Sixers discuss challenges of facing Jimmy Butler, Heat Culture, zone defense

Apr 12, 2024; Camden, NJ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers great Allen Iverson speaks at the podium during the unveiling of a statue honoring him in a ceremony at Penn Medicine Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers are getting set to take on a big challenge in the 7 vs. 8 play-in tournament game on Wednesday when they play host to the Miami Heat. The Sixers and the Heat split the season series between the two teams, but the Heat are a battle-tested bunch.

The Heat just have the ability to rise in the toughest moments and come out successful. They were in the play-in tournament in 2023 coming out as the No. 8 seed before then making an incredible run to the finals. Led by Jimmy Butler, Miami will give Philadelphia a huge challenge.

“He’s a physical player, but if you let him kinda just get to spots where he wants to get to, it’s hard,” KJ Martin said of defending Butler. “So just putting bigger guys. Like, obviously like me, Nico (Batum), or Kelly (Oubre Jr.), whoever, we’ll make it harder for him.”

A big key to Butler’s game is getting to his spots and then using his basketball IQ to be able to bait players into fouls. If the Sixers aren’t smart with their defensive schemes and principles, it could make for a long night.

“Him not just being able to bully guys and get to the line and stuff like that so limiting his free-throw attempts and staying solid,” Martin added. “Staying down on pump fakes and stuff like that so I think we should be good.”

Miami fell to the Denver Nuggets in the finals, but it was still one run that nobody will forget. As long as Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Tyler Herro are healthy, then the Heat will be a tough bunch.

“I can remember about my last 12 games with them, and they’re always hard-played, super intense, physical games,” added coach Nick Nurse. “So that’s OK. That’s what we think we are, too. We want to go out there and scrap with you. Sometimes you’ve got to get ready to do it right from the jump against these guys. Obviously, they’ve got a bunch of other things. Bam’s a great player, Jimmy’s a great player. They’ve got unbelievable complementary pieces.”

Nurse is right. While the Heat have those 3 guys leading the way, they can also turn to the likes of Duncan Robinson, Terry Rozier, Caleb Martin, and others who all find ways to contribute to winning. It’s the “Heat Culture” they are always preaching down in Miami.

“They’ve got some guys coming back,” Nurse added. “Their health issues are improving. Herro’s back playing. Robinson’s a great shooter. Rozier’s into the fold and explosive. So tons of talents and tons of scoring options that you’ve got to keep your eye on. There’s lots of matchups that we have to play. We just have to prepare for it all.”

On top of that, the Heat play a ton of zone defense. In a one-game scenario like the one these teams are dealing with, a zone defense can really throw a wrench into any team’s plans.

“I guess it’s a 2-3, but they pull those wing guys way up,” said Nurse. “They really try to keep the ball from going to the corner, because of how high they pull their wing guys up. There’s certain things that they’re willing to live with that I think fall into an analytical mindset, but it’s a little different. You don’t (typically) see the wing guys covering up so high and their communication is really good. They’re really talking about who’s going where, talking through cutters. They really seem to do a good job of getting matched up in it.”

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Sixers discuss challenges of facing Jimmy Butler, Heat Culture, zone defense