For about 42 minutes in Game 2, the Brooklyn Nets had a chance, hanging with a Miami Heat team that appeared to be in a lull, content to trade baskets with an inferior opponent.
Then, as if someone had decided to turn up the gas on a barbecue, the Heat suddenly intensified thanks to a pair of triples from Mario Chalmers and Ray Allen. Miami ended up finishing the fourth quarter on a 15-5 run, completely burying the Nets.
The Heat are probably the only team in the NBA that flip the switch whenever they feel like it, but even so, to do it in the playoffs, against a team that is desperate to knock them down, is just plain impressive. It’s also indicative of the true talent difference between the clubs.
It seems that all Miami needs to do to completely overwhelm Brooklyn is bring their full talent to bear in a short burst. Their incredible 100-second possession with 3:27 to go is a perfect microcosm of just how much better they are.
It starts with the Heat running their patented side pick-and-pop to clear things out for LeBron James on the sideline. James takes an off-balance shot only to have Ray Allen swoop in front of Paul Pierce and grab a long offensive rebound. The ball gets back to James in just about the same spot and he takes an even tougher turn-around. He misses again, but again it doesn’t matter. Dwyane Wade manages to tip it out and Mario Chalmers corrals the ball to reset the shot clock again. Miami gets James the ball at the top of the key and he misses a layup on a straight-line drive. Wade again fights to keep alive and Chris Bosh grabs the ball. The Heat finally score thanks to a very smart slip of the screen from James for an uncontested lay-in.
Three offensive rebounds, all a result of the combination of great Miami hustle and laziness on the part of the Nets. Making the sequence even more impressive is the fact the Heat were the only team in the league who pulled down less rebounds than Brooklyn this season. Miami ranked dead last in offensive rebounding and even though the Nets were third-worst on the defensive glass, that doesn’t mean they be excused for allowing the Heat three extra possessions.
Any fight that had been left in the Nets was obliterated in those 100 seconds and, going forward, seeing Miami flip the switch and beat them soundly will likely have lengthy and demoralizing psychological reprecussions.
D-Will’s no-show
Of course, things may also have been different had the Nets’ $100-million man, Deron Williams, played anything like Deron Williams.
For the first time in 702 games—a span that includes his entire playoff career—Williams didn’t score a single point, going 0-for-9 from the field and not attempting a single free throw.
Full credit goes to the Heat’s defence for keying in on him and contesting at the rim without fouling, but when you’re the franchise guy, even if you’re having an off night, you have to force the issue to try to get yourself going.
Williams may have realized he didn’t have it going after nine shots, but that doesn’t mean he should’ve stopped shooting. Polarizing Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook gets a lot of flak for shooting when he’s off, but he at least still has the gumption and competitive fire to put the onus himself when he feels his team is struggling.
Williams has different temperament than Westbrook, but he could stand to learn a thing or two from the OKC star where competitive drive is concerned.
Blazers have no hope
Down by 20 for most of the game, the Portland Trail Blazers got within eight points with 5:37 to play after a big Nicolas Batum three-pointer, but would end losing by 17 thanks to a 15-6 closing run by San Antonio sparked by a Boris Diaw three that immediately answered Batum’s clutch basket.
Batum’s three was as close the Blazers got to beating the Spurs in Game 2, and with the way this series is turning out, Portland might have a better chance charming a snake than beating the Spurs—even with the series shifting back to their raucous home gym for the next two games.
Tiago Splitter’s defensive dominance over LaMarcus Aldridge continued in Game 2, the Spurs’ bench was just as impressive (and could be even more dangerous in Game 3 because both Manu Ginobili and Marco Belinelli had it going) and Kawhi Leonard finally looked every bit the star he’s projected to become in the future.
San Antonio is simply outplaying Portland in every facet of the game right now. It’ll take a lot more than the brief stint of sloppy play the Spurs showed in the fourth quarter last night for the Blazers to eek out even one victory in this series.