Eastern Conference Finals: [#3] Indiana Pacers vs. [#1] Miami Heat

[EmpireWF]

All games at 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT

Game 1 in Miami: Wednesday, May 22
Game 2 in Miami: Friday, May 24
Game 3 in Indianapolis: Sunday, May 26
Game 4 in Indianapolis: Tuesday, May 28
Game 5 in Miami: Thursday, May 30
Game 6 in Indianapolis: Saturday, June 1
Game 7 in Miami: Monday, June 3

 

[Hasselbeck]

Pacers will test them, may even steal a game in Miami... but ultimately fall to them in 6.

 

[Primetime]

I think the Pacers have a better chance of beating them in a series moreso than either WCF team. That chance is still rather thin though.

 

[DJ Rhude]

I give the Pacers more than a punchers chance to upset the Heat......I mean this is a better version of the team that led 2-1 last year.....This should be an excellent series no matter the outcome

 

[FirstTimer]

If the Pacers had Granger..I'd pick them.

But.......

 

[JimLeavy59]

Pacers offense goes into the tank far to often. Heat in 5.

 

[ralaw]

If the Pacers had Granger..I'd pick them.

But.......

IMO Granger's absence isn't that serious.

Indiana can make it tough fir Miami, but they have a bunch of "ifs" my random thoughts:

If Stephenson plays like he did against the Knicks Miami is going to have problems.

If Paul George takes that next step into becoming a true star Miami is going to have problems.

If Hibbert can manage to stay in the paint and not be in foul trouble he will make it tough for James, Wade, Cole, etc to attack the rim. The issue with Hibbert is who does he guard when Bosh is at the 5 and James is at the 4?

If Indiana can control the pace they will win.

Defensively Miami can't handle West or Hibbert, so it will be interesting if the both of them are playing well.

If Indiana is going to take that next step and prove they are a legit perennial championship caliber team this is the series to get it rolling. They don't have to win the series, but they should push Miami 6-7 games.

 

[Influence]

If Stephenson plays like he did against the Knicks Miami is going to have problems.

I expect the Heat to put pressure on Lance early in the series.. We went 2-1 in the regular season against the heat, but in the game that we lost to the Heat we got whooped. They doubled Lance and stopped him from creating the fast break. I expect them to do the same thing. If Paul George can take advantage of that double team than we could be sitting pretty.

I think this series will be determined based on how well Paul George plays, given Roy Hibbert and David West can produce.

 

[Hasselbeck]

I give the Pacers more than a punchers chance to upset the Heat......I mean this is a better version of the team that led 2-1 last year.....This should be an excellent series no matter the outcome

It's also a better version of the Heat.

 

[Primetime]

Key to the Pacers winning this series:



Murder Lebron James

 

[EmpireWF]

Indy's kind of game so far....

 

[JimLeavy59]

Paul George was running around like a chicken with his head cut off on that possession very costly turnover.

Spoelstra late game offense is really bad at times, having Lebron run horns in the corner makes no sense get him in the high post.

Refs ruin another playoff game.

 

[JimLeavy59]

LeBron fuckin James!!!!!!!!!

 

[Argath]

Fuck Lebron

 

[JimLeavy59]

Fuck Lebron

 

[Herm]

 

[ralaw]

I don't get why people are blaming Vogel for not having Hibbert in the game as if because he is 7'-2" he will automatically block James' layup. James turned so quick to get to the rim I don't think Hibbert would have had time to get there anyways. The blame should be on Paul George for being out of position. The defense was set up to keep the offensive players in front and away from the rim. You can live with George forcing James to shoot a contested jumper, but you can't let him get past you that easily.

 

[DJ Rhude]

That's exactly why you're supposed to have your 7'2" guy in there, to protect the rim in case someone messes up.....with 2.2 seconds left, all Hibbert had to do was camp in the paint staying under the basket with no worries of a 3 second def call....there wasn't enough time for Lebron to pass....horrible job of coaching by Vogel there.....

 

[x0xHumblex0x]

you knew LeBron was getting the ball and was going to shoot; drive, what ever........he is on a mission.
i see the broom coming out the closet now..........

 

[ralaw]

That's exactly why you're supposed to have your 7'2" guy in there, to protect the rim in case someone messes up.....with 2.2 seconds left, all Hibbert had to do was camp in the paint staying under the basket with no worries of a 3 second def call....there wasn't enough time for Lebron to pass....horrible job of coaching by Vogel there.....

Vogel probably expected his 2nd team all defense and All-Star to understand the situation and be in position to prevent an easy layup. I don't think Hibbert had to be in the game, but if he is it doesn't automatically mean that James doesn't get that layup. Not many times do you see a defensive break down like that.

In the huddle before the play Vogel isn't thinking that George is going to let James do the one thing that he shouldn't let him do. He was probably more concerned of the drive and kick, which is why he had a faster lineup on the court, because Hibbert wouldn't have had time to get out and contest an open jumpshot.