Miami Heat need a much different approach to Game 4 vs. Philadelphia 76ers

If the Miami Heat is going to steal Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers on the road, they’re going to have to take a very different approach.

Up 2-0 against the Philadelphia 76ers heading into Game 3, it seemed as if the Miami Heat were perfectly fine with taking a passive approach. Even with the return of Joel Embiid. The result was a 20-point loss in Game 3, with the Sixers getting right back in the series.

Now, with the Heat leading 2-1, the Sixers will have a chance to even the series back up in Game 4 on their home floor. If Miami is going to steal Game 4, it’s pretty clear that they’re going to need to take a much different approach than they did in Game 3.

The Miami Heat needs more from Bam

And it all has to start with Bam Adebayo, who seemed to be a non-factor on the offensive end and wasn’t as impactful on the defensive end because of the presence of Embiid.

During the first two games of the series, Embiid averaged 24 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists on 71 percent shooting from the field and 90 percent shooting from the free-throw line. In Game 3, with Embiid back in the lineup, Bam finished with just nine points, three rebounds, and one assist on 22 percent shooting from the field and 63 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

The Heat isn’t going to win many games, certainly not against a team as talented as the Sixers, when Bam is essentially a non-factor in the game.

Kyle Lowry needs to be a threat on the offensive end

Additionally, the Heat is going to need more from Kyle Lowry. In his return, he scored zero points and only three assists. Lowry’s impact goes beyond the stat sheet, but he only had four shot attempts in the game and wasn’t much of a threat. If he’s not going to be an offensive threat, it’s hard to imagine the pick-and-roll being any kind of effect when he’s on the floor.

Lowry doesn’t have to fill the stat sheet per se, but he does have to at least be a threat to keep the defense honest. During his return in Game 3, that simply wasn’t the case. And it hurt the Heat’s offense in a big way.

Tyler Herro needs to be Tyler Herro

Tyler Herro struggled and looked hesitant most of the night in Game 3. The Heat is generally going to win the bench battle, but what makes this team special is when their bench is able to take it to another level.

Herro is a big part of that. During Game 4, he only finished with 14 points on 5-15 shooting from the field.

Not all is lost for the Heat after Game 3. The good news for Miami is that all the issues that popped up in their loss to the Sixers are fixable. If they’re going to be victorious in Game 4, it’s clear that the Heat is going to have to take a very different approach. And, still, that might not be enough.