CLEVELAND – The Miami Heat returned to the practice floor Tuesday with a clear focus: effort, intensity and physicality — all of which players say were lacking in their 121-100 Game 1 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra ran a spirited practice at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, aiming to correct the breakdowns his team saw on film a day earlier.
While tactical adjustments will be part of the plan for Game 2, Spoelstra and the players agreed that the bigger issue wasn’t about schemes — it was about desire.
Miami guard Tyler Herro didn’t hold back when assessing the Heat’s mindset in the series opener.
“We got punked in the first game, and we can’t do that tomorrow,” Herro said. “A lot of reaching for the ball instead of putting our nose on it and going to get it. Honestly, it’s 50/50. It’s who wants the ball more, and we have to be the more desperate team.”
The Heat practiced for more than 90 minutes with strong energy and renewed urgency on Tuesday, trying to fix the sluggish start that allowed the Cavaliers to seize early control in Game 1.
Players echoed the message, saying they know the stakes are high heading into Game 2.
“Mostly, it’s on us as players to bring a more physical approach — a better approach to the game,” Herro added.
The Heat held a shootaround Tuesday morning ahead of Game 2 that night, with a chance to even the series before heading back to South Florida.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
