Reflections on an abysmal start to the Heat-Hawks series

Originally published in the Miami edition of the Examiner.

The good news:

• Everything considered, the game one performance was probably as bad as it can get, so there’s really nowhere to go, but up. I don’t imagine too many other occasions when Wade will not break 20 points and have more turnovers (8), than assists (5).
• Hopefully this was the game that this young Heat team needed to get its playoff jitters out of its system.
• There’s still a chance that the Heat will bounce back in game two and steal home court advantage. As demoralizing as this loss was, at least it came on the road, where the Heat weren’t expected to win anyway.
• James Jones actually looked like he was playing in rhythm for the first time in a while. Against a Hawks team that likes to pack the paint, his three-point shooting will be vital.

The bad news:

• Jermaine O’Neal. It was worrisome how ineffective he was. It wouldn’t be as ominous had he played well in other games against Atlanta this year, but he hasn’t. (Look at these box scores from his regular season games against the Hawks: 11/7. 2/27. Don't let the 11 rebound game fool you. That was the same game that he allowed Horford to grab 22 rebound.) The fact that he only produced five points and two rebounds last night is inexcusable. The Heat simply need more from the center position. They’re not paying him $21 million to play like Joel Anthony.I think part of the problem stems from when O'Neal starts off the game with a jump shooter's mentality. In other words, for whatever reason, he decides to shoot contested 15-footers, rather than take it to the basket. I’ve noticed that in the games he’s played well, he has attacked the rim early. By starting off aggressively, the defenders react by sagging off a bit, giving him more space to shoot. The center match up is key to this series, and for the Heat to have a chance, it cannot continue to be as one-sided as it was last night.
• The starting lineup. Even though he was having an off night, Beasley (10 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks) out-performed Haslem (6 points, 5 rebounds). This was with Beasley missing open looks that he usually converts. For a good portion of the game, the Heat simply didn’t have the offensive firepower to keep pace with the Hawks. Against a team that really packs it in defensively, the Heat needs to have shot makers out there to make the Hawks pay. To put it simply, whenever Haslem shoots open jumpers, the Hawks have won that possession.
• Do the Heat have an answer for Al Horford? Horford had far more of an impact than his stat line suggests (14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks). He was able to aggressively trap Wade and protect the paint, as well as hit open jumpers when O’Neal sagged.
• In order for the Heat to keep it close next game, they need to focus on two fundamental points: Limit turnovers (19 is far too many) and protect the back court in transition (I'm looking at you Chalmers. Wade too). Oh, and start Beasley.