Less than 5 minutes into the first quarter, O'Neal was substituted by Riley for Moning.
Although the Heat intentionally slowed down their offensive pace since the beginning of the game, and O'Neal's model advantage allowed him to efficiently screen for Wade at the top of the key, Riley couldn't accept the Heat's zone defense being cut through like a sieve by the Warriors during the set plays.
The Heat's zone defense has always emphasized disciplined execution, using teamwork to mitigate the damage inflicted on their interior.
Riley's protégé Spoelstra is an expert in zone defense.
During the game, Riley often adjusts the Heat's zone defense setup based on Spoelstra's suggestions, disrupting the attacking team's rhythm with seamless switches to man-to-man defense.
Before the finals began, Riley's biggest concern was O'Neal's slow mobility being unable to keep up with the Warriors' high-speed rotations during offense.
