Balanced Offense Leads Heat to Third Straight Win

The Miami Heat beat the New Jersey Nets 101-78 on Sunday afternoon with a strong effort on the defensive end, a good transition game, and a balanced attack on the offensive end.  The offense was so balanced, in fact, that six Heat players scored in double figures.

“It just happens that way,” LeBron James said. “We would hope that every game it happens like this.  Anytime you have balance like that…that’s great.”

“Everyone is talking about offense but our offense is going to take time,” Wade said. “It’s coming, from game one to now game four.  It’s still not where we want it to be.” 

Head coach Erik Spoelstra has stressed to his team that he does not want them to become a team that takes turns having a lead scorer and trying to figure out which player is going to take over on each particular night.  Sunday’s game showed that the Heat are listening to him, as they spread their offense out throughout the entire team. 

The Heat went to work offensively - both in the transition game, led by James, and in the half-court set, led by Wade.    James finished with 20 points on 5 for 12 shooting, with 7 rebounds and 7 assists.  Wade led the half-court offense, driving off pick-and-rolls and hitting the open man for a jump shot or taking it to the hoop and getting fouled, where he hit 8 of 12 free throws.  Wade finished with 17 points on 4 for 9 shooting, along with 6 rebounds and 7 assists, all in only 27 minutes.  Chris Bosh worked well through getting double-teamed all game and finished with 18 points on 8 for 10 shooting. 

The Heat’s big three are starting to play together, and it is showing.  In the first two games of the season, Wade, James, and Bosh combined for 56.5 points per game while shooting 41.3% and having 13 turnovers per game.  But the past two games, verses the Magic and the Nets, they have combined for 53.5 points per game while shooting 46.6% and committing only 6.5 turnovers per game. 

The Heat got offensive contributions against the Nets from others besides their big three.  Carlos Arroyo chipped in 12 points on 5 for 7 shooting, Eddie House added 11 points on 5 for 8 shooting, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 10 points on 5 for 6 shooting.