2014 NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference First Round Breakdowns
By Shane Young
(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) Charlotte Bobcats
Miami: 54-28 overall, 32-9 at home, 21-20 away
Charlotte: 43-39 overall, 25-16 at home, 18-23 away
Season series: Heat won 4-0, Miami +10.5 in scoring margin
If there was a team to be alarming of heading into the postseason, it’s not the Pacers, who are on everyone’s bad side. It’s Miami, who haven’t been in a consistent groove since their superstar lit up the board for 61 points at home.
Yeah, yeah, that historic performance was a blowout over the Bobcats.
Since LeBron James’ scoring montage, the Heat have went 11-14 in their last 25 games, and basically handed Indiana the top seed on a silver platter. James and Bosh will head into Sunday’s Game 1 with six days of rest, as neither played in Miami’s final two games of the season.
As far as I’m concerned, 43 wins in the Eastern Conference may not be an incredible feat, but Steve Clifford has done a tremendous job at the coaching reigns in Charlotte and getting Michael Jordan back to the playoffs. Nobody is going as far as throwing him into Coach of the Year honors, and there’s one reason why.
Al Jefferson. Big Man Al. The one that should at least be acknowledged in the pack of MVP listings.
In his first year with the Bobcats, he was expected to cause commotion in an individual sense, seeing as how the league has been used to his talents in the post for nine previous seasons. What people didn’t anticipate, however, was Jefferson throwing together his best statistical season in six years, and for it to have a rejuvenating effect on the rest of Charlotte’s roster. Outside of Kemba Walker, mostly everyone within the organization had reason to throw in the towel when it came to developing playoff teams. It just wasn’t happening in the city anymore.
Of all eight playoff teams in the East, Charlotte has obtained the lowest turnover ratio, which is the number of turnovers a team averages per 100 of their own possessions. As up tempo and electric as you would picture point guard Kemba Walker, the team actually plays at the 9th slowest pace, revealing that Jefferson’s presence has completely changed the makeup of their offense. Without the bully in the middle or his patience in the post-up game, Charlotte could surely be running and gunning. Adding Gary Neal helps the guard aspect as well, and it may help them out for a game or two considering he has experience catching fire against Erik Spoelstra.
Dwyane Wade only played in two of the four meetings this season, and it’s not crazy to say Charlotte has a good recipe for defending the All-Star battling knee and hamstring risks. Wade’s most suitable attack is at the rim, forcing defenses to become unstable. The Bobcats do a better job of making Wade beat them with his mid-range capabilities when he’s on the floor, and we never know when that part of his game shows up. In the first of two appearances vs. Charlotte, Wade shot 1-of-7 from the floor and scored four points.
Where Charlotte runs into trouble is the most obvious answer on the planet. They have nobody to contain James, the four-time MVP. James is one of those handful of guys in the league that is virtually unstoppable, it’s just a matter of who can match what he brings and extend beyond that. In terms of who that consists of, the only viable option that can take it to James in a seven game series is Kevin Durant, and Charlotte will never have a player of his caliber under contract. James is going to give you a 30-point beat down in the East unless you’re Chicago, so the Bobcats’ 4th ranked defense (in points allowed) doesn’t mean much.
Charlotte is a group with some of the more impressive guard play in the East, so don’t get it twisted in believing Jefferson is the only reason they’re in this position. But they’re also doomed for defeat due to the same reason eight teams have fallen to the Heat in last two postseasons; too much star power at the beach, and the only way to stop a 250 pound truck is by fouling him.
Heat win series, 4-1
Shane Young is an NBA credentialed writer for 8 Points, 9 Seconds and HoopsHabit.com. For all Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers, or general NBA coverage, follow @YoungNBA and @HoopsHabit on Twitter. You can contact Shane via email: syoung@hoopshabit.com