Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET the Miami Heat (4-3) will host the Milwaukee Bucks (2-3) in American Airlines Arena and likely ramp up their defensive intensity following a tongue-lashing from four-time MVP LeBron James. Live stream the action by clicking this link; Bucks fans can access the radio broadcast on 620 WTMJ, while Heat fans may do the same on 560 WQAM.
After dropping a shocker on their home floor against the Celtics, James refused to make excuses based on his sore back. "I'm not 100 percent; my back is not where I want it to be," James said. "But I could still be effective. I thought I was (against the Celtics). I just didn't make enough plays to help us win."
He was very harsh on his teammates defensive output though, after surrendering 111 points to the Celtics.
"It's simple," James told ESPN. "These first seven games, we're playing like s--- defensively. It's that simple. We're not a sugarcoat team. We came in and got right down to it. We're terrible on defense, and we've got to change that."
He has had two days to rest his back now, and the Heat's stars will be able to attack a Bucks frontcourt that will be without shot-blocker extraordinaire Larry Sanders. Sanders will miss up to the next six weeks with a broken thumb suffered in a Milwaukee bar fight.
With Sanders gone, Dwyane Wade, averaging 20.2 points per game this game may attack the rim even more relentlessly than usual. Although he's taking just 1.2 3-pointers a game, that represents the highest for Wade in three seasons.
To counteract the defense they've lost, head coach Larry Drew is urging his team to execute on offense and build leads from the get-go. I'm tired of playing comeback basketball," Drew said. "I really am. It just takes too much out of you."
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