The Charlotte Hornets prepare for Game 4 hoping to build on a successful Game 3.
The Charlotte Hornets won their first playoff game in fourteen years by beating the Miami Heat at home96-80 in Game 3. In true NBA Playoff fashion, the Hornets won for two reasons. One, they were the home team and the series never starts until a home team loses a game. Two, they made adjustments that caused problems for the Miami Heat.
Game 3 featured a Hornets roster that was missingNicolas Batum, and some observers had written off the series because of his absence. The Hornets adjusted by going big in their starting lineup. They started rookieFrank KaminskyandAl Jeffersondown low. That shiftedMarvin Williamsto the small forward spot normally occupied by Batum.
This chance also made two matchup problems that the Heat could not answer in game 3. One, Williams could now harassJoe Johnsonand prevent him from having a big shooting night.
On the offensive end, the Hornets could now post Kaminsky against smaller Heat defenders. The Heat had been trying to conserveDwyane Wadeby having him guard the four man on the perimeter. Wade could not hide when the seven footer went into the post with Wade trying to guard him. Kaminsky finished with fifteen points and was part of an 18-0 Charlotte run in the second half to open up the game.
Coach Steve Clifford had insisted that the Hornets had not played poorly on defense in the first two games, but Miami had shot sensationally. Leaving South Beach seemed to take some of air out of the Heat shooting, leaving them far more mortal than they had appeared in Miami during the first two games.
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The Hornets also denied Miami as many second chance opportunities by rebounding better.
The question is how many of these things will translate into Game 4.Kemba Walkershowed better control in attacking the Miami defense last game. He andJeremy Lincombined for thirty-five points to lead the team in scoring.
The Hornets still had to deal with a points spurt byLuol Dengin the first quarter, not unlike his scoring night in Game 1. Fortunately Deng scored fifteen of his nineteen points in the first half.
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Batum will likely not be available for Game 4, so the Hornets will once again be trying to hold their home floor without him.
The other question is how Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will try to deal with the things the Hornets did differently in Game 3. If they go big again, will he respond in kind withJosh McRobertsor Amare Stoudemire? Or will he play Wade onCourtney Leeand just try to match up more normally?
Either way Game 4 is very important to the Hornets. They need to win Games 4 and 6 at home and then steal either Game 5 or Game 7 on the road. If the Heat regain their Game 1 form, that will be an even more difficult task than it is on paper. The Hornets play Game 4 tonight.
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