A two-day break between their Game 1 road losses on Sunday and the Game 2’s that await when three series resume Wednesday night – Charlotte is at Miami, Detroit goes back to Cleveland and Portland visits the Los Angeles Clippers – means the Hornets, Pistons and Trail Blazers all have ample time to make adjustments. Adding insult to injury (literally), starting shooting guard, Nicolas Batum, left Game 2 in the fourth quarter after stepping on Justise Winslow’s foot.
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In one of the more anticipated first round NBA Playoff series, one that was expected to be closely contested, it was thought that there was little separation in talent and ability between the Miami Heat and the Charlotte Hornets.
First of all, the odds of a team coming back to win the series after suffering a three-game losing streak are virtually non-existing in the playoffs.
The difference in 3-point shooting was a major factor in the Miami win.
“We didn’t lose the game because D-Will didn’t play”, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said.
If the first two games of the series with the Charlotte Hornets can be narrowed to a key difference, it’s making shots – and the Heat have indeed been the hot team.
The last time the Miami Heat were in the playoffs it was 2014 and the team fell in five games to the San Antnio Spurs in the NBA Finals.
Batum was also bothered by a sore left ankle toward the end of the regular season, as he sat out the regular-season finale with the injury. Only time will tell if the Hornets can turn this series around when they take the court in Time Warner Cable Arena; however, they have their work cut out for them, especially if Batum’s ankle sprain turns out to be serious. Miami has averaged 24.5 per game, third-most in the playoffs. He has continued to grow under the tutelage of the Heat, as he has quickly become one of the best centers in the National Basketball Association.
“All I know”, Spoelstra said, “is they’re an explosive 3-point shooting team”. Marvin Williams notched a goose egg for Game Two, going 0-10 from the field and 0-2 from the charity stripe. Whiteside added 13 rebounds and is now shooting 17 for 19 in his postseason series debut.
The Heat received a surprising contribution from Luol Deng in the Game #1 123-91 out of the Hornets.
Wade after the game said they’re not trying to be the Golden State Warriors; they don’t have the personnel for that. They’re playing easily and pace and have the Hornets looking entirely overwhelmed. He averaged career highs in points (14.9) and assists (5.8) this regular season. Oh, and for good measure, the victory would be the Heat’s sixth straight playoff win over Charlotte. “He’s a great player and he would help us”.
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Said McCollum: “We have had lapses and allowed them to get on runs….” The Hornets have not ruled Batum out for the series quite yet, but without him, it will be tough for the Hornets to prolong the series to the point that he feels good enough to play again. They can’t match Miami with experience or maturity, but they can certainly play their hearts out and try to seize some momentum from the Heat.
