BBNBA: Herro’s snarl keeps Miami’s title hopes alive https://t.co/trgZrtxzE3
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) October 5, 2020
Out of the gate, Los Angeles was out of sorts. Miami elected to turn away from the zone defense that the Lakers had abused all too easily in the first two games. Man-to-man matchups must have surprised the Laker offense early, as they turned the ball over NINE times through the first eight minutes of the first quarter. They finished the quarter with 10 miscues, the most by any team in a single quarter this season. Butler established himself early (and often), scoring eight first-quarter points while LeBron and Davis both recorded four turnovers apiece. With the Lakers flummoxed on offense, Davis picking up his second personal foul with four minutes left in the first led to complete dysfunction on the opposite end of the court, too. Davis didn’t even attempt a shot in the first quarter, playing only seven minutes. Miami began the night shooting 7-8 from the field and skirted ahead to a 22-9 lead.
Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra didn’t run much zone defense–if any–during the second half, slotting Butler on LeBron and denying any switching action from the Lakers. If LeBron called for a screener, Butler fought through to stay on LeBron. Whoever the Lakers were attacking on defense (whether it be Duncan Robinson or Herro or whoever), that Heat player would jump out over the screen and stunt at the ball handler before springing back to his man while Butler recovered after fighting through a screen. For the most part, it worked like a charm. Watching LeBron and Butler go head-to-head for nearly an entire half was wildly entertaining and Butler even got the best of him in the end.
Another excellent analysis of how the Heat won Game 3 by Zack Geoghegan.
What’s interesting are the tactics the Heat used to keep LeBron from hunting Miami’s weak defenders while at the same time the Lakers’ poor job of preventing Jimmy Butler from hunting their weak defenders. Key strategic adjustments by the Heat on offense and defense.
Bottom line, Jimmy was willing to fight through those screens while LeBron was not. Game to Spoelsta.
And Miami ditched the zone.
Yes, I was wrong about that. They did play zone in the first half but it was more of a 1-2-2 to try and limit the 3-point damage. Rewatched parts of the game this morning.