[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

We all love to poke fun at Spoelstra and point out the fact that he is usually out-coached by every opponent on the opposite end of the sideline.

Now let’s give credit where credit is due.  Erik Spoelstra has made probably the biggest/best adjustment of anyone in these playoffs.

Shane Battier at the 4.

Not only can Shane guard 4s, he spreads the floor on the other end and has been money from down-town.  He moves well without the ball and putting him at the 4 has caused huge mismatches on both ends.  Not only has he been able to guard the likes of David West, Brandon Bass, and Serge Ibaka, but they can’t guard him.  They aren’t perimeter players and they aren’t fast enough to to contest his shot with his quick release.  Ibaka now has to make a choice, leave Battier open for three or attempt to block LeBron’s lay-up attempt but most likely foul since he’s out of position.

Because of this adjustment, it has been easier for LeBron to drive, Wade to drive, Bosh to get open mid-range Js, get opponents into foul-trouble, and leave the lanes open for offensive rebounds.

[I May Be WrongParticipant]

Even if the Heat win it all, I’d still fire Coach Spo!!! lol

Just kidding (sort of) but I do agree with you. Shane Battier has been amazing clutch with his shooting thus far in the finals. Offensively, thats all you can ask from the role players. Hit your open shot when your number is called. And then defensively, you know he is going to pester the defenders and get those charges. I would love to see Perks get benched and see how a line-up of Harden at the 2, Thabo at the 3, and Durant at the 4 works for the Thunder. 

I think the recent surge in Battiers play is also due to him buying that J. Cole album and finally hearing that line, "Brotha you’re lame, you Shane Battier!"… He’s obviously been motivated haha

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Um okay… I mean, he’s playing small ball. It isn’t all that genius to me. He’s still a lame coach who just happens to coach LeBron James, who’s putting his game together on the biggest stage right now.

The biggest head scratcher to me is how OKC hasn’t made the adjustment to counter it.

In my opinion, OKC has been beating themselves. Poor free-throw shooting, giving up too many second chance points and turning the ball over in the clutch.

These are all correctable.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

To be honest, the biggest offensive adjustment for the Heat wasn’t Spoelstra… It was LeBron and his willingness to trust other players handling the ball while he fills the lanes, moves without the ball, etc.

During all of his years so far, he’s always wanted to isolate and do everything with the ball… Low activity without it. Now, he’s doing other things and allowing others to get him easy baskets. He’s so much difficult to plan for right now. The defense can’t load up on him when he’s moving himself around the floor and putting himself in different areas. Even when he doesn’t have the ball now, you have to have two defenders aware of where he is.

Had he played like this in Cleveland, I think he’d have won a championship there IMO.

[bad boysParticipant]

because not alot of good bigman with good postgame in the nba anymore

[surveParticipant]

 no, Spo didnt do anything special, just what he had to do.  the big difference is Lebron playing basketball like a 250lber.  He is taking smaller guys in the post and dealing with them.  the only time Lebron should be shooting jumpers is when he is wide open.  The strength of his scoring is just that….his strength.  If he doesnt score he gets to the line…and he his shooting ok from the line.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

"Not only has he been able to guard the likes of David West, Brandon Bass, and Serge Ibaka"

I do not think Shane Battier has guarded Serge Ibaka for a minute this entire Finals. I actually feel Shane for the most part got owned when he tried to guard David West. Brandon Bass was a separate case, but again feel like Shane was not getting the main duty of guarding him. The smart thing Spoelstra did was playing LeBron with whomever he felt best complimented him.

LeBron CAN guard 4’s. Shane has shown incredibly little ability to do so and is best covering the perimeter. That is why LeBron jumped center in Game 1 and guarded Kendrick Perkins (with Haslem on Ibaka). The adjustment since than was playing Chris Bosh more in the middle (definitely more of an obstruction than Udonis) and letting Battier guard Perkins at times. Seeing that Perkins is basically invisible, this has allowed Battier to not exactly strain under these circumstances.

The entire reason this works has been LeBron’s willingness to guard anyone and everyone. Battier has of course been able to reap the benefits of open shots with Durant busy on LeBron and Serge Ibaka/Kendrick Perkins having little concept of perimeter defense. Still, I have seen incredibly little proof that Battier’s defending 4’s has had much to do with it. David West definitely was not effected nearly as much with Battier in front of him.

It has still been a fantastic idea to play Battier, not that he had much of a choice. The center position has its well documented issues, Mike Miller can barely move and James Jones is not nearly as versatile a defender. I give Spoelstra credit for sticking with this line-up and the success it has had. Just feel that the credit you are giving Battier for his defense on 4’s should be mostly going LeBron’s way.

Shane is a great perimeter defender, but LeBron has been the reason that this has worked. He spent much more time defending David West, while Brandon Bass was not nearly the offensive threat. Battier should count himself lucky that the Thunder somehow never seem to notice the mismatch with Perkins, but I have little recollection of his guarding Serge Ibaka. He has helped out a ton as a perimeter guy, but LeBron has stepped up as everything he usually contributes, plus extra PF duty.

[Author]

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