But are the Lakers really playing David to the Heat’s Goliath? Well, sort of.
Literally speaking, this game really is a tale of two Goliath’s, one the result of a conglomeration of offensive-prowess (the Heat), the other having been formed organically by piecing players with complementing talents and skills strategically (the Lakers).
In order for the Lakers to come out on top, they’ll have to be productive on all cylinders. Consider the old adage, work smarter, not harder. In essence, the Lakers will have to progressively break down the Heat just before releasing the last stone from the sling shot to bring down Goliath.
The Heat come into this game first in points allowed, at 91.5 points per game, meaning the Heat’s defense is more cohesive. They’ve stifled opponents during the past month by clamping down on passing lanes, applying heavy ball pressure and practicing good communication. You may see either LeBron or Wade play defense from behind to block a shot or steal the ball, allowing them to take off in transition—mainly monster dunks or easy layups at the other end. Good teams will take advantage of the gamble on defense, and yes we can still assume the Lakers are a good team, but communication and hustle down the floor to get back in transition become all the more important against the Heat.
It took a little while, but Miami has finally figured out an offensive strategy that generates momentum-swinging runs with relative ease. This isn’t the first time we’ve, ahem, witnessed James in action, we all know that he’s a beast at getting to the rim so the Lakers cannot risk being careless with the basketball as turnovers can lead to a flurry of fast-break points for the Heat.
If the Lakers can take the Heat out of their offensive rhythm early and not let them hang around enough to make it interesting around the fourth quarter, the Heat will eventually be bogged down by the Lakers inner size and strength. Rebounds will be hard to come by for the Heat and if Bosh plans on reliving his days as a non-factor, this game will be over before it starts.
Next: The Lakers know the importance of the matchup against the Heat