Chazz-Mia 2H, I*

The "Heat" D on Charlotte's first possession looked very different from that in the 1H:

Bam is all over the Bug. Andrew's Bug takes Andrew out of the clog, opening up the lane but Giannis is firmly in the paint, not on the edge. The Charlotte Big scores on this play but the "Heat" played defense as well as you could.

And on offense, look at this! A lob to Giannis on the left edge of the key.

Giannis spun to his right, spun back to the center and laid it in. Easy.

But then on Charlotte's second possession, the same perplexing, ineffective, wide-open middle, that Miami showed so much in the 1H. Giannis, in the yellow shoes is out at the top of the key. Two points Charlotte.

We had it down to five there. I will say this, Miami was playing with more intensity and, imo, more intelligently in the 2H so far.

Giannis in the paint, but Bam out beyond the 3-point arc! The Bug Klay is guarding calling for the ball, salivating. (These last two snips, I didn't know if Charlotte scored until after I posted. I bet they score here, picking on poor Klay.)

Yeah, the Big Bug just pulled up and made the long two. Klay didn't leave his feet. lol So that brought Chazz' lead to 19 with four and a half to go 3Q. Giannis is still in the game.

On the "Heat's" possession, Giannis played point-center and brought the ball up.🙄He passed to Bam who was behind the arc on the right side. Bam nails the trey. That possession is Eric Spoelstra's positionless basketball at it's best/worst. It worked this time. 

As a basketball principle, having 6' 11" Giannis bring the ball up and 6' 9" Bam shooting the trey is asinine.

Giannis still in the game. It's 3:45 3Q on the game clock, Chazz 85-70. I hate this defensive look already. Don't know what happens.

Oh Lord, the Bug who ate Klay alive is freed on a screen and nails a long three. That made it 88-70.

Look at this abortion. Giannis still in, 3:03, sort of wandering aimlessly at the top of the key. Bobby Portis in the paint with his back to the Bug he is supposed to be minding, another "Heat" defender just making his way into the possession with his back to...whatever beyond the top of the arc.

This is really funny. Look at "Heat" # 4 and #10. They are verily confused. And look at how WIDE OPEN the Bug is. "Heat" players spoke of lack of communication in the Ice loss. There is no communication between # 4 and # 10 there. The "Heat" D on this possession seems not to understand what defense Spo wants them to play.

Three! That brings it to 92-70 and Giannis is still in the game. This must be where Spo goes to the Bam-Portis-Hardaway, Jr.-Pelle-Davion lineup.

Taking a break. 

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*Update. No. 4 is Ryan Conwell, a rookie. No. 10 is THII, a newbie. No wonder they look so confused. :)