1. Stifling once again, the Heat shuts down the paint and the perimeter against one of the NBA’s biggest stars.
Noting its inconsistencies, Erik Spoelstra described the Heat’s defense as mediocre and middle of the pack after Saturday’s practice. Maybe the Heat took it as a challenge as it upped its efforts in the second half of Sunday’s victory against the Bucks and limited them to a season-worst 31.6 percent shooting. The Bucks are eighth in the league in offensive rating (107.4 points per game). The Heat is now eighth in defensive rating (104.2).
“We went away a little bit [from our defensive plan] in the first half,” Goran Dragic said.