Net Cords: Breaking Down Heat's Fronting Defense Against Celtics

The Miami Heat and Boston Celtics are locked into what could turn out to be an epic Eastern Conference Finals Playoff series. Both teams have clear advantages on the court that they are looking to exploit, and in response, each coach develops a counter to help cover for their weakness. It's a real chess match.

Josh Zavadil at Celtics Blog leveraged SB Nation's partnership with mySynergySports.com to get highly specific in demonstrating how the Celtics broke down the Heat's fronting post defense.

Fronting the post -- like switching ball screens, double teams and zone defenses -- are tricks and gimmicks coaches can use to hide weakness on their team.

The Heat, especially without Chris Bosh, are small up front and against a skilled post player like Kevin Garnett, they have used the front as a way to both counter KG in the post while staying in better position to defend play-making drives from Rajon Rondo.

The key to fronting effectively is to pressure the ball and rotating well from the weak side once the lob pass is made. The Heat have long, active players who can do this well.

The counter to the front is good passing from both the point guard, but also from other wing players that can find angles for the post entry pass. Josh breaks it all down using several great video examples showing how the Celtics counter beat the Heat strategy.

Prepare to get your learn on.

Putting Up A Front: How Boston Used Kevin Garnett Against Miami's Fronting Defense - CelticsBlog
[...]defending Garnett in that way with Rondo running the point poses a rather large challenge for the Heat. Rondo is already one of the game's most precise passers, so giving him a large window behind the defense to deliver a pass is not ideal. If Rajon can make a habit of fitting the ball into much tighter spaces than a fronted Garnett, then the Heat will have to be much better if they intend to use this formula against Boston.

'Net Cords' features the great work being done by the SB Nation network of NBA team sites.