CAMDEN, N.J. — As the Philadelphia 76ers prepare to face the Miami Heat in the 7 vs. 8 play-in game on Wednesday at home, there is a focus on plenty of factors for Philadelphia.
One is to find ways to attack Miami’s zone defense. The Heat historically have employed the zone defense in an effort to teams, and it has given them an edge at times. It’s a key reason Miami is a top five defensive team.
Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers must find a way to attack it.
“They know their principles and they stick to their principles,” Maxey said on Tuesday at practice. “You gotta be able to attack the zone. The zone is made to slow you down, make you think. You gotta get in the gaps and find somebody to flash in the high post and get somebody in the dunker spot and it becomes easier to beat.”
A zone defense can be confusing if a team is not ready for it. Especially, for a Miami team that switches between zone and man-to-man on plenty of occasions. The Heat will send their wing players higher toward the half-court line which is much higher than a normal zone defense.
Combine that principle with the length and defensive IQ they possess, and it makes the Heat a very tough team to attack and score on.
The Sixers and the Heat matched up in the postseason in 2022 and Miami used the zone defense to slow Philadelphia on plenty of occasions. Maxey remembers that series and its lessons.
“I learned a lot,” Maxey said of the 2022 postseason. “I think every time in the playoffs, you learn something. No matter if you win or you lose, you always learn. I think I learned a lot from that series and I took it into last year’s playoffs and this year’s postseason.”
That series with the Heat, as well as the other postseason experiences, has helped him become a better player. It’s one of those things where experience really does come in and play a factor. That will help Maxey heading into the contest with Miami as well as the upcoming playoff run.
“For sure,” Maxey added. “I definitely do. I definitely do. I think every playoff series has made me a better player, honestly. There’s so many different mind games and so many different inside games you see every single day and not just the whole series, but game by game and the way they adjust. It’s really cool.”
Tipoff with the Heat is set for 7 p.m. EDT on Wednesday to determine the No. 7 seed in the East.
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