The Heat went 4-9 from the field and out-rebounded the Raptors 4-1 in OT. One of the talking points coming out of the game was the absence of Bismack Biyombo, the Raptors primary rim protector, as the Heat got the vast majority of their points in the paint.
Here’s a possession-by-possession breakdown of our defense:
This is a 1-4 clear-out in the block for Wade, and from a Raptors point of view, this is not so bad. Our best one-on-one defender is on Wade and forces him to take a tough fade. The only question here is rebounding, and as Deng crashes the glass, the Raptors are fortunate it doesn’t come off DeRozan and collect the team rebound.
DeRozan is completely cleared by the screen allowing Goran Dragic to drive into the paint. As the defense collapses, Joe Johnson has the clean look which he misses. Without Biyombo in there, it’s nervous times again on the glass and unfortunately, Patterson tips it into his own net. The main failure of this play isn’t there, though, it’s on the perimeter at how easily the Raptors allowed Dragic into the paint on his strong hand. Even conceding a Patterson on Dragic switch would’ve been better than this.
Meh, you’ll live with this. Patterson has done a superb job on whoever he’s been guarding and here he doesn’t concede the switch that Miami is seeking. The Wade drive distracts him momentarily but he still recovers to force a tough shot from Johnson. Good defense.
Forget everything else, this is just a terrible close-out by DeMarre Carroll on Dragic. His angle invite Dragic to drive into the paint using his strong hand and the results are predictable. Again, not having Biyombo in there means Dragic has a clear path and doesn’t even have to contemplate his shot being possibly altered.
The Raptors concede the switch Miami is looking for and get Patterson on Wade, but the former doesn’t fall for the fake and contests the shot. The problem, again, is rebounding. The Raptors concede the offensive rebound and waste critical time off the clock.
Much like how the Raptors were trying to attack Joe Johnson, the Heat were putting Patterson in help positions (and thus away from the glass). The switch here happens closer to the rim and Wade gets a relatively easy look.
Miami’s drive-and-kick game is at it again, but the story here is another horrible close-out by DeMarre Carroll who hasn’t learned his lesson, and lets Dragic drive into the paint. With his strong hand. Again.
All the plays can be found here:
