The Indiana Pacers have been a hot topic in the NBA Playoffs. They played possum for the better part of the last three months. Doing everything possible to make us doubt them, yet somehow still clinching the number-one seed in the East and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals.
It’s been exhausting trying to keep up with them. Who the hell are they?
The team that needed seven games to beat Atlanta in Round One? That team sucked.
The team that rallied from a double-digit deficit to beat Washington in a must-win game? That’s a team you’d pick against almost anybody.
Well on Sunday, the good Pacers showed up. They never trailed against Miami, and are now three wins away from the (least watched) NBA Finals (in history). All good, right?
Not so fast.
Here are three reasons why there should still be plenty of doubt in Indianapolis:
Three-point shooting –
Put simply: Indy shot them well, Miami didn’t.
On Sunday, Indy made eight threes to Miami’s six. Basically the exact opposite of their season averages. Give two threes to Miami, take two away from Indy and you basically have a tie game. The Pacers were 23rd in the league in made threes this year. It’s just not a part of their game…well, technically offense isn’t a part of their game, but stay with me.
To the Pacers’ credit, they took advantage of Miami’s tendency to give up open shots from deep. But over the course of seven games, these shots will stop falling. We have 82 games of evidence to back this up.
Miami will gladly give Indy threes to try and stop shots in the lane. On that note…
Do YOU trust Roy Hibbert? –
Cause you shouldn’t.
With 19 points including nine free throws on Sunday, Hibbert had five less points and four more free throws than the ENTIRE FIRST ROUND.
I know Hibbert is a machine sent here specifically to play well against the Miami Heat. And I know he had his way with multiple Heat defenders on Sunday (Bosh, Battier and Haslem by my count). HOWEVER, this is the same guy with multiple zero point games this postseason. The margin for error is microscopic in this series, and the Pacers can’t afford even a couple horrible games out of Hibbert.
But who thinks he can play well four times out of seven?
96 points is too many –
And that’s how many Miami scored on Sunday. The Pacers had six guys score 105 points on Sunday. There’s no way they are keeping that up. Though they were creative on offense, rarely allowing Miami to trap the ball and force a ton of turnovers, if Indy allows 96 points a game they will definitely lose this series.
Despite all their issues, the Pacers have had the league’s best defense in the playoffs, so this shouldn’t be an issue. Plus, a lower scoring game for the Pacers (likely) will mean a lower scoring game for the Heat with fewer possessions to go around.
But pace will be a key for both teams going forward. The team that executes its style of play will be rewarded with a trip to the Finals.
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Were you swayed by Sunday’s Game 1? Do you think the Pacers will finally get past Miami? Can they keep homecourt advantage tonight?
Hit the comments and let me know!
I’m with you, Joe. I’m not buying that the Pacers are ‘back’ and they are FAR from champions.
Why?
Because they lack consistency.
Every team is bound to have a good game, every now and then. Plus, it never hurts if the team you’re playing against doesn’t truly show up at their best.
I’m not saying the Pacers can’t win another game…or maybe even two, but I don’t believe they will remain consistent enough to get pass Miami.
Even if they did manage to do that…would they truly be ready for what lies ahead?
It’s crazy man. They could score 50 points or 110 tonight and I wouldn’t be shocked. Not a good place to be when you’re playing the two-time defending champs, lol.
Precisely! Completely unpredictable. LOL!
They had a hot game but as I said, they wont even make the Game 7 at home they been coveting since last year, i got the Heat taking games 2, 3, 5 and 6.
*favorites* You’re a bold man for making specific game predictions. Taking these prognostications to the next level!
I like this level of boldness and confidence…and I can’t lie, I wouldn’t mind seeing it play out like this at all.
I was at the game Saturday night, and they had a hard time controlling Hibbert. Looks like they figured out a plan for Monday night, once they shut him down we started to see the champions again.
Tristan,
Pretty good predictions, young man!
Got 4 & 5 mixed up, i blame Lance Stephenson.
Definitely El Heat in Six. Put Haslem and Andersen on Hibbert, let Lebron and Wade do their thing, then bring Allen in for those beautiful threes and the Pacers are a wrap.
I thought Allen was done until he made me put my foot in my mouth this post season. He’ll have one of those “Mike Miller 7 threes” games I bet.
That would be dope! I’m waiting to see him have another break out performance like that.
Everybody was praising them after game 1, and then game 2 happened… BOOOOOH… The Heat hater that i am still hope Miami will not win this year, but since the first round against Atlanta i knew i couldn’t trust the Pacers… Oh well i guess i have to put my faith on the Spurs!!!