Eastern Conference Finals: (1) Indiana vs. (2) Miami

Yeah the Pacers definitely played at insane level offensively compared to their usual production. Their isn't really much more Indiana can do to play better than they showed tonight (perhaps better defensively)...but Miami has a higher ceiling and can shift it a few more gears. We know that they weren't even close today to their usual brand of basketball.

However having said that....Miami has not been as consistent as previous years in playing at that high level, but it does always surface when they have their backs on the wall. I am confident they will get to that point again when things get tough for them.

If Indiana holds home court (wins next game) then it will get very interesting since Indiana has HCA. Miami needs to be a lot more aggressive...i didn't feel the intensity from them today, and felt their approached it as a regular season game.

Nothing else much to say in a game 1 of a series. I think at this stage, I would still favour Miami, but if Indiana holds home court next game...I would actually give them the advantage in this series.

 

Honestly the Pacers always play better against Miami, Lebron and Wade played great and they still lost.

The front courts, which are a Pacer advantage, played like they played last year.

It could play out similarly but Indiana has home-court advantage and seems to be better prepared after last year's 7 game series.

 

An Asik for Bosh trade would make so much sense for everyone involved.

 

Miami was off their game today. We all know they will adjust and play better. When the Pacers chemistry gets knocked off the tracks, they are in deep water.

What would happen to the Pacers if they somehow got a 3rd win? I still don't think they have the intestinal fortitude to close out a clinching game against the Heat.

 

Indiana will not always shoot 3s like that, but if you give West those little bunny hooks around the basket all day, and other people open lanes to the basket, the shooting percentages on those types of shots aren't going to change.

When Bosh plays like a p***y, Miami is weak inside, defensively

 

Pacers win one at home? Expected. It would be sad if they didn't. They better pray they can pull the next game out or the series is over.

 

Bosh here

Asik, Ilyasova, Middleton, and our 1st rd pick to Miami

Lin, Dmo to Bucks

I would do this!

 

that debate seems settled

 

need this shirt on the left in every seat:

 

oops...

 

A big key to this series is whether or not Bosh can hit big shots outside, forcing Hibbert to step out (leaving the paint for Miami drivers) or some sort of switch.

I've watched a lot of Pacers hoops the last few months and this is the first time in a while they've played well offensively in consecutive games iirc. Even when they blew out the Wizards in game 3, that was just ugly ugly ugly basketball. Hopefully they keep up the ball movement and shot-making the rest of this series so it'll continue to be fun to watch.

 

i think this series would go 2-2 after 4 games played, and game 5 will decide it.

 

for Rockets fans:

Scola!

 

Video?

 

Indeed. How spectacular would it be if the Pacers won an NBA title? I can't even imagine it. As much as I follow OKC because of KD, no doubt the Pacers winning it all would excite me more than any team besides the Rockets.

I don't know if you're old enough to remember the ABA days of Mel Daniels, Billy Keller, Darnell Hillman, George McGinnis, Bobby Leonard (I never got into calling him "Slick"), etc. I was very young and didn't even know the NBA existed until several years of following the Pacers. I went to games at the old Fairgrounds Coliseum.

Back to now: Would love to be wrong about the series but don't trust this team (or Vogel).

 

Bosh sucked.

Lebron was pretty terrible defensively. That's more interesting to me. He's been below average defensively for him all year and has been coasting on reputation. He needs to get his **** together.

 

I also attended my first games at the Coliseum in about 1970, 2nd grade

 

I'm probably one year older than you. Graduated from Purdue in 84 (ChE). Moved to Houston in 86.

 

Heat will still win this even if they go down 0-2.

 

Even if they go down 0-3