The Heat offense has thrived since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Erik Spoelstra said the main factor is that the team is playing less "hero ball" and not that they are without Chris Bosh.

But Miami's ball movement in the halfcourt has improved without Bosh.

“It’s not something that happens overnight,” Spoelstra said. “This is two years of habits and learning each other’s strengths and learning what’s effective for us. We’ve had to change a lot of habits that guys have had for years for the improvement of our team.”

James and Wade have increased their interplay without Bosh also on the court.

“When Bosh went out, the package got smaller and when [Spoelstra] calls sets, he only calls them for me and LeBron instead of calling it for all three of us,” Wade said. “So, I’m more involved in the offense, and our team can kind of know exactly what we’re going to get out of us two.”

During the Heat’s four-game postseason winning streak, Wade and James have combined for 251 points (an average of 62 points per game).

Serge Ibaka sat on the bench for the final 16:01 of Oklahoma City's 101-98 Game 1 loss to the Spurs.

“I think every decision you make, if it doesn't work out, you say, ‘Why'd you do that?' and I'm right (there) with you on that,” said Scott Brooks.

Brooks used a smaller lineup, playing Kevin Durant at the power forward spot to stretch the defense and also forces the opponent to matchup smaller.

“We've done it in the past and have had a lot of success, so you can't really look back and beat yourself up too much … but I will,” Brooks said. “It was nothing against what Serge did.”

The Thunder were outscored 16-2 in terms of points in the paint in the fourth period.

“Going into the next game, I see him playing his normal minutes,” Brooks said.

The Heat varied their defensive looks on Rajon Rondo during their 93-70 win over Boston.

Rondo was held to 16 points and seven assists as the Heat made sure to have help defenders in the paint waiting for him.

“He’s one of the most unique players I have seen in this league," said Erik Spoelstra. "We know what he is. What is part of his greatness is his utter unpredictability. You don’t know where he comes up with that great play. He has great timing, knows the moment and what his team needs most. And it can be anything.”

Erik Spoelstra tracks Heat players with an "activity chart," which awards points for statistical categories such as fouls drawn and block outs on rebounding.

"It's basically all the tangible things you do that you don't see on a stat sheet," Heat video coordinator Dan Craig said. "It could be taking a hit or not getting a charge [on offense]. It could be a deflection on a pick-and-roll, you get a deflection but you don't get the steal. It could be everything from a hard close out, running guys off a shot and not necessarily getting a block but taking them off an open shot. He is always at the top of our team's activity chart at the end of every game.

"I think that's what makes him great. He does so much more out there on the court than the average person will see."

James is averaging 9.8 free throw attempts per game in the postseason.

"The average fan might not notice that he's picked up eight fouls for the game," Craig said. "That helps us get in the bonus at the end of the games. You get those attackers attacking and now we're at the free throw line shooting … He really just does so much."

Rajon Rondo took responsibility for allowing the Sixers to speed up the pace during their 15-2 third quarter run.

“They sped us up a little bit,” said Rondo. “They took some quick shots, we had some turnovers in that stretch, and they made shots.

“In that stretch I had to do a better job of slowing us down and getting us into the next set. I had to demand that guys get into the right spots offensively. It’s a calculation for me of when we’re doing a good job in random and when we’re not in that stretch. And in that 15-2 run we didn’t do a good job.

“But in the first half we did make those shots. In the second half when we weren’t making those shots we had to slow it down. But it all comes down to defense. We may have lost our composure, but we’re a veteran team and we’re better than that. We should have responded better.”

The Sixers limited Kevin Garnett to just nine points on 3-for-12 shooting from the floor.

Lavoy Allen defended Garnett for much of the game.

“Lavoy, once again, defensively just did a tremendous job,’’ Doug Collins said.

Philadelphia has been successful in taking away Garnett's deep post-ups.

Erik Spoelstra mixed up his starting lineup in Game 3 with Chris Bosh unavailable.

Dexter Pittman started at center, while Shane Battier received the call at small forward and that setup LeBron James for a matchup at power forward against David West.

Pittman played just 3.5 minutes before Spoelstra sent in Joel Anthony.

Udonis Haslem and Ronny Turiaf started Game 2.

LeBron James is playing more minutes at power forward due to the injury to Chris Bosh.

James admitted before Game 2 that significant minutes at the position takes its toll on him physically.

“It’s a lot more taxing being in there with bigger guys,” James said. Defensively “is the biggest difference. When you’re on the perimeter, there’s more space. The interior is more cramped and physical. … But I’m ready for the challenge.”

James also said that he has played more positions this season than any of his seven with the Cavaliers.

Ray Allen continues to play through his ankle injury and didn't score a field goal in the fourth quarter.

But his presence on the floor is effective even if it is as a decoy. Because the Sixers must respect his three-point shot, they are limited in their double-teaming opportunities and are spaced more throughout the halfcourt.

“I mean, I thought 10 different times he was hurt again,’’ Doc Rivers. “He hit the floor four or five times. Ray is just tough. I mean, I don’t think we realize how - his foot’s bothering him and he’s playing terrific. The stretch when he came in again with the second unit, that was a big stretch for us. It gave us some hope.’’

The Celtics and 76ers were two of the NBA's better and more rugged defensive teams this season.

Boston led the league in defensive field percentage, while Philadelphia ranked third.

Doc Rivers expects the series to be low-scoring.