Heat Vs. 76ers, NBA Playoffs: Miami’s Balance Rare, But Philadelphia’s Defense Nearly As Strong

The Miami Heat are the only team in the NBA with a top-5 offense and defense, and they enter their first round 2011 NBA Playoffs series against the Philadelphia 76ers with advantages in both categories. The Heat are No. 3 in offense and No. 5 in defense, while the Sixers are No. 17 in offense and No. 8 in defense. Clearly, the Heat performed better in the aggregate this season. But is there a specific factor that the Sixers can exploit?

As it turns out, Miami's offensive strength -- shooting, where the Heat rank No. 4 with an effective field goal percentage of .524 -- is also Philadelphia's defensive strength, where the Sixers rank No. 8. Philly's strongest defense is in the backcourt, with Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday. Iguodala will draw LeBron James, Miami's top weapon, while Holiday and Jodie Meeks may share Dwyane Wade. It's a tall task, to be sure. But the Sixers are below-average in preventing opponent free throws, where Miami ranks No. 3. Shaky help defense and coach Doug Collins' particular style could land LeBron, Wade and Chris Bosh lots and lots of free throws.

If there's hope for Philadelphia's middling offense, it's that the team may not turn the ball over more than a handful of times each game. The 76ers are tops in the league in turnover rate (12.3 percent), while the Heat are just No. 27 in turnover creation. Erik Spoelstra used to press his guards to pressure the ball and create transition offense, but that's changed since LeBron arrived. Philadelphia doesn't have great shooters, but the team should at least be able to avoid turnovers to get more shots up toward the rim.