After dropping Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals, the Miami Heat have some work to do as they prepare for Game 2. In recapping the first game, the defending champions have a lot to fix, but for Chris Bosh it’s simple: DEFENSE.
Bosh is right.
In Game 1 the Heat allowed all five Pacers starters to score 10 or more points and gave up several open jump shots. In fact, according to SportsVU, the Indiana Pacers shot 12-of-21 (57.1%) on uncontested shots. Most of the Heat’s issues came in the first quarter where they were outscored 30-24. In the period, George Hill would score 11 points (3-3 from three) and the Pacers as a whole would shoot 5-of-6 from three.
For the Heat to win, defense will have to match their offensive output, and even that wasn’t as sharp as it could be, at least when comparing to what they’ve done in the past. It starts from the top player in Lebron James (he had a rough outing that seems to link to him playing power forward for majority of the game) to whomever is last off the bench.
Losing Game 1 isn’t the end-all for Miami as they’ve come back from after dropping the first game plenty of times, but if they continue the defensive play that was displayed, their attempt to three-peat as NBA championships won’t happen.