3. Stopping the drive
The Heat have an fairly versatile lineup, especially when Hassan Whiteside steps off the floor. Everybody can handle the ball, from Kelly Olynyk and James Johnson in the frontcourt to Dragic at the point.
In Monday night’s loss, that killed the Sixers. They struggled to contain the drive, allowing Miami to get into the teeth of the defense and find open shooters on the perimeter. The Heat also got to the rim and initiated contact, which worked to their advantage with how the game was officiated.
Part of the issue can be tied to rim protection, but a lot of it comes back to discipline. The Sixers looked rushed on the defensive end all night, and it ended up costing them several potential stops.
Miami, while not brimming with star talent, has a lineup full of players who are capable of generating their own offense and creating for others. That’s something the Sixers need to be wary of moving forward.