After a weekend filled with dramatic nailbiters, the Miami Heat opened Monday's action with a heavy, violent salvo by shredding the Philadelphia 76ers to pieces. It remains the most eye-popping win of the postseason to date, if we excuse Chris Paul's one-man-dance on the Lakers on Sunday. Philadelphia is pretty good, and Miami just crushed them in every way.
Heat Vs. 76ers, Game 3: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade Take Show On Road
Now LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh head off onto the road to try to do it again. Game 3, Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, will provide the Sixers a shot at reclaiming revelance, or it will essentially end the series with another Miami win. No Sixer but Thaddeus Young has been able to provide consistent offense; frankly, that's been Philadelphia's problem all season long -- if one player (such as Young) is playing well on offense, chances are another one or two of the major options in the balanced attack -- Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Jrue Holiday -- are not.
Philly built its season on defense, but the Heat had little trouble packing on the points early in Monday's game. That's how Miami can kill an opponent -- unless it's garbage time, LeBron or Wade are always on the court. There's never a break for the opposing defensive stopper. When Miami is clicking, you need two perimeter defensive stoppers with iron lungs to stop this team ... and you've still got to deal with Chris Bosh and make sure you keep a hand in relative proximity to the faces of Mike Bibby, James Jones and Mike Miller.
In this series, the irresistible offense is taking out the strong defense while the Heat’s own strong defense refuses to bend for Philadelphia’s own bad offense. It’s going exactly how it should, frankly, and that’s little relief for the Sixers back at home.
Be sure to check out our Heat vs. Sixers hub, as well as Liberty Ballers and Peninsula Is Mightier.
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