Philadelphia 76ers intimidating Miami Heat’s intimidators

Bullies risk getting out-bullied

The Miami Heat is a very defensive and physical team. Knowing the team cannot match basket for basket against the Philadelphia 76ers, their playbook now runs on the “hack-a-sixer” scheme. In that second game, the Heat ramped up the physicality all over the basketball court. And they were happy to get called for fouls. Fouls slow down the game. Slow paced games give the Heat an advantage. It was a good, physical lesson for the Philadelphia 76ers. But the Miami Heat took it one step too far.

With the game decided, point guard Goran Dragic drove an uncontested layup for a score against the Philadlephia 76ers. Goran Dragic didn’t need to score last minute layup in game two, with their team well ahead. He did anyways.

But that was game two.  The Heat, believing they had bullied the Philadelphia 76ers, came with the mirror strategy in game three. So the question is, how well did it work for them in game three?