The Miami Heat’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. Facing elimination, Monday night’s Game 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers offers their last chance to avoid a sweep — and perhaps salvage some pride after a dismal Game 3 performance.
Cleveland dominated by deploying a suffocating defensive strategy, aggressively top-locking Tyler Herro, Miami’s primary offensive spark. Max Strus was tasked with face-guarding Herro, pinning him in the corner and forcing the Heat to operate in a disjointed 4-on-4 setup. The results were disastrous.
Without Herro’s shot creation, Miami’s offense fell apart. Spacing collapsed, and no one could consistently generate quality looks. Bam Adebayo and Andrew Wiggins struggled to fill the void, Duncan Robinson couldn’t find any rhythm, and only Davion Mitchell provided occasional flashes of life.
Heading into Game 4, Miami must find answers — and fast.
To counter Cleveland’s top-locking, the Heat could have Herro sprint backdoor and come off pin-down screens on the weak side, creating opportunities for clean looks. Improving 4-on-4 spacing when Herro is trapped will also be crucial.
Bam Adebayo must be more involved as a playmaker, particularly operating on Herro’s side to relieve pressure. If Herro can successfully cut backdoor, it could force Cleveland’s big men to sag, opening up the floor for Bam to orchestrate.
Miami should also empower Herro to attack in isolation more often. Max Strus isn’t known for lockdown defense — Herro needs to take advantage of that matchup.
Beyond Herro, the Heat need significant improvements elsewhere. Adebayo must assert himself offensively against Jarrett Allen. Wiggins needs to snap out of his slump, and Duncan Robinson could be unleashed for more minutes to inject some much-needed shooting into the offense.
The reality is stark: no NBA team has ever overcome a 0-3 playoff deficit. Based on the first three games, there’s little to suggest Miami will be the first.
Still, with their season on the line, the Heat have a chance to respond — if not to turn the series around, then at least to avoid another embarrassment like Game 3. A strong performance could give them something to build on heading into the offseason.
Last year, Tyler Herro’s experience as Miami’s top scoring option against the Boston Celtics laid the groundwork for a career-changing summer. Now, another massive challenge awaits. How Herro responds could once again shape his future — and Miami’s.