CHARLOTTE -- Steve Clifford is going with size.
The Hornets coach opted Saturday to replace the injured Nicolas Batum in the starting lineup by shifting power forward Marvin Williams to small forward, inserting rookie Frank Kaminsky at power forward and Al Jefferson at center. Cody Zeller, who started Games 1 and 2, will be coming off the bench. Kemba Walker and Courtney Lee remain as Charlotte's starting backcourt.
The group has played just three minutes together total all season according to the NBA stats' page.
"When Courtney [was acquired in a trade with Memphis] Al was just coming back from his injury," Clifford said. "Just looking at it, you have to try to find a balance of groups offensively and defensively that you can put together for 48 minutes.
"The other thing is watching the film their size has been a problem for us -- their perimeter size. I think by playing bigger more than hopefully we can have a better chance out there. A lot of their [success] zipping the ball on the perimeter inside is the fact they're so big. Hopefully being bigger we can deal better with that stuff."
The Heat has averaged 119 points per game thus far in the playoffs and shot better than 57 percent in its first two games. Clifford said Friday the Hornets did a poor job deflecting passes from the Heat off pick and rolls to the interior. He said the Hornets deflected just 27 balls. He wants them to average more than 40.
What does Heat coach Erik Spoelstra think of Clifford's move to go big?
"We're just open whatever the competition will reveal," he said. "They've played different lineups. You can see the line of thought -- bring some size defensively against us, especially pick-and-roll coverages. It will still come down to who imposes whose game more consistently. Their game won't change even with the size because they still have the skill and the shooting. We will have to be prepared for the energy, obviously, we will feel in this building."
> Clifford said the Hornets will also play forward/center Spencer Hawes more than they did in Games 1 and 2. Hawes has played a total of 12 minutes in the series.
BOSH TRAVELS
Chris Bosh made the trip with the Heat to Charlotte -- his first road trip with the team since Feb. 5.
Bosh has been out since the All-Star break after a recurrence of blood clots in his calf. He and Tyler Johnson remain inactive for the Heat.
"We love having him around," Spoelstra said of Bosh. "I think he gives a steadying influence, leadership at all levels even when he's not out there on the court. That's why I always lean on him. He's like another coach. He's been through our system and sees the game through a different lens than most players."
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