Going with Plan ‘D’ The Heat soon will be able to field a lineup of primary defenders. Can it work in today’s high-scoring NBA?
IAMI — Friday’s practice at AmericanAirlines Arena. “Just being able to have that dynamic of versatile guys defensively and guys that can switch and flatten out their offense will definitely help.
“But we have to be able to guard collectively as a group, no matter what five is out there, so I love all my teammates. That lineup sounds like a lot of fun, but we’ve got to go with what Coach gives us with the five guys out there.”
With the early-season emergence of McGruder, the Heat find themselves with the ability to field junkyard dogs, so to speak, at four perimeter positions.
“It’s just all about technique,” Johnson said of defending in this season’s tighter-officiated NBA. “You have to really defend your craft now. It’s more hands off and sliding. You can’t be as ‘junky’ as you want to say, but, at the same time, if you’re protecting your craft and your technique, then you can still get into the guy, you can still chest and shoulder guys and you can still be physical.”
The ultimate defensive ensemble remains on hold, with Johnson working his way back from May hernia surgery and with Winslow dealing with a balky hamstring, but it is an intriguing option for a team that has preached defense first since Pat Riley’s arrival as franchise steward in 1995.
“We are the Miami Heat. So those foundational pillars that we have won’t change, even though some of the ways that we get to doing those pillars will be different from year to year, from decade to decade,” Spoelstra said as the team prepared for Saturday’s visit by the Portland Trail Blazers. “But in terms of emphasis on the defensive side and understanding how important that is to win in this league will always be at the top of the list.
“The league is evolving, with 3-point shooting and pace. We just have to find ways to continue to be able to defend and make it tough on teams. And I like some of the things we’ve been doing defensively.”
If there is to be an alldefensive Heat lineup, don’t expect Spoelstra give it a nickname.
“I learned this from Pat, too,” he said. “We don’t like to call lineups or guys ‘defensive’ specific. You’re out there and you’re playing in a Miami Heat uniform, you’re expected to defend.”
And that’s also a difference in the alignment possibility. Not only has Richardson upgraded his offensive game, but so has McGruder. Then there is Winslow’s uptick on 3-point shooting.
“I think we’ve got enough guys that can score in that group,” Richardson said.
With Johnson back on the practice court, and with Winslow back to speed, Richardson said there has been a tangible difference defensively during scrimmages. Next, he said, will be the opportunity to turn that grit against the opposition.
“Practice now has been awesome,” he said. “It definitely picks up the intensity.” to