Coup’s Takeaways: HEAT Can’t Get Over the Hump as Clippers Hold Off Multiple Runs

How you do it doesn’t really matter at this point. The HEAT just need to find wins.

The Clippers came in on the second night of a back-to-back with both Kawhi Leonard and Norm Powell unavailable, but with James Harden running the show they were operating at a high offensive level from the jump.

Ivica Zubac was Harden’s target of choice early on, the Clippers jumping out to a double-digit lead in the first quarter. The HEAT were shooting well, Duncan Robinson making three from the arc in a matter of minutes, but every time they inched closer the Clippers would find their way into the paint, with the drive or the pass, and stretch out just a little bit more.

Midway through the second quarter Pelle Larsson dove on the floor and after an elongated skirmish was able to deliver the ball to Terry Rozier for a three. The Clippers immediately responded with a 7-0 run out of a timeout, but Miami stayed attached through the rest of the half, using timed and timely double teams on Zubac and Harden to generate turnovers (11 for the Clippers) that went the other way for points.

Only 57-52 at the break despite the visitors hovering around an Offensive Rating of 120, plenty of things to clean up defensively on Miami’s part.

Kel’el Ware did not start the second half, Haywood Highsmith in his place, as the Clippers again pushed their lead out to 11, working inside and out, as Erik Spoelstra called the first timeout of the half. Then another crucial live-ball turnover, another three, and Miami was back within four. Miami’s offense was generating some consistency thanks to Andrew Wiggins and Tyler Herro attacks, but the lead was right back to double digits a minute later anyway, the same story told once again.

Then another quick 5-0 burst from the HEAT, another three – this time from Herro, his first of the game – and another pick-six turnover. The Clippers had 13 turnovers at that point and 12 of them had been of the live-ball variety.

HEAT had a chance to cut it to one, but a costly turnover and a Harden-generated corner three pushed it back to eight by the end of the third, important minutes with Harden on the bench upcoming.

It wasn’t the best sign that the Clippers were extending the lead without Harden even as Miami had both Herro and Bam Adebayo on the floor, Miami going cold as the Clippers made their corner triples and Bogdan Bogdanovic stuck his pullups. Midway through the fourth, the deficit was 17.

There was a chance thanks to threes from Herro, Robinson and Larsson, but it was only a glimmer

One of the more under-discussed aspects to the season the HEAT are having is that they really haven’t forced many turnovers – No. 21 in opponent turnover percentage coming into this game – relative to their over-arching philosophy of being aggressive and disruptive.

If there is a silver lining tonight, then, it’s that the disruptive portion of the defense was exactly what it needed to be. The Clippers committed 16 turnovers and 14 of those were HEAT steals, a solid chunk of those directly turning into points as Miami outscored LA 20-4 in transition. Yes, the Clippers were somewhat limited in their offensive creators tonight and were on a back-to-back, items we would point out if Miami had a tough turnover night, but so much of it was clearly intentional on the HEAT’s side, those turnovers coming from players shooting through the passing lanes as Miami brought double after double – some early, some late – to get the Clippers playing off their back heel.

The problem, then, was that whenever the defensive possession didn’t end in a turnover Miami just wasn’t getting stops, the Clippers passing into good looks and making 13-of-27 threes along the way for a 128.6 Offensive Rating. And then when Miami didn’t double and didn’t speed the possession up, Harden (24 points on 20 shots) was getting by his defenders, Zubac (26 points on 16 shots) was scoring in the post and Bogdanovic (30 points on 16 shots) hit the dribble jumpers late that ended the HEAT’s chances for good.

Nice to see one important piece of Miami’s approach come roaring back and give them a chance, there was just too much to cover elsewhere.

A less than ideal night in the standings as Atlanta beat Charlotte to extend their winning streak to four as Miami’s reached five. The Hawks now sit in the No. 7 spot 2.5 games up on Miami – the HEAT are 7.5 back of No. 6 Detroit now, which is getting real close to being out of reach – as the HEAT now sit tied in the loss column with No. 8 Orlando.

The HEAT are still 6.5 up on the No. 11 spot, currently Toronto, but as of today they’re facing a very real possibility of having to go on the road for a Play-In game or, if they stay No. 9, having to win two games to get into the playoffs. Keep in mind, too, that Miami is playing for more than this season from a certain point of view. This isn’t something the coaches and players are thinking about, it’s all about the on-court work with them, but if Miami misses the postseason with a loss in the Play-In Tournament, they will regain their First Round pick for this season while two of their next three First Round picks – owed to Oklahoma City and Charlotte – would become completely unprotected as a result due to a semi-complicated intersection of league rules. It’s a complicated situation, but as the Play-In Tournament is quickly coming into focus it’s one that must be considered.

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By ML Staff. Courtesy of NBA.