Examining what’s ailing Miami

The Heat, once up 2-0 in the series against the Hornets, have been a completely different team in Game 3 and 4. It’s a baffling turn of events considering Miami had all the momentum after the first two games, coupled with the fact Charlotte lost Nicolas Batum to an ankle injury. Instead, Hornets head coach Steve Clifford’s adjustments have fueled new life into his team, and have made the Heat look lifeless on offense.

What’s been plaguing the Heat the past two games, and can they regain control of the series? Two of our NBA experts delve deeper into the matter as they break down the developing situation in this compelling first-round series.

Matt Moore: So I went back and watched a lot of the success the Hornets are having in the pick and roll. Part of it is the scheme, with Miami switching or trying to blitz and Jeremy Lin and Kemba Walker just getting the edge on them. The other part is there’s no help inside because Marvin Williams keeps the Heat from being able to bring a guy off. Miami’s getting killed inside the pick and roll.

Zach Harper: That’s part of the give-and-take of Hassan Whiteside being on the floor that I looked at after Game 1. He ruins the world around the basket as long as he gets to be around the basket, but these pick-and-rolls end up moving him into that middle area. That middle area is tough to navigate without a state of comfort navigating it, right? He’s not comfortable enough to hedge or blitz that pick and roll if that backline help isn’t going to be there because of someone like Marvin Williams.

And if that comfort isn’t there, then there’s indecision and I feel like the indecision is killing the Heat. Lin and Walker are able to turn that corner, and even if they’re run off the 3-point line where Charlotte loves to feast (typically with Walker and Batum), that indecision of where the next level of PnR defense needs to be is leaving open driving lanes. Walker’s done a really good job of attacking Whiteside at the rim, despite giving up over a foot in height to him. He’s doing the old but effective theory of getting into the shot blocker’s chest. And of course, they’re drawing fouls. While some (Heat fans) believe it’s an unfair whistle, I really think the aggression of the Hornets’ guards plus the indecision of the Heat’s back defenders is what’s causing the disparity.

It’s what Dwyane Wade has done to opponents for years.

Matt Moore: If Walker’s driving into Whiteside in established position, or even close range while guarding a center, he can deter. But trying to contain all the way out on the perimeter, like you said, is getting him killed with indecisiveness. They miss Chris Bosh here, so much. He’s able to hedge on pick and rolls all the way to the sideline, forcing a reset of the offense. When they blitz, he can trap them and against Walker that effectively neutralizes him. Instead, with Whiteside they’re getting the edge, creating 5-on-3’s Amare Stoudemire’s obviously not much help either, and they can’t go any smaller due to the Hornets’ interior advantage.

Zach Harper: So I have a potentially stupid question. Does it behoove the Heat to keep the Hornets in front of them and maybe allow those 3-pointers off the pick-and-roll turn? I know this is Charlotte’s identity and you don’t want to give them the …

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