Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) defends Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. David Richard David Richard-Imagn Images
CLEVELAND
Among the things the Miami Heat needs to figure out after its Game 1 loss are how to create more space for Tyler Herro to operate on the offensive end and how to avoid having Herro defend the ball in space on the defensive end.
The Cleveland Cavaliers made Herro’s life hard in Sunday’s convincing 121-100 win over the Heat at Rocket Arena in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
Herro, who averaged 34.5 points per game on 57.5 percent shooting from the field and 47.1 percent shooting on threes in two play-in tournament games, was limited to 21 points on 7-of-18 (38.9 percent) shooting from the field) and 3-of-6 (50 percent) shooting on threes in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series. With the Cavaliers picking up Herro full court and usually sending extra defenders his way whenever he dribbled inside the three-point line, NBA tracking data indicates that 10 of his 18 field-goal attempts in Game 1 came with a defender within four feet of him.
“I’ve been getting guarded like this all season,” Herro said after the Heat’s practice at Rocket Arena on Tuesday afternoon, with Game 2 set for Wednesday in Cleveland (7:30 p.m., NBA TV and FanDuel Sports Network Sun). “We’ve figured it out already. So we’ll be ready to go [Wednesday].”
The Cavaliers also made Herro work hard on the defensive end, hunting him relentlessly on their way to an elite offensive rating of 137.5 scored points per 100 possessions in Game 1. It marked the Heat’s worst single-game defensive rating of the season.
According to NBA tracking data, Cavaliers guards Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Ty Jerome targeted Herro’s defense on 36 total possessions Sunday. The Cavaliers produced an impressive 64 points on those 36 possessions.
“Overall activity, overall purpose and intent with what we’re doing defensively,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Tuesday when asked what can be better with the defense around Herro to make sure the Cavaliers don’t have that same success. “It’s not the first time we’ve had to deal with that. When we’re disruptive, we can handle that better knowing that their guards are very good.”
For Herro, he felt the effects of how the Cavaliers were forcing him to play in Game 1.
“They were calling me up, it’s obviously something we’ve seen before,” Herro said of Cleveland targeting him on the defensive end. “I think what’s different is they call me up and then it’s not a one-on-one attack. It’s get the switch and then call up the pick and roll with the five, and then I had to fight over screens.
“So that’s kind of wearing me down — expending energy on defense and then trying to break open on offense. So just finding different ways to be more efficient so I’m not expending so much energy on both ends. And then I can obviously be better on the ball, which I will be [in Game 2].”
The Heat also hopes to be better as a team on Wednesday after its 21-point Game 1 loss. The last two times Miami has dropped Game 1 of a playoff series, it has gone on to win Game 2 (last year’s first-round series against the Boston Celtics and the 2023 NBA Finals against the Denver Nuggets).
“Spo’s adjustments always, since I’ve been playing for him, are amazing after Game 1,” Herro said. “But I think mostly it’s on us players to bring a more physical approach, a better approach to the game. We got punked in the first game and we can’t do that [Wednesday].”
More Jovic and/or Larsson?
Heat forward Nikola Jovic and guard Pelle Larsson have barely played since being sidelined with their respective injuries. But they both received some playing time, albeit very limited, in Sunday’s lopsided Game 1 loss.
Jovic played the final 1:23 of Game 1, marking the first time he has played in a game since breaking his right hand on Feb. 23. Jovic air-balled a corner three-pointer on his only shot attempt of the night during his limited playing time.
Larsson also played the final 1:23 of Game 1, marking the first time he has played in a game since April 7 after spraining his right ankle during a weight-lifting session before the Heat’s April 9 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Larsson didn’t record any stats during his short stint on Sunday.
Could Jovic and/or Larsson be plugged in to try to spark the Heat later in the series?
Of Jovic, Spoelstra said Tuesday: “We’ll see. I like the progress that he’s been making. And the fact that he’s available is a good step. He had a really good day yesterday, he had another good day today. He’ll be available again.”
Of Larsson, Spoelstra said Tuesday: “He looks good. He had a really good day yesterday. He hasn’t been out as long as Niko. So I think his rhythm is there. He’s been able to prep and do everything that he needs to do. All guys, it’s all hands on deck. Whatever we need to get done.”
Jovic said “I feel really good” physically after missing two months of games because of his broken shooting hand.
“I think I’m ready to go,” Jovic said. “When my name gets called up, I’ll be ready.”
Larsson said he also feels “very ready” to play in games and believes he can help the Heat in this series against the Cavaliers.
“I think what I’ve had success with throughout the whole season is kind of how the game went down,” Larsson said, looking back at Game 1. “Kind of rough fighting, grabbing, loose balls, a lot of 50-50 balls that we lost. I feel like that’s part of my game to just go and seek those 50-50 balls out.”
Rozier out
Heat guard Terry Rozier will miss Wednesday’s Game 2 after spraining his left ankle during an optional workout on Monday.
“I went to attack the basket and Niko [Jovic] tried to block it, and I just came down wrong and sprained my ankle,” Rozier said after watching Tuesday’s practice while in a walking boot with crutches in his hands.
Rozier added that an MRI was not needed and the ankle is “already getting better.” He labeled the injury as day-to-day.
“I’m super frustrated,” the sidelined Rozier said. “But God always has his plans, he works in mysterious ways. So just staying with it and I still get to watch my guys hoop. That’s the most important thing for me.”
In addition, Kevin Love remains away from the Heat for Game 2 because of personal reasons.
