Report: Heat May Start Mike Miller
SAN ANTONIO (CBSMiami) – For most of the NBA season, the Miami Heat has rolled out the same starting lineup. But with their backs against the wall in Game 4 of the 2013 NBA Finals, Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra may be ready to bench Udonis Haslem.
According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com, Spoelstra may insert the hot shooting Mike Miller into the starting lineup against the San Antonio Spurs Thursday night. Miller is 10-11 shooting 3-pointers during the NBA Finals and is shooting 50 percent from downtown during the postseason overall.
Windhorst said Miller would replace Haslem because of the Spurs' strategy to pack the paint against LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
Spoelstra's hope would be that the Spurs continued to pack the paint when LeBron or Wade drove inside and that left Miller, Chris Bosh, or Mario Chalmers wide open.
The lineup featuring Miller averaged 107 points in wins over the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics during the regular season, according to ESPN.com.
According to Windhorst's report, LeBron James would become the Heat's de facto defensive center and could spend much of the game guarding Spurs superstar Tim Duncan.
Haslem has scored a little more than one point per game during the NBA Finals, but has played solid defense on Duncan.
