Los Angeles Lakers: 3 keys to beating the Miami Heat in Game 26
By Ethan Temkin
3.) Get to the rim
The Miami are THE worst team at defending shots at the rim, ranking dead last in opponent field goal percentage from that area at a staggering 66.1%. The Lakers on the other hand are ranked 2nd in both shot attempts and field goal percentage at the rim. So the formula for success is pretty apparent for them.
Bam Adebayo is really their only capable rim protector, as their other big man options in Kelly Olynyk, and Meyers Leonard are known more for their three-point shooting than their ability to defend down low, which probably is playing a huge factor in why their ranked so low in defense at the rim.
The Lakers have a number of players who do most of, if not all of their scoring from inside the paint. Although Davis has been settling for mid-range jumpers more often than usual this year, when the interior defense is weak, he takes advantage.
LeBron James can pretty much get to the basket at will, and if his jumper is going that night as well, the guy is pretty much unstoppable. It would appear that Adebayo is going to have his hands full keeping James contained in the paint, not to mention that fact that he also has to deal with the big man trio of Dwight Howard, JaVale McGee and Anthony Davis as well.