The Heat ruled Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson out Monday afternoon. So the Warriors prepped in advance to face a Heat team without its two best floor spacers, figuring coach Erik Spoelstra would lean defense. Kevin Love and Jimmy Butler were then ruled out two hours before tipoff, further dragging Spoelstra into a desperate rotational state.
So the Warriors anticipated zone, full-court press and various schemes from Miami in an attempt to drag the action into the mud. In response, coach Steve Kerr started Thompson in Brandin Podziemski’s spot.