Miami Heat Struggles: Celtics Dominate with Three-Point Barrage
The Miami Heat faced an uphill battle in Boston, competing without four key players who had logged significant minutes this season. Coming off a back-to-back, they entered the game hoping to secure what many deemed a winnable contest. However, a tumultuous fourth quarter dashed their comeback hopes, leaving fans and players alike searching for answers.
Challenges at the Rim
Throughout the game, the Heat encountered a Celtics defense meticulously designed to exploit their weaknesses. Prioritizing rim protection, the Celtics allowed Miami to take shots from beyond the arc, leading to an unusual offensive strategy for the Heat. They unleashed a barrage of three-point attempts, taking 45 percent of their shots from distance, significantly above their season average.
Despite this high volume, several Heat players struggled from deep. Jaime Jaquez Jr. managed to sink only one of five attempts, Dru Smith was a disappointing zero for four, and Norman Powell’s shooting woes continued as he hit just one of eleven. Nevertheless, the Heat still managed a respectable 38 percent from three-point range, buoyed by Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis, and Simone Fontecchio, who combined for a commendable 15 of 24 from beyond the arc.
The real issue lay in their performance near the basket. The Heat’s frequency of shots at the rim ranked in the 21st percentile, and they converted a mere 45 percent of those attempts, placing them in the second percentile for effectiveness. While they attempted numerous shots in the paint, making only 33 percent of those looks compounded their struggles. To add insult to injury, Miami’s free-throw shooting faltered, with a dismal 70.8 percent accuracy—the worst in the league. Overall, the Heat failed to capitalize on traditionally easier scoring opportunities, while the Celtics executed their defensive game plan with precision.
Celtics’ Three-Point Onslaught
The Celtics, known for their prolific three-point shooting, showcased their firepower on Friday night. Hitting half of their three-point attempts, they maintained their usual volume throughout the game. The strategy involved targeting Miami’s defenders, particularly Ware and Jakučionis, to exploit matchup advantages. Ware fared decently in terms of technical execution, but his physicality often drew the attention of more skilled guards and wings, exposing potential mismatches.
Jakučionis demonstrated defensive versatility, particularly against Jaylen Brown, effectively limiting his ability to create separation in the paint. Despite this, Brown managed to shoot 50 percent from the field, contributing seven assists to his five turnovers—a reflection of the Heat’s persistent pressure on him whenever he held the ball.
However, the most damaging phase of the game occurred late in the third quarter and into the fourth. A lineup featuring Smith, Jaquez, Myron Gardner, Fontecchio, and Adebayo found themselves outscored by ten points during a critical stretch, as the Celtics erupted from three-point range. They recorded ten threes in the final quarter alone, with Sam Hauser making four of five attempts. Derrick White and Brown each added two, while Anfernee Simons and Hugo Gonzalez chipped in with one apiece. The Celtics finished the fourth with an astonishing offensive rating of 168, a stark contrast to the first half where Miami had managed to hold them to a modest 111.55 offensive rating.
Defensive Breakdown
In the second half, defensive lapses on the perimeter opened the door for the Celtics’ sharpshooters, with nearly all rotation players posing a threat from three-point range. The Celtics posted an offensive efficiency of 148 points per 100 possessions in this stretch, undermining Miami’s earlier efforts to stifle their scoring.
Conversely, the Celtics thrived at the rim, converting an impressive 77 percent of their shots in the restricted area and 60 percent from the short mid-range.
Bright Spots for the Heat
Despite the loss, there were glimmers of hope for the Heat, particularly in the performances of their promising young players, Ware and Jakučionis. Against a formidable opponent, both stood out, especially in rebounding. The Celtics, struggling with defensive boards, were no match for the Heat’s tenacity. Ware and Jakučionis combined for ten offensive rebounds, with Adebayo contributing four of his own. The Heat finished the game with 17 offensive rebounds, a striking figure compared to Boston’s six, leading to 24 second-chance points against the Celtics’ 11. Miami also managed to take 20 more field-goal attempts than their opponents.
In his first start and extended minutes in a regular-season game, Jakučionis made an impact, posting 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists with just one turnover. His performance mirrored the promise he displayed during the Summer League, preseason, and G League, suggesting a bright future for the 20th overall pick.
As the Heat grapple with the challenges of injuries and inconsistent shooting, the emergence of young talent provides a silver lining, offering a glimpse into a hopeful future amidst a difficult present.
