Mateo’s Hoop Diary: “When our defense is at its best… we can make an impact”: The Heat are already in danger after losing Game 1

At practice a day before Game 2 in Cleveland, Heat captain Bam Adebayo said the team has to force the Cavaliers into tougher shots. Tyler Herro echoed those sentiments by wanting to be a more annoying pest on the ball. 

Bless their souls, but this team has no chance despite claims of being more physical. In fact, Frankie DeCicco had better odds of surviving a car rigged with explosives than the Heat’s chances of advancement.  

They might seize a game, sparing them the indignity of a sweep. Winning two? Fuhgeddaboudit, but that would be the highlight of the season because it would grant the Heat a third game at home, giving their ushers an opportunity to pocket extra dollars because they are paid per appearance.

The Cavs have three options getting separation on the dribble. The Heat’s help defense is not in position to stop them after they dish to the perimeter. And the Heat’s rookie Kel’el Ware is likely too inexperienced and lacks the strength to overpower Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley.

The Wine and Gold commit fewer giveaways, too, and when that’s combined with their edge on the glass, it results in eight more field goal attempts than Miami. Coach Erik Spoelstra also praised Allen, who had six offensive rebounds, for his “intent,” bludgeoning the paint and glass. 

Starting Davion Mitchell, who played 34 minutes on Sunday, could be one of the Heat’s changes that bothers the hosts earlier because of his on-ball defensive skills. He spent most of his guarding time on Donovan Mitchell, holding him to two makes in six attempts, including 25% from 3-point range. And he was the Heat’s most accurate volume scorer, earning the right to replace Alec Burks, who did not offer much in 15 minutes. 

Additionally, the Heat must find more ways for Andrew Wiggins’ athleticism to pressure Cleveland, perhaps by pushing the pace, and they need extra quality 3-point attempts instead of hunting the mid-range area. The fourth quarter was their only stretch of inaccurate deep shooting, and they had cut a 17-point deficit to six at the end of the third. 

So what happened? The Cavaliers flexed the power that all great teams have: getting serious for one quarter and that being enough. 

The younglings- Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jović and Pelle Larrson- were stashed for all but a minute of Game 1. If any developmental projects will get time, it’s Jović because he’s a more reliable release valve and an open-court threat.