championships but their failure to dominate the league is already huge.

 

[Crystallas]

OKC and injuries are the only things I am worried about. I'm not that worried about the Heat.

 

[Scoot26]

OKC and injuries are the only things I am worried about. I'm not that worried about the Heat.

I would say this as well. Injuries might be our downfall if Derrick Rose isn't over them. The Heat-Bulls will be a close series that really can go either way. As I have said before, a couple of bounces will likely decide that series.

OKC has got to be the favorite to win the title at this point. In our one game against them we looked like complete crap. Yes we didnt have Rose, but mind you we've competed with good teams without Rose, and basically beat the Heat twice without Rose. Not saying the Heat should be taken lightly, but it wasn't like last year where we (well most of us anyways) felt if we beat the Heat we would win the title.

 

[houheffna]

I worry about the Heat... I also worry about OKC, Memphis and the Lakers.

What do those 3 teams out west have in common? Better frontcourts than the Bulls, with the exception of OKC who don't really have scoring from their big men.

 

[Sunbiz1]

OKC and injuries are the only things I am worried about. I'm not that worried about the Heat.

Just did some stat homework, OKC has 10 perhaps 11 players with the potential to score doubles...the Heat have 6 if you count Eddie Curry(lol). And the board stats for the Heat are borderline awful, again OKC has almost double the amount of guys who potentially can have double-digit rebounding games.

That team residing in the middle of nowhere is good, very good.

 

[clonetrooper264]

Perhaps I'm in the minority here...maybe not, but I'm still worryingthe Heat come playoff time. I do think that we can beat them if all things go our way (but then who doesn't?) but chances are that's not going to happen. I'm not even taking into consideration the Rose injuries taking him out of his flow. Rose isn't going to have the best series against Miami. He's just not. Wade, Lebron, Battier, and even Chalmers are all good to great perimeter defensive players and they will probably all guard Rose at some point. He's going to have bad games and he will struggle. The next question is, who is next in line to score? Honestly I'm not totally sure of an answer.

We just don't have enough consistent offense. Even if Boozer steps it up and somehow starts lighting up Bosh, Deng is an inconsistent option at best because of his wrist injury. Hamilton is still a question mark as well, but he might actually be the x factor. Quite frankly I don't think we'll score enough. Yeah our bench is far and away better than theirs, but honestly, I think what they'll end up doing is playing the big 3 all 42+ minutes per game. Lebron is probably going to average 46 minutes in a series and we all know Deng is going to be out there near minute for minute with him. That will take a toll on his shooting which is already spotty. Can Boozer step it up? Can Rose handle it when Lebron is guarding him? Can Hamilton be that guy who pushes us over the edge in scoring? Heck...can our bench mob play well enough defensively so that we don't get killed if they're going against the big 3? Nothing there is certain and that's what will make the series interesting to watch.

My hope is that the Bulls will take what they learned from Rose being out and really step it up offensively. Every shot matters. We can probably count on the big 3 scoring at least 70-85 points by themselves (Lebron 25-30, Wade 20-30, Bosh 15-25). What do we have in response? Hopefully, a bench that can net 20-30 more points than the Heat bench along with near 20 points each for Rose, Boozer, Deng, and Hamilton. Is it possible? I hope so.

 

[Diddy1122]

OKC has got to be the favorite to win the title at this point. In our one game against them we looked like complete crap. Yes we didnt have Rose, but mind you we've competed with good teams without Rose, and basically beat the Heat twice without Rose. Not saying the Heat should be taken lightly, but it wasn't like last year where we (well most of us anyways) felt if we beat the Heat we would win the title.

I don't see OKC as the favorite. They have no half-court offense other than Durant or Westbrook. There's no inside-out game. And once the ball touches either of their hands it rarely moves from it (29th in league in assists per). They could potentially lose before the Finals if the match-up isn't favorable. The game we played against them was without Rose & Rip, with Deng & Noah having an awful game, & an atrocious 3rd quarter. And it also happened to be on their home floor. You can't take much, if anything, from that game.

At this point I would consider us the favorite because we have the best D, the best bench, the best passing, & the best coach. Oh and there's this kid named Derrick Rose, he's pretty good too.

 

[thechosenone]

I have the same opinion. If we make the finals and play against OKC we will beat them. It won't be easy but we will do it. Maybe it will need a 7th game but we will be the winners. And the key will be DRose.

 

[Glide2keva]

I don't see OKC as the favorite. They have no half-court offense other than Durant or Westbrook. There's no inside-out game. And once the ball touches either of their hands it rarely moves from it (29th in league in assists per). They could potentially lose before the Finals if the match-up isn't favorable. The game we played against them was without Rose & Rip, with Deng & Noah having an awful game, & an atrocious 3rd quarter. And it also happened to be on their home floor. You can't take much, if anything, from that game.

At this point I would consider us the favorite because we have the best D, the best bench, the best passing, & the best coach. Oh and there's this kid named Derrick Rose, he's pretty good too.

Now you know that we can't be the favorites man.

Personally I'm not worried about any team. The Bulls can beat anyone pu in front of them because they are better than given credit for.

 

[MSOADE54]

At this point I would consider us the favorite because we have the best D, the best bench, the best passing, & the best coach. Oh and there's this kid named Derrick Rose, he's pretty good too.

:clap: :bow: ::beerbang: :woot: :yep: :farley:


I have been telling my friends this exact same thing and all they do is say that the Heat and Thunder are locked in for the Finalls, fucking stupid!

 

[Glide2keva]

:clap: :bow: ::beerbang: :woot: :yep: :farley:


I have been telling my friends this exact same thing and all they do is say that the Heat and Thunder are locked in for the Finalls, fucking stupid!

I mean why even play?

 

[thechosenone]

And in the end it will be the most historical Finals that can happen.

Spurs - Bulls

The only two undefeated teams in Finals.

 

[Diddy1122]

And in the end it will be the most historical Finals that can happen.

Spurs - Bulls

The only two undefeated teams in Finals.

I've been telling my friends that will be the Finals match-up since back in January. Of course, I'm high on drugs. :wacko: