Miami Heat's defence steals the show in game-1 of NBA Finals
The National Basketball Association (NBA) best-of-seven final series is an intriguing battle between the league’s best offensive team and its best defensive unit. Looking back into this year’s playoffs, the Miami Heat and the Dallas
Mavericks looked evenly matched, heading their conferences with same 12-3 record during the post-season.
However, the Heat proved to be just too hot to handle in the opening game of the NBA finals on Tuesday night at the American Airlines Arena. Miami gave the Mavericks a tough time all around the court. They generated shots from
impossible angles, moved the ball better, worked diligently on the glass and also choked the offensive battery of the mighty Mavs, limiting them to their playoffs worse 37.3 percent from the field. The result emerged out as a 92-84 victory for the men from
the South Beach.
However, the highlight of the night was the defensive might and hustle of the Heat. Led by their larger than life big three, the Heat proved yet again that they are second to none when it comes to defending their rim.
Miami entered into the court with a foolproof defensive plan and switched between five different players to hound the Mavericks’ power forward Dirk Nowitzki, who was their main concern. The seven-foot sharp shooter found it extremely
hard to find open spaces and make plays as Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Mike Miller, and Udonis Haslem blocked him from every possible angle in the game. Nowitzki ultimately failed to find his shooting finesse and finished with a field goal average
of only 7-for-18. With Nowitzki struggling to pour in shots, the Mavs lost their most reliable scoring outlet and faded away down the stretch.
The Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged the aggressive defensive strategy of Miami against his leading scorer and said, "Every team we have played is very aggressive on him.” "He is a unique player. He has to be denied the
ball virtually all the time. Haslem is a guy who has the wherewithal to do that, and they're going to play him aggressively, and we know that. … We've got to keep giving him opportunities to create."
Miami stifled Nowitzki in much the same manner as they did league’s MVP Derrick Rose in the Eastern Conference Finals. Heat adopted a defensive system that sent two or sometimes three player to screen Nowitzki. At the same time,
their offense made sure that it takes the opportunities when they come.
After tackling the Mavs in the first three quarters, the Heat finally made their surge in the fourth and during that stretch Heat coach Erik Spoelstra surprisingly appointed King James to guard the Mavs’ sharpshooter, Jason Terry.
During the course of the regular season and even the playoffs, Terry has established a reputation of ‘Mr. Fourth Quarter’. The Heat were having none of that on the night though. James simply overpowered Terry in the clutch, limiting him to just three shots
and no points.
Terry was surprised with the Heat’s decision, “It was a big adjustment, something we were not prepared for.” “You know, with him, [James] has a size advantage and he uses his strength very well.” “But he is still quick. He’s still
quick enough to kind of stay in front of you.”
Without any doubt, Miami’s defensive game in the last quarter of the games has been outstanding in the playoffs. During their previous five victories, the Heat have outplayed both of their opponents – Chicago and Dallas - in the
fourth quarter and overtime by an average of 6.2 points per game. If they keep on maintaining that stat, the series can be over for the Mavs pretty soon.
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