2014 NBA EC Finals: IND (1) vs MIA (2)

[Knicks2DaHouse]

In that case I have no problem with your post. The statement I made in my original post was in response to the Pacers' fan, who was perplexed as to why his team was being disrespected and not being given the benefit of the doubt. That's it. I have no problem if you have confidence in your team, heck I hope you do. But I was a bit taken aback by the idea that it's so preposterous to doubt this Pacers team, as the poster had suggested. That is all.

Knicks2DaHouse is not a Pacers fan. He's a Knicks fan that lives in Indiana and has watched several Pacer games.

uhh...never read his name, my mistake. Nonetheless, my point still stands.

Thanks Nuntius for your post earlier...that was good stuff

Anyway @UsualSuspects, I'm not trying to say that the Pacers shouldn't be criticized for their inconsistency and periods of poor play, I just think people have been going way overboard with it, like they were never a good team to begin with is all.

[Knicks2DaHouse]

People ignore the fact that it took D-Wade playing on one leg, Bosh disappearing, UD also playing on one leg, and Hibbert averaging 20 and 10 for the Pacers to take us to 7 last year and they STILL couldn't beat us. In 2012 Bosh had to be out the whole series for them to take us to 6 with a healthy D-Wade. This is the first year we're going into the Pacers series with the squad completely healthy. Hibbert is not going to be averaging prime Hakeem numbers this year. This is a 5 game series if the Heat don't mess around, 6 if they let a close game go.

This is a bit slanted...Bosh "disappearing" might have actually had something to do with, you know, the Pacers elite defense? Who's to say he's going to be effective this series? He's always struggled against Indy.

Also it is worth mentioning Lance is a much improved player this year than he was last year. There were games in this series where Indy's backcourt provided absolutely nothing. I wouldn't count on that happening this time around.

[dr3am]

People ignore the fact that it took D-Wade playing on one leg, Bosh disappearing, UD also playing on one leg, and Hibbert averaging 20 and 10 for the Pacers to take us to 7 last year and they STILL couldn't beat us. In 2012 Bosh had to be out the whole series for them to take us to 6 with a healthy D-Wade. This is the first year we're going into the Pacers series with the squad completely healthy. Hibbert is not going to be averaging prime Hakeem numbers this year. This is a 5 game series if the Heat don't mess around, 6 if they let a close game go.

This is a bit slanted...Bosh "disappearing" might have actually had something to do with, you know, the Pacers elite defense? Who's to say he's going to be effective this series? He's always struggled against Indy.

Also it is worth mentioning Lance is a much improved player this year than he was last year. There were games in this series where Indy's backcourt provided absolutely nothing. I wouldn't count on that happening this time around.

Yea um you know a guy by the name of "Dwyane Wade" is healthy this time around & won't be playing on a bone bruise like last year so as far as Indy's back court providing consistently good luck with that. A healthy Wade is much better than an improved Lance Stephenson (who btw has been up & down) in the postseason just like Hibbert


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[winter_mute_13]

For sure, I think the Pacers are the underdogs in this series. So I'm not going to come here and claim that the Pacers would win in x games or whatever.

For me, I just want the Pacers to go back to being the team we've known and loved the past few years. This means doing the following:

1. Defend their hearts out.
2. Dominate the boards.
3. Drive the lane for FTA's.

In other words, smashmouth basketball as Coach Vogel famously described it. IMO these things are all about effort, but unfortunately we've been moving away from this identity for some time. Well I think we need to go back to these basics for us to have any chance against the Heat. It's true that we're never going to outtalent the Heat, but maybe we can outwork them.

Some days, the Pacers are going to be just totally inept on offense, and some days Miami is just going to make outrageous shots with defenders' hands in their faces. That's just going to happen, and when those 2 coincide it's going to look really ugly for the Pacers.

So the Pacers have to make the most of their chances in those other games. The margin is razor thin for us. But win or lose, I'd be happy if we go out playing the way we're supposed to play. That's all I ask.

[daschysta]

People do need to come to grips with the fact that when evaluating elite defenses the argument that well x just didn't play well or if x got his season average we would have won! Often don't apply in such instances as facing a D like Indy. People miss layups against Indy because Indy allows by far tge lowest percentage at the rim. Guys struggle against Indy because they have Paul George with Roy Hibbert behind him on defense shadowing them all night. Guys aren't just having off nights every time they play Indy people... Talking to lots if people you'd think Indy is the luckiest team in the world because key players just happen to struggle to put the ball in the hoop when they play them... Nevermind defense...

[DayofMourning]

Actually limiting David West is the most important thing. People really underrate what he does against the Heat. We'll let Hibbert grab 20 & 10 as long as David West is neutralized. Throwing Bosh on West is definitely great because David West does struggle with lengthy defenders on him

I was checking bkref, and apparently if West scores 17 or more points the Pacers lose. If Hibbert gets a double double with 20 or more points, the Heat lose 75% of the time.

[36Mafia]

Miami in 4

[Hollowman]

I just want this series to start already.

Predicting Miami in 6. They'll split game 1 and 2.


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[Gwynplaine]

Too many predictions and too many people simply writing off the Pacers. They're not going to lie down and will put up a good fight.

[Ugly0598]

Miami in 6. All 6 games will be really good though.

[Altered_Beast]

Heat sweep

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[derb2k2]

I think Stephenson will cost the Pacers points in several crucial moments and thereby lose the game for them. Very emotional player who lets his ego get the best of him.

I'm anticipating a great series because the both teams seem healthy and after all, this is the ECF. Both teams have numerous incentives working for them. Hope for a Heat win but a good series.

[BIRDMAN BIRDMAN]

As a Heat fan, of course I want this to become a short series as much as possible in favor of MIA......but I have a feeling this will be 2-2 heading back to Indy. Now whoever grabs that 3-1 lead will win it 6 max IMO.

Miami does have the ability of stealing a game in Indy or two, but can they not allow Indy to do the same to them? Pacers play much better on the road if I recall this post-season. Well, starting off on the road might sharpen their focus more as compared to having HCA right away in game 1, so we shall see

[daschysta]

Considering how successful Antic and Gortat were at defending Hibbert...it really surprises me that Bosh has been that bad at defending him.

Or was it really Bosh's fault? Maybe it was more of an issue with whoever was guarding West at that point (most of the time, Battier)?

I think Miami should start Bosh and Haslem together...I really don't see Hibbert having much of an impact in that case, and when Hibbert goes to the bench, Miami can go small again.

They didn't really. After game 1 Hibbert averaged 15 ppg on 54 percent shooting even accounting for his poor game 5. They are both also much stronger and more physical than Bosh. Roy also has been his usual defensive terror and shut down the paint the last 5 games as well.

Indy needs to get its home court mojo back, if they can they have been great on the road these playoffs, going 5-1, which could be a factor

[DayofMourning]

I have to say, these Pacers are one of the most disrespected teams I've ever seen by fans. I live in Indiana, I saw them play all season, I think a lot of people seriously under value them.

Yes, the Atlanta Hawks took them to 7. An even worse team took the 08 Celtics to 7 too.

Yes, they struggled during the 2nd half of the season. They still won 56 games, took the #1 seed, granted in a weak conference, split 1-1 with Miami and beat OKC in the final stretch before the playoffs.

I've posts in here and in other threads casually claiming how Portland or Phoenix would easily make the conference finals in the East, how the Pacers aren't even the best team in the East outside Miami (seriously), how Miami has the "easiest road to the Finals",stuff like that. I think people are so quick to label them as a bad team in the midst of their recent struggles because they don't look flashy. We don't see pull up 3s, ankle breaking crossovers, poster dunks (usually), ect ect, because the Pacers play ugly. The Wizards everybody was raving about against Chicago didn't suddenly forget how to play basketball. Good defenses have a way of making you look worse than you are. They play dominant half court defense and grind their games out. Just because it isn't pretty doesn't mean it's not effective.

I'm not saying that they should be the favorites here, in light of their recent struggles and going against the 2x champs you give the edge to Miami, but they're still a damn good basketball team.

tl;dr the Pacers don't really get the same respect/benefit of the doubt from fans as other elite teams because good defense isn't as flashy.

They were getting plenty of respect early in the season when they were playing lights out. Their metamorphosis into the bipolar bunch that finished the season doesn't exactly earn any commendations. When you finish the regular season as poorly as they did and nearly get knocked out of the first round in six games by Atlanta, you don't exactly win public opinion.

[Blame Rasho]

I can't see the bipolar pacers making it a series.

[dr3am]

I can't see the bipolar pacers making it a series.

Wow i'm shocked...You think they'll at least win 1 game?

[Blame Rasho]

I can't see the bipolar pacers making it a series.

Wow i'm shocked...You think they'll at least win 1 game?

I think them getting one game would be on par of what we should expect from them... I could see them losing both 1st and 2nd game, winning at Miami for game 3 and losing game 4 and 5 to close out the series... so all of the three loses at Indy...

[mopper8]

I can't see the bipolar pacers making it a series.

Wow i'm shocked...You think they'll at least win 1 game?

I think them getting one game would be on par of what we should expect from them... I could see them losing both 1st and 2nd game, winning at Miami for game 3 and losing game 4 and 5 to close out the series... so all of the three loses at Indy...

I was thinking about this last night, and had the same thought. Not hard to imagine the series going that way given their struggles at home.

I'm gonna be conservative and say Heat in 6 though just because Indy gets up to play Miami.

[DK-All Day]

This series is going 7 games and anything can happen in a Game 7...