O’Neal aims to bounce back from arguably his worst outing in recent memory when the Heat host the Dallas Mavericks in Game Three on Tuesday night.
A three-time Finals MVP with the Los Angeles Lakers, O’Neal attempted just five shots in Game Two and scored only five points in Miami’s embarrassing 99-85 loss at Dallas on Sunday.
It was O’Neal’s lowest-scoring output in 26 career games in the Finals. The Mavericks consistently double teamed O’Neal, forcing the 7-1 center to find open teammates rather than backing his way toward the basket.
The usually playful O’Neal was in no mood to meet with the media after Sunday’s loss and was slapped with a $10,000 fine. The Heat were also hit with a $25,000 fine for failing to ensure that its players comply with league media interview rules.
But that’s the least of Miami coach Pat Riley’s problems. How to counter Dallas’ strategy against O’Neal and how to deal with the Mavericks’ athleticism is what Riley needs to address as the series shifts to South Beach.
“They doubled him every single time he caught the ball,” Riley said. “He made the pass that he was supposed to make and the other times, they would front him. Any time he tried to throw the ball over the top, we didn’t get out of it what we want.”
The Heat also need to get more out of All-Star guard Dwyane Wade, who scored 23 points but made just 6-of-19 shots in Game Two.
“We’ve got to execute better on offense,” Wade said. “You know, be patient and attack more. It’s a best-of-seven series and we have to try and get going at home.”
The dynamic tandem of O’Neal and Wade will have an easier time breaking through if Miami’s supporting cast steps up Tuesday.
Antoine Walker, who struggled offensively in Game One, scored 20 points and shot 4-of-7 from the arc in Game Two. Jason Williams scored 11 points Sunday and reserve Alonzo Mourning added 11 for the Heat, who will host a Finals game for the first time in franchise history.
In the 60-year history of the NBA Finals, only two teams the 1969 Boston Celtics and the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers have rallied from an 0-2 deficit to win the series. Both of those were played under the old 2-2-1-1-1 format.
Since the installation of the 2-3-2 format in 1985, teams losing the first two games on the road are 0-9. And the only time the team that dropped the first two games was able to force a Game Seven was last year, when Detroit lost to San Antonio.
While the Heat are searching for answers, the Mavericks are rolling under NBA Coach of the Year Avery Johnson.
Dallas centers Erick Dampier and DeSagana Diop are hounding O’Neal and All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki also is helping out inside.
“We just work hard on him (O’Neal) and don’t let him catch it deep,” Diop said. “If he catches it deep, we try to front him. We just don’t let him get it easy. We make him work.”
Nowitzki put his struggles from Game One behind him, scoring 26 points and grabbing 16 rebounds to pace the Mavericks, who are within two wins of their first championship.
“Obviously, we’ve got to stay focused,” Nowitzki said. “We haven’t really done anything. We won two games at home.###We know they are a different animal at home. They are going to be obviously fired up.”
