Thursday, April 14, 2011
Posted: 1:08 p.m.
By Marc Zumoff
CSNPhilly.com Contributor
Be careful what you wish for. Oh, some of you wanted the Boston Celtics, the presumed older and lesser of the poison pickings. But some of you wanted LeBron and South Beach so you could be part of that glitter package.
So if you wanted Miami, well, you got em now. The last time the Sixers tried to beat the Heat, something they failed to do in three regular season games, Dwyane Wade put up staggering numbers: 39 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, five blocks, three steals, two turnovers in 41 minutes. And, when Miami actually doubled the Sixers scoring in the fourth quarter, Wades left wing pick-and-roll-act with LeBron James proved unstoppable. LeBron added 32 and Chris Bosh scored 20 for a 91-point total from The Three Amigos.
Led by associate head coach Michael Curry, the Sixers will try to figure this out on the defensive end. The Sixers have consistently been in the upper echelon of defensive teams all year, with perhaps only a rugged rim protector away from being in the top five. Unfortunately, its to the rim that Wade and James love to head, finishing as few others can or hoping the likes of Mike Bibby, Mike Miller, James Jones and Eddie House can accept one of their passes and hit a three.
One NBA assistant coach suggests sending Wade and James consistently to their left while all hands remain on deck to hopefully show them a crowd. James, he said, loves to go all the way to the rim when going right, while preferring a jumper if forced left. If LeBron starts missing those jumpers, he might get frustrated. End of the game, the coach continued, its pick-and-roll time with Wade and House, hoping to get a small guard to switch on Wade or free up House for three.
Then theres Bosh, who has been trying to get deeper post ups in recent games. If that remains the case, can Elton Brand use his physicality to force Bosh into jumpers? And, on the offensive end, can Brandwho was the Sixers MVP this past seasonimprove upon his 10.6 ppg average in the three games against Miami?
NBA
You want more questions? We got em.
Andre Iguodola (right knee) and Lou Williams (right hamstring) are both struggling with injuries. How healthy will they be? Can Iguodola make his postseason mark with his defense on James? Can Williams be counted on for just a few trivial things like one-on-one scoring, ball handling, leadership and perhaps the need to defend in the guts of the game, all with a bad right wheel?
My two key players for the Sixers: Jrue Holiday and Spencer Hawes.
Holiday probably wont be guarding Wade, leaving that duty to Jodie Meeks, perhaps Evan Turner and maybe in an emergency, Antonio Daniels. But Holiday will be covered by Mike Bibby, who plays every bit of his almost 33 years of age at the defensive end. This would appear to offer an advantage to the 20-year-old, second-year guard provided he plays within himself. For example, if he commits live ball turnovers allowing Heat run outs, you might as well chalk up two.
As for Hawes, well, he could figure on both ends. He and Brand need to communicate and cover the paint, Miamis coveted stomping grounds. And on the offensive end, Doug Collins will look to find holes for him as he did when the seven-footer helped beat the Bulls in Chicago late last month with 14 points and some big buckets down the stretch.
Did I just say beat the Bulls in Chicago? Wasnt that Chicagos only loss in their last 14 games? The Bulls only home loss from Jan. 18 to the end of the season? Didnt the Bulls finish with the best record in the NBA, and the Sixers beat them?
Can the Sixers do the same in Miami?
Just once?
E-mail Marc Zumoff at mzumoff@comcastsportsnet.com
Related: Sixers-Heat: a matchup of complete oppositesSixers to open playoffs vs. Heat on Saturday