Defense in a zone, and its no gimmick

MIAMI – The Miami Heat have been here before, at the intersection of innovation and desperation.

So welcome back zone defense. No, this is not the preferred approach. And, yes, coach Erik Spoelstra insists it be played with the same vigor as when defending with the team’s man-to-man precepts. But lacking in both size and bodies, the Heat again explored the alternative avenue in Wednesday night’s 108-104 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center.

“Regardless of what the schematics are,” Spoelstra said, “you still have to make some plays.”

And players to make plays, with the return of long-limbed Derrick Jones Jr. up top and the mobile presence of Bam Adebayo along the baseline affording the Heat the speed and length to make the zone approach sustainable.

With it also helping when the opposition misses wide-open shots.

Still, just as the Heat opted to live with Ben Simmons from distance rather than being exposed to Joel Embiid at the rim, it is an alternative approach again set to be sprung.

“We had some groups out there that seemed to take a liking to the zone,” Spoelstra said, before turning his attention to Friday night’s game against the New York Knicks at American-Airlines Arena. “There’s an activity level, and obviously Derrick really helps with that.”

For Jones, it is as simple as into a comfort zone.

“I’ve been playing zone since I was eight years old,” he said. “So, I mean, I know how to play zone defense. And defense period, I know how to play well. I just use my length, my athleticism and my speed and deflect the ball, make tough passes so my teammates can get deflections and just do whatever I could do to be disruptive on the defensive end.”

The irony is that the Heat zone settling defense took off last season with Josh Richardson working alongside Jones at the top of the alignment. Wednesday night, the 76ers suffered their first home loss with Richardson mostly unable to beat the zone over the top, closing 3 of 10 on 3-pointers.

“It’s not easy as you think to beat a zone, to beat that one,” the former Heat swingman said. “It’s easy to start jacking up shots or get frustrated with your teammates, but you just have to stay together and attack it.”

While the Heat have gone zone previously this season, including earlier in the three-game trip that ended with Wednesday’s win, opponents now have a sizeable sample to scout.

Including the 76ers, who face the Heat in just over a week at AmericanAirlines Arena, Richardson’s first game back as an opponent.

“I give them credit,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said, “They sat in the zone and it’s unusual in the NBA.”