Heat to face small ball
Big men unlikely in lineups for next two games on road
MIAMI — Shortly after flexing its interior muscle, the Miami Heat are getting set for a pair of games against opponents who neutralize big men with smaller lineups.
The Heat play at the Washington Wizards today in the first of a back-to-back versus teams who are effective at small ball. On Monday, they return home and face the Indiana Pacers. The Heat have become accustomed to lining up against these types of lineups throughout the season, but the Pacers and Wizards use them more often than other teams.
“You’re seeing it every single night,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It’s just some teams do it a little bit more. I don’t know if we’ll see it as extreme as the last time we played Washington.”
The challenge comes just days after center Hassan Whiteside dominated in the Heat’s 106-82 victory against the Dallas Mavericks. Whiteside finished with 25 points and 19 rebounds but could have less of an impact during this road trip.
Whiteside didn’t seem concerned about the matchups.
“It just means more rebounds for me,” he said.
The Heat say the key is taking advantage when Whiteside is on the court against a smaller lineup. Although he is mostly known for shot-blocking and rebounding, he has shown at times he can score.
Even with an effective Whiteside, the Heat have struggled against smaller teams most of the season, especially against the Wizards and Pacers. They are 0-3 against them this season.
“There’s going to be times where we have to play Hassan,” guard Dwyane Wade said. “We’ve got to dominate in that. When they go to small ball, we have to make the adjustment. We just got to be better than we have been. We have the lineup that can play against those guys but we also can’t get away from our game.”
Both opponents are difficult for the Heat to defend because of the matchups. The Wizards were without forward Drew Gooden and center Marcin Gortat when the teams met Dec. 7 at AmericanAirlines Arena.
To make up for the lack of size, they used a quicker but smaller Jared Dudley (6-foot-7) on Heat forward Chris Bosh in their 114-103 victory. The Heat have a lineup combination to counter, but Spoelstra said they will also make the Wizards adjust, too.
“We feel that we have the versatility to play how we want to play no matter what the other team is doing,” Spoelstra said. “It’s who’s game can get to who, but versatility, we think, is one of our better strengths.”
Teams across the league have used playing small as a blueprint against the Heat. Four days after the Wizards game, the Pacers utilized a similar strategy in a 96-83 victory. Indiana played 6-6 C.J. Miles at power forward, creating yet more matchup issues.
Bosh said there is nothing the Heat can actually do to prepare for the lineups. It’s just a matter of adjusting on the fly.
“You kind of have to adapt and react,” Bosh said. “You can’t really come in with a game plan because some teams switch, some teams don’t. You have to be ready for a lot of switching, a lot of doubling on the post catch.”
srichardson@tribpub.com