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The Miami Heat represent a new challenge to the Los Angeles Lakers’ defensive versatility, one that will require a new strategy and a new adaptation.
The Los Angeles Lakers will face the Miami Heat in the upcoming NBA Finals.
Coming from a conference where they had to battle teams led by ball-dominant superstar point guards, this time they find themselves up against an opponent who is not heavily reliant on a single player, much less a point guard.
The Heat have a roster of six players averaging double figures in the postseason, none of them more than 20 points. Also, four of them have four assists per game. Rarely have we seen such a balanced team reach the final. But that’s what Miami is all about. Culture, hard work, collectivity.
Damian Lillard. James Harden. Jamal Murray. These are among the top point guards in the league and are what the Lakers had to build their defensive strategy so far. Perhaps with the sole exception of the Denver Nuggets, who also rely heavily on Nikola Jokic, the main task of the Los Angeles defense was to stop (or at least limit) those players in their offensive role. The rest would come accordingly.
Now, the plan and the mentality of Los Angeles will have to change drastically, as they will not be able to focus their defense on one player to try to stop the entire offense, but will have to prepare to play against a team without a clear scorer leader or creator of game on the list. He’s a different player every night for the Heat. From Tyler Herro’s historic rookie night to Goran Dragic’s rejuvenation.
If Alex Caruso has been hailed as the Lakers’ best player for containing some of the league’s unstoppable point guards, this time it will be a team effort. Everyone is responsible for their man, potentially the best player on the opposing team night after night. It will not be possible to take into account the double team.
Miami represents a unique challenge for purple and gold, as they score almost equally on their attempt points on and off the arc. This reinforces the idea that there will be no special emphasis on the defensive plan.
Everyone will have to do their job very carefully. Anthony Davis, JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard patrol the area and anchor the defense, the others on the perimeter. Anyway, Jimmy Butler and company. They’re not overly scary three-point shooting team, and it comes to the Lakers’ favor with a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in the paint for long stretches of the game.
Additionally, LA has proven to be extremely proficient in fast and accurate rotations, a great help against a fair lineup, and zone defenses could also be helpful. Turning on screens is a must.
Once again, the Los Angeles Lakers will have to show their versatility in their midfield, trying to make defense, for the last time this season, their most dangerous weapon.
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