Today, the Heat’s defense on Trae Young takes the spotlight.

Context: Trae Young wasn’t himself in Atlanta’s Game 1 loss to Miami.

Following a dominant performance against the Cavaliers to punch the Hawks’ ticket to the playoffs, Young finished with eight points on 1-for-12 shooting from the field and 0-for-7 from 3-point range in Game 1 against the Heat.

Not only is that tied for the worst field goal percentage Young has ever posted in a game in his career, but it’s also tied for the second-most 3s he’s ever missed without a make. Additionally, Young finished Game 1 with more turnovers (6) than assists (4).

How did the Heat slow the two-time All-Star down? Let’s take a closer look at one particular possession before getting into the nitty-gritty.

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The play:

Breakdown: Young brings the ball up the court for the Hawks after a bucket from PJ Tucker. Jimmy Butler picks him up as he crosses halfcourt, but the Hawks set a couple of screens for Young, resulting in a couple of switches.

First, Tucker switches onto Young following a screen from Danilo Gallinari.

Then, Bam Adebayo switches onto him following a screen from Onyeka Okongwu.

Not wanting to attack Adebayo for good reason, Young calls for another screen, this time from De’Andre Hunter to get Max Strus switched onto him.

You know what that means — it’s iso time.

According to the matchup data, Strus matched up with Young for a total of 13 possessions over Miami’s four meetings with Atlanta during the regular season. How did Young fare on those possessions? 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the field.

Knowing that Young likes the matchup, the Heat provide a healthy amount of help.

It looks like Tucker motions to Kyle Lowry to switch — Tucker is better equipped to keep Okongwu off the glass and Lowry is as good as it gets at drawing charges — but he decides not to switch at the last second, probably because he knows it could create an opening for Young to drive.

Additionally, Adebayo abandons Hunter to cut off the middle of the floor, leaving Young little-to-no room to operate.

There’s still 13 seconds remaining on the shot clock, but Young takes a deep step back that comes up short.

Why it matters: Lowry spent the most time chasing Young around in Game 1, but Butler, Adebayo, Tucker and Gabe Vincent each guarded him a decent amount. 

Their plan? “Keep him in front,” Butler explained postgame. 

“He is constantly breaking down defenses and causing you to help, and if you don’t help it’s a layup, [or] it’s a floater. And if you do help, he’s hitting the right guy every single time [with a pass]. I think we did a great job of not fouling and just moving our feet and staying in front of him.”

There simply aren’t many openings against this Heat team. This possession is a perfect example of what makes them equipped to shut down anyone and everyone, as Butler passes Young onto Tucker, who then passes him onto Bam freaking Adebayo. Butler has long been one of the league’s best defenders, Tucker has made a career out of harassing stars and Adebayo was a contender for Defensive Player the Year, one of few players who can legitimately guard all five positions.

Good luck beating any one of them on an island.

When Young finally got the matchup he was looking for, the Heat cut off his airspace without leaving a clear pass to make.

There was more of where that came from in Game 1. Young missed some shots that he can make, but the Heat’s switches prevented him from getting into the paint where he picks defenses apart with his floater. According to Second Spectrum, the Heat switched 21 times against Young in Game 1 and allowed only 0.8 points per direct pick. That’s some smothering defense.

Whether it was against Adebayo…

…Tucker…

…or Lowry…

…the Heat made Young work for absolutely everything.

As many on the Heat were quick to point out after the game, Young will almost certainly be better the rest of the series, but it sure isn’t going to be easy for him to get going against this suffocating Miami defense.

Will he fare any better in Game 2? Only time will tell.