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Miami Heat’s supporting cast in a bind against Pacers

Most call them the supporting cast. Shaquille O’Neal simply calls them the “others.”

Whatever term you prefer, this much is clear: With Chris Bosh out, the Heat’s ensemble around LeBron James and Dwyane Wade has not done enough offensively against the Pacers.

And that must change for the Bosh-less Heat to thrive as the series shifts to Indianapolis for Thursday’s Game 3.

“D-Wade and LeBron will do their jobs,” Mike Miller said. “The rest of us have to find ways to put the ball in the hole.”

Excluding Bosh (who played the first half of Game 1), James and Wade, the other Heat players have shot a combined 29 percent – 16 for 55 – in the two games, with 44 points. Game 2 was especially gruesome: 9 for 34 with seven turnovers and two assists.

The Heat is 1 for 22 on three-point attempts in this series, though James has seven of those misses and Wade two.

Though the defense has been mostly stout, here’s what should alarm Heat fans about the players assembled to complement the stars:

• Game 2 marked the first time in franchise history that the Heat’s third-leading scorer in a game did not produce more than five points.

• ESPN noted that among 92 players that have logged at least 125 minutes in the playoffs, Udonis Haslem ranks last in its efficiency ratings. He played only 12 minutes in Game 2 because Erik Spoelstra opted to use only one natural power rotation player (Joel Anthony or Ronny Turiaf) the rest of the time.

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BY BARRY JACKSON
BJACKSON@MIAMIHERALD.COM

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