MIAMI — The memory was all too vivid. Less than two weeks ago, Carmelo Anthony caught the ball where he wanted, when he wanted and then did what he wanted as he scored 42 points for the Knicks against the Heat.
“That was not a very good defensive plan by us,” said Heat reserve Shane Battier. “He’s too good of a player to let him catch where he wants, to catch and operate. He’s just too good.”
So the Heat set about yesterday determined to turn Anthony into a 6-foot-8 statue. And for all intents, they succeeded.
Fronting Anthony, helping and denying catches, the Heat — particularly Battier and LeBron James — frustrated Anthony all game, starting with an 0-for-7 first-quarter funk that became a 3-for-15 Game 1 nightmare as the Heat romped over the Knicks, 100-67. Without Anthony being effective in any way, shape or form, the Knicks offense came apart and tied the franchise single-game record for playoff scoring futility.
Miami coach Erik Spoelstra explained his bunch was “trying to be more aggressive, trying to be more alert, making Anthony’s catches tougher” but in the same breath, warned “he’ll make adjustments, he’s too good of a player and a shotmaker. He’ll find ways to get open.”
In Game 1, Anthony couldn’t find any open space, with radar or a motion detector.
“This is the first time I’ve really seen people just leave their man and stand on the block on guys,” the Knicks’ said the Knick’ J.R. Smith, “putting a lot of pressure on the ball and having two guys on the weak side step up. It’s not going to be easy so we have to figure it out. It’s not rocket science either.”
It only seemed like it yesterday. And the work on that end obviously contributed to the Heat’s efficiency on their offensive end.
“LeBron played great,” Dwyane Wade said. “And Shane took some pressure off of him, was able to guard Melo a lot and it enabled him to really put his stamp on the game.”
Most precisely, his stamp on Anthony’s noggin. Anthony, a 29.8-point scorer in April, finished with 11 points, going 5-of-5 at the line.
“When you’re playing defense on him, try to make him work, try to push his catches out a little further and take your chances,” Battier said. “In New York the last game we played, he caught the ball wherever he wanted.”
Yesterday, in claiming a 1-0 series lead, the Heat allowed Anthony to catch nothing closer than Coral Gables.
“In general in the playoffs, the more you can push catches out,” Battier said, “the better shape you are in.”
So the Heat were in great shape and the Knicks, specifically Anthony, essentially were bent out of shape.