Quick Hitter: Miami’s Game Tying Three

After a big Dirk Nowitzki three gave Dallas a three point lead with 26.7 seconds left, the Miami Heat were looking to get a three pointer to tie the game in the hopes of sending the game to overtime.  Miami was able to get a fantastic look off of a quick inbounds pass due to a poor defensive mistake by Jason Terry and a heads up play by LeBron James:

The play starts with LeBron James as the trigger man, getting the basketball on the side.  Once he does get it, Miami’s two shooters, Mike Miller and Mario Chalmers criss cross, cutting off of Chris Bosh and heading towards corners of the opposite side they started on.

After Miller and Chalmers cut off of Bosh, Bosh turns around and gets in position to set a downscreen for Dwyane Wade.  Wade comes from under the rim and uses the screen.  This is where the defensive mistake takes place.  Instead of following his man, Jason Terry steps out in front of Dwyane Wade, hoping to cut off his path to the basketball.

In his post game media session Terry said that he knew the basketball was going to Dwyane and he wanted to give Jason Kidd (who was covering Wade) time to recover as he went around the screen.  The only problem is that Terry did it while leaving his man wide open in the opposite corner.

LeBron James shows tremendous vision, spotting Chalmers and hitting him with a quick pass.  Sometime in late game situations players get too focused about where the play is going and get tunnel vision, only looking for the first option and forcing the basketball in there.  LeBron James did a great job of keeping his eyes open and looking at everything.  He noticed that Jason Terry doesn’t chase Chalmers to the corner and hits him with the pass.  Here is the play in real time:

Good job here by Chalmers staying ready, expecting the ball, and knocking down the shot when it comes to him.  However, I don’t know if he would be that wide open if Terry in fact follows him to the corner.

Categories:2010-2011 NBA Finals, 4th Quarters, Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Quick HitterTags:

• KairIf Terry wanted to switch it, he had to inform Kidd, now i didn’t see any body movement by Terry, so Kidd didn’t anticipate Terry to stick with Wade.
  Also, I don’t understand, why they kept Terry in for the defensive possesion.. If i was Carlisle, I would sit Terry and let Stevenson in. Then my PG (Kidd) SG (Stevenson) and SF (Marion) could switch defensive assignments.
• DaMavs02I feel like the Mavs have defended inbound plays pretty consistently with having Terry run around the screen and shield the intended ball handler.  This small wrinkle seemed to short circuit the Lakers and Thunder’s attempts at late game execution.  In every other instance I remember, the intended target kept fighting and was eventually able to get the ball, at that point trapped by both Kidd and Terry.  When I saw this particular play, I thought it was Kidd’s responsibility to react to Chalmers running to the corner.I’ll give the Heat the benefit of the doubt and assume they had scouted this.  They keep Bosh out high, so Chandler isn’t sagging in the lane.  If the Heat are playing Joel Anthony there, Chandler would be hanging out in the paint and in position to intercept a long pass.
• apl1778Did anyone notice how (seemingly) nonchalantly Lebron threw that pass across the court and it ended up perfectly placed in the exact middle of Chalmer’s body?!  I’ve watched it 3 times, and it amazes me each time.
• DrGonzoI was going to post the exact same thing. It’s amazing, can’t stop watching it.
• JaffeGreat pass by lebron, dumb play by terry, you play tight force a two or a tough three and then get the ball into dirk/terry for fts
• DayinhoTo me, Kidd and Terry have to switch on this play.
• DanielThat’s what I was thinking. Maybe Jason Terry was trying not to through Kidd under the bus with his post-game remarks, but on a play like that, it looks like Terry made the right choice and Kidd screwed up.
• Georgei disagree. there is no way the mavs would have wanted terry on wade.
• EddAnd, this shows that the clutch thing is silly, Chalmers make the three, Lebron and Wade make stupid play after stupid play for 5 minutes….Who is clutch today? (well, i know, Nowitzki)
• CoachWEdd, I beg to differ.  LeBron made a great pass.  Standing on the floor, it takes amazing vision to see Chalmers open in the corner, and amazing guts to throw that high-risk pass 50 feet diagonally.
• NickWhy is Marion just standing there?  He doesnt even have his arms up.  That pass would be more difficult if Marion was actually guarding the inbound
• CoachWIf Marion faceguards LeBron on the inbound, LeBron would have gone backdoor once he inbounded and Marion wouldn’t have been able to catch up.  Everyone ignores the inbounder on these plays and Marion would rather deal with LeBron once he comes inbounds than give him an advantage by overplaying a pass.
• HumbertoWhat a bad breakdown on Terry’s part. Great vision by LeBron to make that happen however.

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