And one, more than three for the Heat, in this Eastern Conference semi-final! At the end of a contested match, as one might expect, in an obviously boiling Madison Square Garden, once again, the players of miami effectively regained home advantage in this first match, against the Knicks.
A victory gained in the second period, after a complicated first period in attack (38%) but at the end of which Erik Spoelstra’s men were only 5 points behind, all things considered. A rise in offensive power (58 points at 49%), combined with a big drop in the defense of new York indeed allowed the Heat to reverse the “momentum” after the break.
Miami’s exterior address proved to be the decisive factor (13 winning shots), facing, conversely, the absolutely lunar clumsiness of New York in this exercise (7/34!!!).
The Heat now have an opportunity to take the break from Game 2, still at Madison Square Garden. The time is clearly not yet for panic for the Knicks, but they are in any case warned: the Florida club is a highly superior adversity to that proposed by Cleveland, in the first round…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Knicks bankruptcy behind the arc. Complicated, if not impossible, to win a playoff game with 7/34 behind the arc, even with home advantage. Worst team in the first round when it comes to outside address, the Knicks actually hit rock bottom in this drill in Game 1, and it’s worrying knowing that the Heat, who finished their first round at 45% success behind the arc, is in great confidence at this distance. To be corrected urgently, in which case their chances of surviving in this series will very quickly melt like snow in the sun.
– “Reality check” for Mitchell Robinson. Monstrous in the first round against the pair of Evan Mobley – Jarrett Allen interiors who were far too inexperienced and physically tender, the New York pivot, like his team collectively, understood that the Heat were a completely different animal in the playoffs. In particular with regard to his duel against Bam Adebayo, who was sober but very effective (16 points at 7/12, 7 rebounds and 2 assists). As usual, “Mitch” dominated the rebound (14 takes, including 5 offensive), but he suffered in defense against his Miami counterpart, who thwarted his verticality in the paint, leaving “pick-and- roll”.
– The warrior Jimmy Butler. Rather well defended by the Knicks throughout the game, the Heat winger still had 23 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals five minutes from the end of the game. Moment when all of Florida held its breath, because “Jimmy Buckets” suddenly turned his right ankle on a “drive” towards the circle. After several minutes in agony on the bench during a time-out, the Heat boss finally came back to finish the game. Indestructible.
TOPS & FLOPS
✅ Gabe Vincent and Kyle Lowry. If Jalen Brunson, despite a big clumsiness, had a good game, there was not really a photo: the two leaders of the Heat dominated the battle of the “backcourt”, in this Game 1, compiling 38 points and 11 assists . Unexpected, but not so surprising after all, when you know the mentality of this Miami team, never stronger than when you don’t expect it.
✅ RJ Barrett. After a good first round against Cleveland, the Canadian winger from New York confirmed in this Game 1: 26 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. The best player on his team, he especially played very well in the first period, before, like his team, falling a little more into line after the break. But his performance bodes well for the rest of the series, to stand up to Jimmy Butler.
✅ Obi Toppin. Holder since Julius Randle was absent, the outfielder of the Knicks ensured the interim with his 18 points and 8 rebounds. He notably turned out to be the only New York player capable of planting behind the arc with “regularity” (4/11)…
⛔ The Knicks offense. And in particular, of course, their terrible inability to punish behind the arc. A recurring problem since the start of the playoffs for New York, the outside shot was the difference in this Game 1. There is an urgent need to adjust the sights.
THE FOLLOWING
– Game 2: overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday (01:30 a.m.), still in New York.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D= defensive rebound; T = Total Bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
