In Game 3 the Cavs’ bench outscored Miami’s bench 52-18. The Cavs are just too deep. And they shifted their defensive approach in Game 3 with excellent results, holding the Heat to 79 points with 5:25 to go when Spo threw in the towel.
They were packing the paint. Something they haven’t really been doing all series so they kind’ve changed their scheme up. Kind’ve caught us off guard, couldn’t score, kind’ve rattled. - Davion Mitchell
The Heat won’t be “off guard” in Game 4 and for sure they won’t want to be swept, especially after losing by an embarrassing 37 points in Game 3. They will come out scrapping and Spo will have a plan to counter the Cavs’ paint packing on defense. They will be all in on winning Game 4 to save some face.
Miami is hitting 41% on 3’s this series and I expect them to take more 3’s in Game 4 since that is working for them. In Game 3 they were 16-for-42 on 2-point shots (possibly due to the Cavs’ paint packing) so that is definitely not working. The Heat are averaging 99.7 points per game and they can’t win without scoring more as the Cavs have scored 121-124 in each game. The Heat really need to shoot more 3’s and hope they get hot.
Their other problem offensively is they’re averaging 14.3 turnovers per game. The keys for them will be reducing the turnovers and taking more 3’s. Mitchell is 6-for-9 from deep. Highsmith is 7-for-12. Ware is 3-for-7. These guys should be shooting more 3’s, especially if the Cavs are focused on protecting the rim.
I assume Darius Garland will be out which was not a problem in Game 3.
Injury Report
CLEVELAND
Darius Garland - QUESTIONABLE (toe)
MIAMI
Kevin Love - OUT (personal reasons)
Terry Rozier - OUT (ankle)
Isaiah Stevens - OUT (foot)
Dru Smith - OUT (achilles)
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