***
HANG TIME TEXAS – You’d think that one thing the Heat would have figured out over the extended off-season is how to play against a zone defense.
After all, wasn’t that what the Mavericks used to twist Miami’s star-studded lineup into pretzel knots and change the entire series last June in The Finals?
But here we are, one game into the New Year of 2012 – the Final Year, if your calendar was made by Mayans – and Heat looked like they’re right back to square one, taking their first loss of the season against the Hawks, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com:
Right now, the Heat have a problem with zone defense and the whole league is about to realize it.
The Dallas Mavericks used it effectively in the Finals against them last June, though the champs seemed to forget that strategy in the Christmas Day opener. But the Boston Celtics, a team that virtually never goes to zone, nearly pulled off a second-half comeback last week using it until they were upended by an unexpected shooting performance by Heat rookie Norris Cole.
The Charlotte Bobcats and Minnesota Timberwolves, for some reason, decided not to pick up where the Celtics left off and barely showed it to the Heat over the next three games. The Hawks, however, did not make the same mistake. With two days to prepare for their first shot at their major division rival, they didn’t miss the chance.
Atlanta deployed the zone from the first quarter onward, mixing it in effectively throughout the game. The result was the worst offensive output of the season for Miami, reducing them from the speedy juggernaut they had fashioned themselves lately to shades of the unsteady and trustless play that plagued them at times last season.
“Inevitably, we’re going to see it quite a bit from here,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra conceded after the game. “What was disappointing was it affected us and our concentration.”
Aside from Windhorst’s review of the Heat’s woes against the zone, the Heat’s own website took a crack at explaining how Cole played a key role in breaking up the Celtics’ zone last week.
Still, wasn’t part of the whole recalibration of the Heat for 2011-12 supposed to be a better understanding of how to execute and play different styles against different teams? We know it was a short training camp for all teams, but couldn’t Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh met in somebody’s ultra-luxe driveway to talk about spacing, moving the ball and attacking the basket?
So what have we learned 10 days into the new season?
- That if you’re the rest of the NBA and you let Wade, James and Bosh cruise up and down the floor like they’re in the HOV lane, we might as well pack up the Larry O’Brien Trophy and ship it to Miami now.
- That if you’re the Heat and see a zone defense, apparently nothing.
Europe league are used to play zone game. The zone it´s relative new to NBA. As a matter of fact that Heat has been in problems with that.
I´m not sure if coach Pat Raly could be the request by players wanted but it could be possible. Do you remember 2006 change coach? Well, that was the answer but now I´m not sure if today that could be the answer as well.
But if you are a heat fan you should support them until the end.
Internal problems?
You can´t keep the fire on along the whole season.
The Hawks just got lucky. They caught the Heat off-guard. Yes, I am a Heat fan. No, I don’t care whatever you think about the Heat or their fans. The fact is, the Heat are good, scary good. I love how Wade and LeBron are both staying away from threes this season. It’s doing wonders for the FG%.
Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/theyplayinNBA
Oh right it was the zone d that shut them down. McGrady coming alive to hit 3-3 in the 4th had nothing to do with it…
The Heat has a great team no doubt! Having said that, you can’t give Altlanta credit for beating them! You’re stating that they were lucky, and caught the Heat off guard? Wow! Unbelievable!
In playoffs the heat fans should wear red t-shirt at the American Airline Arena INFERNO!!!!
the heats are a bunch of cave men who can’t adapt to anything thats not a clear line of sight from one rim to the other, the moment u place something in their way with more then one man, they get lost, thats mavs did it last year and they got stupid lost, the other last week BOSTON did it and they lost that 15+ lead and got lost and dumb founded, and can somebody please tell me what happen to this post game lebron picked up over the off season, i mean rondo was on him and they didn’t even throw the ball his way, says alot about how they trust that b.s post skills anyway the heat aint going no further then they did last year
The Heat is a very good team,but that doen’t mean they are unbeatable.Don’t try to make more excuses they lose against to a good team too. Honestly I don’t think they are going to be champions.Sorry heat fans ( I know is to early for predictions) ,but we will see a lot of injuries all because this crazy schedule; anyway good luck!
You know, I have to say this article made me laugh. First, you automatically state the Heat are in trouble because of one loss to a GOOD team, which leads me to the second point. Second, you take credit away from the Atlanta Hawks, because even though the zone can work, it is only truly effective when applied correctly, and the players are knowing their role, and the Hawks did. I see this Hawks team going maybe not to the Finals, but getting far in the playoffs. Third, you say that if Miami sees the zone, they won’t win a championship? that’s absurd even if they don’t adapt to the zone (which I think they will). Fourth, the zone is a hard defense to play against if you have the right guys, and very hard to score against.
Soo T-Mac hitting threes did not contribute to the loss ? So turnovers and the Hawks beating the Heat at their own game (fast break points) had nothing to do with it? No it was all because of the zone defense. Of course. The Heat struggle with zone but that is not the only reason they lost.
No team in the NBA history finished the season without a loss.. Every team will have a loss that’s for sure… Don’t panic heat fan’s that’s our only first loss, the defending champions Dallas Mavericks have 4 losses already and 16 time Champions LA Lakers have 3 and 17 time champions have 3 also.. Erik Spoelstra should make a plan about that “zone defense” and i’m sure he will..
Miami is one of the best team when it comes to offense. They can clearly dominate the whole game with scoring because of James and Wade. These guys are one of the best in the NBA. But the problem is, these two guys have the same weakness and as well as their team. I think, when it comes to this type of play, they need to improve themselves. I don’t know much about with it, so I guess, it’s up for their coach to do what must needed to be done
well said king james…Eric is goin to make adjustments to play against zone defense!!
People don’t worry. This is a regular season game. Once the playoffs start, we will see who is the best.
That’s right like last year heat defeated Celtics and Bulls all in 5 games but in regular season heat have 1-6 record to both of them.. I hope they repeat that this year and finally win their 2nd Championship and 1st for LeBron and Bosh.. Go HEAT