Heat vs. Pacers: Miami's Three-Point Shooting Is the Problem vs. Indiana
LeBron James vs. Roy Hibbert has taken on a life of its own after Hibbert's Indiana Pacers evened the series against James' Miami Heat on Tuesday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The reality is, despite all the talk of Hibbert's impact on LeBron in the series, LeBron is still averaging 28.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.0 steals through four games in the Eastern Conference finals. LeBron isn't the main problem in the series, and Hibbert hasn't been the main reason why the Pacers have evened it up.
The main problem for the Heat?
Their three-point shooting.
The Heat shot 39.6 percent from beyond the arc in the regular season, good for second in the NBA and first in the Eastern Conference. That included shooting 39.6 percent from downtown in three regular-season games against the Pacers.
Against the Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, that advantage has deteriorated.
Miami is shooting 33.8 percent from beyond the arc this series. Shane Battier is 2-of-13. Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole have gone a combined 4-of-13. And Mr. Ray Allen himself has gone 5-of-17.
Allen's struggles from three-point land are particularly troubling for the Heat. Miami signed the historic sharpshooter to precisely knock it down from deep. But since the first round, Allen has gone 9-of-34 from beyond the arc.
More specifically, Allen has gone 2-of-14 from left-center during the playoffs, despite shooting 38.5 percent from the area during the regular season, via NBA.com.
On top of that, the Pacers are basically daring the Heat to beat them from downtown by double-teaming LeBron in the post. As ESPN Stats & Information noted, LeBron was double-teamed on three of his six post-ups in Miami's 99-92 loss.
ESPN Stats & Information also highlights the fact that LeBron has passed 11 times in his 18 drives to the hoop with Hibbert on the floor. That doesn't have to be a bad thing. If the Heat were shooting the way they were in the regular season, the Pacers would be getting lit up.
It's natural to focus on two beasts in LeBron and Hibbert, but, the reality is, basketball is a team game. James' teammates are letting him down. That includes the NBA record-holder for career three pointers.
