Can Pistons Win 5th Straight in Miami?
By J.M. Poulard
Essentials
- Teams: Detroit Pistons (28-44) at Miami Heat (33-39)
- Date: March 29, 2015
- Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Television: FSD
Get in the Game
The Detroit Pistons are in South Florida tonight to take on the reigning Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat.
Granted, this iteration of the Heat looks nothing like the previous one that dominated the East over the course of the past four seasons. Heck, Miami barely looks like the same unit from opening night.
The Heat came into the 2014-15 campaign with postseason aspirations because the team believed that Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade could get them “in” with help from Josh McRoberts, Danny Granger, Luol Deng and Chris Andersen to name a few.
Well, Bosh won’t play another game this season (blood clots in lung), McRoberts is out for the year (knee), Danny Granger was traded away, Andersen’s missed 19 games and Deng no longer resembles the player that was a strong two-way performer for the Chicago Bulls in years past.
These challenges forced Miami to call up D-League players such as Henry Walker, Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Johnson. What’s more, the Heat also brought back Michael Beasley after he completed a stint in China.
Luckily, the front office was able to bring in Goran Dragic via trade to bolster the backcourt.
Still, Miami is relying on the likes of Whiteside, Walker and Beasley to save their season. Perhaps save is a strong word, but the Heat cannot compete for a postseason berth without them given the important roles they fill on the team.
Considering that Whiteside has missed the last two Heat contests (hand injury) and is questionable heading into tonight, that doesn’t bode well for Miami.
His absence was certainly felt in the Heat’s most recent contest, against the Atlanta Hawks. Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra started Dragic, Wade, Walker, Deng and Udonis Haslem, and the five-man unit wasn’t all that impressive truthfully.
The Hawks walled off the paint and dared the Heat to beat them from long range, a strategy that frustrated Spoelstra. Miami only converted 11-of-35 treys (31.4 percent). Here’s a quick breakdown of the three-point shooting:
- Walker: 4-for-11
- Wade: 3-for-5
- Mario Chalmers: 3-for-7
- James Ennis: 1-for-2
- Luol Deng: 0-for-4
- Goran Dragic: 0-for-3
Typically, teams that start small lineups accept the fact they will sacrifice defense in favor of better offense, but Miami got neither of which. The offense failed to space the floor, and the Heat’s wing players got mauled by the Hawks’ big people.
Paul Millsap and Al Horford combined for 36 points on 15-of-19 field-goal shooting. The tandem also generated 12 free-throw attempts.
Miami ultimately yielded 99 points on 51.4 percent shooting, while scoring a meager 86 points.
Should the Pistons expect a similar output?
That’s a tough call considering that Detroit doesn’t operate with the same defensive principles, nor does it swing the ball around like Atlanta.
With that said, if Whiteside (questionable) can’t go tonight, Miami might go small once again, and that should provide Detroit with a huge advantage on the glass.
I’m curious to see if Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy packs the paint or whether he opts to chase every player not named Wade or Dragic off the three-point line. Forcing poor ball-handlers to create off the bounce is a great way to manufacture turnovers.
In the case of Wade and Dragic, I’d allow them to fire from deep given how devastating the duo is inside the paint. Both are great finishers who draw fouls in the basket area. If Detroit allows them to waltz inside the lane and pile up free throws, the tandem will likely remove whatever interior advantage the Pistons have by sending the big people over to the bench with foul trouble.
I’m inclined to believe Detroit’s coaching staff will keep them out of the lane, and it will give the Pistons a shot at a win.
Read about the Heat