Los Angeles Lakers continue to dominate; Miami Heat need reinforcements for Game 3

The Los Angeles Lakers are now two wins away from a championship

Game 2 of the NBA Finals ended similar to Game 1 as the Los Angeles Lakers dominated the Miami Heat once again to take a 2-0 series lead.

Anthony Davis put on another spectacular performance scoring 32 points and grabbing 14 rebounds with eight of them being offensive. Davis also shot 75 percent from the field and recorded the second-highest field goal percentage in an NBA Finals game.

Davis scored 15 of his 32 points in the third quarter as it seemed like he couldn’t miss and had his way the entire game as he is making a strong case for the Finals MVP if the Lakers go on to win the series.

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The Heat was without key starters Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic as Erik Spoelstra adjusted his starting lineup by inserting Meyers Leonard and Tyler Herro as their replacements. Duncan Robinson had another mediocre performance and only scored nine points on a dismal 29 percent from the field. He will have to shoot much better going forward and become that perimeter threat that his team so desperately needs him to be.

Kelly Olynyk chipped in 24 points and nine rebounds off the bench in 37 minutes of action and the Heat will need him to be consistent because they really need the offense but need him more on the defensive end due to his size. Jimmy Butler put forth a valiant effort to try and carry his team as he was in attack mode scoring 25 points along with eight rebounds.

Butler also did a great job setting up his teammates whenever the opportunity came as he dished out 13 assists in one of his best outputs in these playoffs as he became only the third Heat player with at least 25 points and 10 assists in a playoff game as he elevated his game with his aggressive style of play.

If Miami has any chance at stealing Game 3, Butler must continue to maintain that same scorer’s mentality especially if Adebayo and Dragic are forced to sit out again. Butler has been a leader and has done it by example with his play as he allows his performance to speak volumes but the other players have to get on the same page and provide some help, especially on defense.

The Lakers once again were able to impose their will with their size advantage outrebounding the Heat 44-37, but the offensive rebounds they allowed the Lakers to accumulate is what hurt them giving up 16 of them. Davis along with Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Kyle Kuzma, and Markieff Morris played with physicality and tenacious energy as the won the battle on the boards making it difference in the game allowing the Lakers second-chance points and extra possessions.

Rajon Rondo provided the Lakers with a spark off the bench with 16 points, four rebounds, and 10 assists. Rondo meshes well on the floor with James and Davis and is dangerous running out in transition with the dynamic duo. The Heat sorely missed Adebayo’s presence as it showed in the game and on the stat sheet and the team hopes he will be ready top suit for Game 3 to try and help out in the paint as they lack size and depth.

The Heat continued to play a zone defense (mostly) which ultimately led to their demise as the Lakers exploited it and took advantage as the Heat had to pretty much pick their poison. There were times when James stayed at the top of the key while Davis worked the post-playing behind the zone.

As the zone rotated towards to post, James was left wide open on several possessions and made them pay by knocking down several 3-point shots. Davis played behind the zone and waited patiently while either James or Rondo broke down the defense drawing the coverage towards them and suddenly dishing it off to Davis on the baseline as he finished inside the paint.

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Give Frank Vogel and the Lakers coaching staff credit for the preparation and strategy they had in place to combat the zone. It will be interesting to see what strategy Spoelstra will come up with for Game 3 as they need a solution quick, fast, and in a hurry. This is James’s first time in his career having a 2-0 advantage in the Finals as the Lakers are two wins away from their 17th championship teams have a 30-4 series record in the NBA Finals after going up 2-0.

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