Following a strong showing in Game 5, the Miami Heat need Duncan Robinson to carry his newfound momentum into a do-or-die Game 6.
After shooting an astounding 44.6 percent from 3-point territory in the regular season for the Miami Heat, Duncan Robinson has failed to maintain that stroke in the postseason.
Robinson’s round-by-round 3-point percentages in the NBA playoffs are all over the place, listed at 44.2, 27.5, and 37.9. He continued the trend with an unimpressive 27.2 percent from behind the arc throughout the first four games of the NBA Finals, desperately needing a breakout game.
Heading into a win-or-go-home Game 5 Friday night, the sharpshooter did just that as he broke out of his slump emphatically. After connecting on a combined eight 3-pointers in that four-game stretch, the 26-year-old went 7-for-13 from deep, finishing the game with 26 points.
In part to Robinson, the Heat survived a vintage LeBron James closeout game with a 111-108 victory and assured they are not done just yet as they now trail 3-2 in the series.
After the game, Jimmy Butler, who put together a herculean effort of his own in the win, detailed a conversation he and Robinson previously had after his struggles persisted following Game 2. Transcribed by the Los Angeles Times:
"“Stop running from the basketball,” he told him. “Can’t shoot the ball if you don’t have the ball. I think he gets lost in trying to get other people open, when everybody is going to react to him probably more so than they’re going to react to me. A three is worth more than a two.“So as long as he’s coming to the ball, shooting the ball when he’s open, when he’s not open, that’s the Duncan Robinson that we need, that we want, because that’s how he’s been playing all year long. And we’re going to need him to be even more aggressive for Game 6.”"
Other teammates also praised Robinson’s play after a valiant effort in Game 5, saying that his aggressiveness is the key to his success.
"“Every time he shoots, we feel like it’s going in,” Tyler Herro said. “We want him to be aggressive. We want him to continue to shoot balls almost every time he touches it. We want him to continue to shoot the ball and make sure his confidence is high.”"
If the Miami Heat plan on keeping their season alive facing another elimination game on Sunday, they need Duncan Robinson to have another stellar outing.
His 3-point prowess is a game-changer, and while he might not come out and hit seven threes or finish the game with 26 points again, another strong effort from Robinson is crucial. In his own words, he needs to be more persistent offensively.
Although Tyler Herro has picked up some of the slack and Jimmy Butler has been playing out of his mind, the Heat need more against the top-heavy Los Angeles Lakers to stay afloat. Robinson proved in Game 5 that he can be an X-factor, and they will need him to do the same in a must-win Game 6 on Sunday.
Part of Robinson’s success Friday night undoubtedly stemmed from the Lakers’ sloppy defense, which they will look to clean up heading into Game 6. Expect an improvised plan to contain Robinson defensively and also expect the Heat to get their sharpshooter more involved offensively. If the 26-year-old can put together another lights-out performance on Sunday, Miami might be able to push this series further once more.
It is crazy to think that a former undrafted Division III athlete is one of the most crucial players in the NBA Finals, but that is exactly what Duncan Robinson is for the Miami Heat.