Coach Spoelstra making the right adjustments
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 28 May 2013
CHICAGO -- With the defense of their NBA crown in serious jeopardy after losing Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals at their home floor the American Airlines Arena on Saturday night, the Miami Heat came to Indianapolis yesterday needing a win to escape the peril of a 2-1 series deficit.
And that's exactly what the Miami Heat did, soundly beating the Indiana Pacers, 114-96, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Erik Spoelstra, Miami's Filipino-American head coach, deserves praise for devising a game plan that put LeBron James in a position to dominate down the low post and creating open perimeter shots for the rest of the Heat. Spoelstra also tightened the screws on the defensive end, limiting the Pacers to just 39.7 percent from the field on 29 of 73 shooting.
Imposing his 250-pound might on the able but over matched defender in Paul George, a wiry 221-pounder, LeBron scattered 22 points as the Heat took control early with a 34-point first quarter. Miami led by as many as 21 points and made 42 of 77 field goals and 24 of 28 free throws.
After a lackluster Games 1 and 2, where their offense sputtered, the Heat had plenty of firepower this time with Dwayne Wade turning in 18 points and eight assists while Udonis Haslem added 17 markers by making a remarkable 8-of-9 field goals.
Chris Bosh had 15 and Mario Chalmers finished with 14. Chris "The Birdman" Andersen had another impressive nine points and nine rebounds.
There was no shortage of top performers for Indiana as 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert had 20 and 17 points while David West and point guard George Hill combined for 40 points, but the Pacers couldn't overcome a dreadful performance where they missed 44 of 73 field goals.
The bigger more physical Pacers ruled the boards, 45-36, but their assists were five fewer than Miami's 21 and the Pacers also had five more turnovers at 10.
Game 4 of this best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals resume tomorrow at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse where the Heat try to stay unbeaten on the road in these playoffs and move on the brink of their second straight NBA Finals appearance.
Obviously, coach Spo will likely stick with game plan of making James, a four-time MVP, the fulcrum of his offense. Expect James to continue to pound George and facilitate for his teammates.
Just like Game 3, I will drive to Indianapolis to cover Game 4 at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. It will be interesting to
see what adjustments Pacers coach Frank Vogel will do to slow down the Heat juggernaut.
Photo: The author with Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra (R) at the United Center in Chicago last March.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
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