Tip Off: 7:30 PM (PST)
Projected Starters
Miami Golden State
PG – Mario Chalmers Charles Jenkins
SG – James Jones Monta Ellis
SF – LeBron James Dorell Wright
PF – Chris Bosh David Lee
C – Joel Anthony Andris Biedrins
Scope the opposition: Get your Heat fix at the Heat Index.
Preview: The Golden State Warriors (2-6) will be hosting the defending Eastern Conference champions on Tuesday night when the Miami Heat (8-1) come to Oracle Arena.
The Heat are coming in with a three-game winning streak and just had LeBron James return to the lineup after missing a game last week against the Atlanta Hawks.
Miami is currently sporting the best offense in the league, scoring 108.3 points per game (best in the NBA) on 50.2 percent field goal shooting (tops in the league). Part of the reason that the Heat are so good at scoring efficiently is that they push the pace against opponents and attack the basket to the tune of 28.9 attempts at the rim per game (third most in the association).
A lot of those attempts at the basket come as result of the 19.4 turnovers (best in the NBA) that the Heat force each game because of the athletes that they have hanging around in passing lanes as well as their quick hands that swipe the ball away when opponents get inside the paint. Once Miami forces a miscue, they fly down the court and score 21.1 fast break points per game (second in the league).
In the half court, the Heat will look to drive to the basket and draw contact. Indeed, they attempt 27.4 free throws per game on average (fourth most in the association). Mind you, when the driving lanes are not there, they will go to Bosh on the low block and will also ask Wade (if available to play) and James on occasion to post up their defenders and get high percentage shots are draw in some attention and kick the ball out to open shooters on the Heat who are converting 37.6 percent of their 3-point tries (seventh in the NBA).
Consequently, it will be important for the Warriors who are coming into this contest with a five-game losing streak not to beat themselves.
The Dubs will have to limit their turnovers, take high percentage shots and crash the boards to prevent the Heat from leaking out into transition for easy baskets.
Also, Mark Jackson has not been shy when it comes to using the zone (he used it against Phoenix and the Lakers) and it’s a well-known fact that Miami has had issues scoring against it. Thus, it behooves the Dubs to go to the trick defense to help them gain a possible advantage.
In addition, the Warriors cannot be afraid to stick with the zone defense particularly if the tactic is successful. Against the Lakers, the Dubs used it and took the purple and gold out of their offense and forced them shoot from deep and miss; but then reverted back to their man-to-man defense and got carved on the interior by Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant post ups.
With that said, the best thing Golden State can do against Miami is simply make shots. Although it may sound like an oversimplification, the Heat are allowing teams to shoot 22.4 3-point attempts per game (second most in the NBA). Should the Warriors get hot from deep, it will open up the driving lanes of a stingy defense that typically makes it extremely difficult for teams to score against them in the paint.
Miami game notes: Last season, Chris Bosh averaged 18.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game on 54.2 percent field goal shooting.
Golden State game notes: Dorell Wright has struggled shooting the ball this season, but last year he averaged 21.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game on 44.4 percent field goal shooting and 45.5 percent shooting from 3-point range against the Heat (nothing like playing against one’s former team to boost a player’s confidence).
Questions or comments? Feel free to leave them in the comments section or you can contact me by email at [email protected].
Add the fact that the Warriors are undefeated at home gives Golden State Fans extra incentive to root for their team.
What??!! The Warriors are 2-3 at home this year, losing to the Cips, 76ers and Jazz, while beating the Bulls and Knicks.
Undefeated at home? we are 2-3 at home. Im confused