Slowing down pace of play a priority for Heat

MIAMI — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has always been about making the opposition adjust.

Through three games against the Philadelphia 76ers, the opposite has occurred. The Heat have been lured into the Sixers’ up-tempo style, leading to them trailing 2-1 in their best-of-7 series in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

“It’s clear the first game and the third game were played on their terms,” Spoelstra said. “We do not want this to be a crawl. Not that’s how we play either. But we certainly don’t want these crawling into 130s. That’s definitely in their wheelhouse. And we paid the price for that.”

The Heat ranked fourth in scoring defense during the regular season, allowing 102.9 points a game. They have given up an average of 120.3 against the Sixers. It is the secondhighest total of any team in the postseason, trailing only the Washington Wizards.

“We don’t want to be in shootouts with this team, so we got to find ways to be more physical and control their shooters and their scoring,” Heat forward Justise Winslow said.

The simplest solution is making more baskets to allow the defense more time to set up against the quicker and younger Sixers.

“I think make shots,” forward James Johnson said. “We’ve got to alleviate some of that pressure that’s on our offense. So many are trying to make inspiring plays on defense, sometimes we’ve just to take some pressure off and pack the paint.”

MICHAEL LAUGHLIN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Erik Spoelstra doesn’t want the Heat to play at the Sixers’ pace in Game 4. “We do not want this to be a crawl . ... We certainly don’t want these crawling into 130s,” he said.