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

[Boneman2]

I have not seen one Pacer fan dismiss the Heat. Should be an exciting series but I don't agree with the notion that Indy is only built to beat the Heat. If Indy is one cohesive unit they are a challenge for any team regardless of conference.

In other words, I'd rather face the Thunder or Spurs as opposed to the Heat.

[HotRocks34]

Pacers easily will beat western champion in the Finals.

No shot at all IMO unless one of the teams (SAS, OKC) is hurting. But fortunate for the Pacers, both teams are hurting (Ibaka; Parker).

Of the remaining 4 teams playing, Vegas has Indy at the longest odds to win the title. I think that's the correct assessment.

Indy matches up extremely well with Miami. But that is where it ends. Not saying they are not a good team, they are very good, but OKC is all wrong for them in terms of styles and San Antonio just has too much experience and depth.

The only version of the Pacers that would have a shot against those teams is the version that showed up against Miami in Game 1 and the version that showed up at the end of the Wizards series. The version that can score at a high clip.

The problem is, Indiana doesn't overpower either San Antonio or OKC with their size in the way they do the Heat. If the Pacers win the Eastern Conference Finals, I think The Finals will be a real letdown unless the Spurs or OKC is really hurting. Which could be the case.

[PaulieWal]

Pacers easily will beat western champion in the Finals.

No shot at all IMO unless one of the teams (SAS, OKC) is hurting. But fortunate for the Pacers, both teams are hurting (Ibaka; Parker).

Of the remaining 4 teams playing, Vegas has Indy at the longest odds to win the title. I think that's the correct assessment.

Indy matches up extremely well with Miami. But that is where it ends. Not saying they are not a good team, they are very good, but OKC is all wrong for them in terms of styles and San Antonio just has too much experience and depth.

The only version of the Pacers that would have a shot against those teams is the version that showed up against Miami in Game 1 and the version that showed up at the end of the Wizards series. The version that can score at a high clip.

The problem is, Indiana doesn't overpower either San Antonio or OKC with their size in the way they do the Heat. If the Pacers win the Eastern Conference Finals, I think The Finals will be a real letdown unless the Spurs or OKC is really hurting. Which could be the case.

The Spurs and OKC will never admit it but they much rather see the Pacers than the Heat in the Finals. I think Pacers will lose to the Spurs and OKC in 5-6. Against OKC, Miami would be slightly favored and they are underdogs against the Spurs. Even then, with Miami you risk LeBron and Wade going into Super Saiyan mode and making it tough on you. As good as Indy is, PG is the only guy on that team who can completely take over a game and I am not even fully sold on that. Both the Thunder and Spurs have good match-ups for Hibbert too.

[HotRocks34]

The Spurs and OKC will never admit it but they much rather see the Pacers than the Heat in the Finals. I think Pacers will lose to the Spurs and OKC in 5-6. Against OKC, Miami would be slightly favored and they are underdogs against the Spurs. Even then, with Miami you risk LeBron and Wade going into Super Saiyan mode and making it tough on you. As good as Indy is, PG is the only guy on that team who can completely take over a game and I am not even fully sold on that. Both the Thunder and Spurs have good match-ups for Hibbert too.

I've said it for weeks: Indy can beat Miami but I don't think they can win the title. They're like a tennis player that can always beat a certain high-ranked opponent but they don't do as well against the rest of the field. I'm not saying this to rile Pacers fans, this is honestly how I feel. If the Pacers win the East, I hope I'm wrong because I would like to see a good Finals.

[PaulieWal]

The Spurs and OKC will never admit it but they much rather see the Pacers than the Heat in the Finals. I think Pacers will lose to the Spurs and OKC in 5-6. Against OKC, Miami would be slightly favored and they are underdogs against the Spurs. Even then, with Miami you risk LeBron and Wade going into Super Saiyan mode and making it tough on you. As good as Indy is, PG is the only guy on that team who can completely take over a game and I am not even fully sold on that. Both the Thunder and Spurs have good match-ups for Hibbert too.

I've said it for weeks: Indy can beat Miami but I don't think they can win the title. They're like a tennis player that can always beat a certain high-ranked opponent but they don't do as well against the rest of the field. I'm not saying this to rile Pacers fans, this is honestly how I feel. If the Pacers win the East, I hope I'm wrong because I would like to see a good Finals.

I am inclined to agree with this. A Finals loss would be another good learning experience for this young core. PG is still incredibly young.

Anyway, hold your horses, HotRock. I still got Miami in 6 .

[HotRocks34]

Anyway, hold your horses, HotRock. I still got Miami in 6 .

I am conceding nothing. I also picked Miami.

I am impressed with Indy's regrouping and their humble attitude after the Game 1 win, though. They're learning. Just as Miami had to learn in 2011.

[PaulieWal]

Anyway, hold your horses, HotRock. I still got Miami in 6 .

I am conceding nothing. I also picked Miami.

I am impressed with Indy's regrouping and their humble attitude after the Game 1 win, though. They're learning. Just as Miami had to learn in 2011.

Good to know you picked the Heat. Yeah, I give full credit to the Pacers. They played with passion and came out on fire. I also think they studied Mavs and Spurs games against the Heat to use Miami's defense against them. Spo out-trolled himself by starting Battier over Haslem . He tried to get too cute and paid the price.

[HotRocks34]

I also think they studied Mavs and Spurs games against the Heat to use Miami's defense against them. Spo out-trolled himself by starting Battier over Haslem . He tried to get too cute and paid the price.

Agreed on both points. Pacers looked like they made the extra pass to beat the Heat trap/double (I only saw bits of the game so can't say this definitively) and Spo pretty much blew it with UD/Battier.

Heat are vulnerable. They're older, Miller is gone, Mason (potential Miller fill-in) is gone, Beasley and Oden and Douglas are on the pine. Indy is a bad match up. Going to be tough, but it should be fun to watch.

If someone forced me to pick an overall favorite to win the chip right now I would take the Spurs, if Parker is healthy.

[PaulieWal]

I also think they studied Mavs and Spurs games against the Heat to use Miami's defense against them. Spo out-trolled himself by starting Battier over Haslem . He tried to get too cute and paid the price.

Agreed on both points. Pacers looked like they made the extra pass to beat the Heat trap/double (I only saw bits of the game so can't say this definitively) and Spo pretty much blew it with UD/Battier.

Heat are vulnerable. They're older, Miller is gone, Mason (potential Miller fill-in) is gone, Beasley and Oden and Douglas are on the pine. Indy is a bad match up. Going to be tough, but it should be fun to watch.

If someone forced me to pick an overall favorite to win the chip right now I would take the Spurs, if Parker is healthy.

Yeah, good points although one correction. Mason was garbage in his time here. He was given opportunities and he was really bad. I am glad they waived him.

You are not alone in picking the Spurs to win it all. I am going to stay with the Heat until they lose 4 but I know they will be the underdogs against the Spurs if they make it past the Pacers. This is going to be the hardest year for the team and many of us knew that. The team has looked the thinnest since 2011 and win or lose this year, a re-load is coming this summer. I am very excited to see what Riley will do.

[JVL]

Miami has a track record of losing game 1's and winning the series. Counting out the 2 time champion based on one game where they played horrendous defense, the Pacers shot an insane amount of free throws compared to the Heat and the Pacers were lights out from beyond the arc...it's just one of those games where you cannot win.

It won't happen again, Heat take game 2.

[HotRocks34]

I also think they studied Mavs and Spurs games against the Heat to use Miami's defense against them. Spo out-trolled himself by starting Battier over Haslem . He tried to get too cute and paid the price.

Agreed on both points. Pacers looked like they made the extra pass to beat the Heat trap/double (I only saw bits of the game so can't say this definitively) and Spo pretty much blew it with UD/Battier.

Heat are vulnerable. They're older, Miller is gone, Mason (potential Miller fill-in) is gone, Beasley and Oden and Douglas are on the pine. Indy is a bad match up. Going to be tough, but it should be fun to watch.

If someone forced me to pick an overall favorite to win the chip right now I would take the Spurs, if Parker is healthy.

Yeah, good points although one correction. Mason was garbage in his time here. He was given opportunities and he was really bad. I am glad they waived him.

You are not alone in picking the Spurs to win it all. I am going to stay with the Heat until they lose 4 but I know they will be the underdogs against the Spurs if they make it past the Pacers. This is going to be the hardest year for the team and many of us knew that. The team has looked the thinnest since 2011 and win or lose this year, a re-load is coming this summer. I am very excited to see what Riley will do.

For sure Mason sucked, I only mentioned him because he was an "add" to the team this season but he is no longer with the team. And he could hit a three, which might be helpful right now for the Heat.

Heat can beat the Spurs, but I'm not sure that they will/would.

Team is thin and this is the key time. Now is the time to "get" the Heat, IMO. While they are weak. If I were the Big 3, I would be looking at pay reductions and bringing in some youth and size. You win more rings, you'll easily make the money up on the back end, IMO, with endorsements and such.

If the Heat don't pull things together this year and like next year, I think LeBron is off to the Clippers. He likes Doc Rivers, the market would be perfect, he likes Chris Paul (I think) and it's easy to attract talent to LA. But he's not going there until/unless Sterling is out. Which probably won't take too long.

[PaulieWal]

If the Heat don't pull things together this year and like next year, I think LeBron is off to the Clippers. He likes Doc Rivers, the market would be perfect, he likes Chris Paul (I think) and it's easy to attract talent to LA. But he's not going there until/unless Sterling is out. Which probably won't take too long.

I actually think there's a 0% change LeBron will go to the Clippers/West. Why would you leave the East where you only have to go through Chicago/Indiana for now and Chicago isn't even a sure thing with Rose's health being a question mark? In the West no matter how good your team is you are looking at 3 rounds where any team could beat you and it wouldn't even be a surprise. You have to battle OKC/Spurs/Memphis/GSW/Blazers/Mavs/Suns. Also, Clips can't outright sign LeBron for the next few years and they would have to S&T a lot of their assets or probably even Blake.

I also think there is no way Riley/Arison won't change things up. Riley knows the importance of keeping LeBron. I would never bet against that man.

[HotRocks34]

If the Heat don't pull things together this year and like next year, I think LeBron is off to the Clippers. He likes Doc Rivers, the market would be perfect, he likes Chris Paul (I think) and it's easy to attract talent to LA. But he's not going there until/unless Sterling is out. Which probably won't take too long.

I actually think there's a 0% change LeBron will go to the Clippers/West. Why would you leave the East where you only have to go through Chicago/Indiana for now and Chicago isn't even a sure thing with Rose's health being a question mark? In the West no matter how good your team is you are looking at 3 rounds where any team could beat you and it wouldn't even be a surprise. You have to battle OKC/Spurs/Memphis/GSW/Blazers/Mavs/Suns. Also, Clips can't outright sign LeBron for the next few years and they would have to S&T a lot of their assets or probably even Blake.

I also think there is no way Riley/Arison won't change things up. Riley knows the importance of keeping LeBron. I would never bet against that man.

Great point about East vs West. Except for that, though, I could really see him going to LAC. Huge market, easy transition/location for movies/ads (think Cliff Paul and countless Griffin ads), younger team with serious talent and a coach I know LeBron likes. He likes/respects Spo, also, but Griffin > Bosh and CP3 > Wade. If for no other reason than they are younger.

If LeBron leaves the Heat, the place I think he will go next is LAC. I'm not saying he will leave, but if he leaves that is where I expect him to go. On the other hand, he and his wife seem fairly settled into Miami and I'm sure he'd be content to stay and further his legacy there, if he thinks the chips are in place properly. I think things will improve in this offseason for the team, personnel wise.

[HotRocks34]

Miami has a track record of losing game 1's and winning the series. Counting out the 2 time champion based on one game where they played horrendous defense, the Pacers shot an insane amount of free throws compared to the Heat and the Pacers were lights out from beyond the arc...it's just one of those games where you cannot win.

It won't happen again, Heat take game 2.

Great points. Thanks!

[NBABoom]

The Spurs and OKC will never admit it but they much rather see the Pacers than the Heat in the Finals. I think Pacers will lose to the Spurs and OKC in 5-6. Against OKC, Miami would be slightly favored and they are underdogs against the Spurs. Even then, with Miami you risk LeBron and Wade going into Super Saiyan mode and making it tough on you. As good as Indy is, PG is the only guy on that team who can completely take over a game and I am not even fully sold on that. Both the Thunder and Spurs have good match-ups for Hibbert too.

I've said it for weeks: Indy can beat Miami but I don't think they can win the title. They're like a tennis player that can always beat a certain high-ranked opponent but they don't do as well against the rest of the field. I'm not saying this to rile Pacers fans, this is honestly how I feel. If the Pacers win the East, I hope I'm wrong because I would like to see a good Finals.

I don't get why people don't favor Indiana in a finals
matchup vs OKC or SA


If Indy can beat Miami, They can definantly win the title too.
Their competition would be inferior to Miami.

An old beat up Spurs team and a team that heavily relies on
Durant and Westbrick cannot beat Indiana in a final seven
game series.

[BloodyNose]

Pacers easily will beat western champion in the Finals.

No shot at all IMO unless one of the teams (SAS, OKC) is hurting. But fortunate for the Pacers, both teams are hurting (Ibaka; Parker).

Of the remaining 4 teams playing, Vegas has Indy at the longest odds to win the title. I think that's the correct assessment.

Indy matches up extremely well with Miami. But that is where it ends. Not saying they are not a good team, they are very good, but OKC is all wrong for them in terms of styles and San Antonio just has too much experience and depth.

The only version of the Pacers that would have a shot against those teams is the version that showed up against Miami in Game 1 and the version that showed up at the end of the Wizards series. The version that can score at a high clip.

The problem is, Indiana doesn't overpower either San Antonio or OKC with their size in the way they do the Heat. If the Pacers win the Eastern Conference Finals, I think The Finals will be a real letdown unless the Spurs or OKC is really hurting. Which could be the case.

Hilarious how the pacers have been struggling lately, one good game and miami has already lost the series. GTFO, even if they magically beat miami, what makes you think they will easily beat oklahoma?

[Nuntius]

Not really. Most Heat fans predicted a competitive 6-7 game series while obviously picking the Heat. If you read the thread most of the people here saying Heat will win in 5 or this will be a short series aren't even Heat fans.

Some Heat fans. Not most of them. I think that your fanbase is equally split between the ones that think that this is going to be a long series and the ones that think that Miami is going to make short work of Indiana. This thread was a lot of examples from both sides.

[Knicks2DaHouse]

The Spurs and OKC will never admit it but they much rather see the Pacers than the Heat in the Finals. I think Pacers will lose to the Spurs and OKC in 5-6. Against OKC, Miami would be slightly favored and they are underdogs against the Spurs. Even then, with Miami you risk LeBron and Wade going into Super Saiyan mode and making it tough on you. As good as Indy is, PG is the only guy on that team who can completely take over a game and I am not even fully sold on that. Both the Thunder and Spurs have good match-ups for Hibbert too.

I've said it for weeks: Indy can beat Miami but I don't think they can win the title. They're like a tennis player that can always beat a certain high-ranked opponent but they don't do as well against the rest of the field. I'm not saying this to rile Pacers fans, this is honestly how I feel. If the Pacers win the East, I hope I'm wrong because I would like to see a good Finals.

I don't get why people don't favor Indiana in a finals
matchup vs OKC or SA


If Indy can beat Miami, They can definantly win the title too.
Their competition would be inferior to Miami.

An old beat up Spurs team and a team that heavily relies on
Durant and Westbrick cannot beat Indiana in a final seven
game series.

I don't think they should be favored if they were to make the Finals...they posted a similar or worse record than OKC/SA in a significantly weaker conference.

However I don't think if they did it would be so blatantly one sided as everybody is acting like. Ibaka is out, Parker might not be 100%, Indy split 1-1 with both teams. They beat OKC during their absolute worst stretch of basketball, and they blew out the Spurs in San Antonio (granted during their incredible start). Favorites? No. Can they still win? Certainly. They're still a very good team.

Anyway, I don't think Indy is even worrying about the Finals right now...they've got to beat Lebron and company 3 more times

[PaulieWal]

Not really. Most Heat fans predicted a competitive 6-7 game series while obviously picking the Heat. If you read the thread most of the people here saying Heat will win in 5 or this will be a short series aren't even Heat fans.

Some Heat fans. Not most of them. I think that your fanbase is equally split between the ones that think that this is going to be a long series and the ones that think that Miami is going to make short work of Indiana. This thread was a lot of examples from both sides.

Of course there are some, however, I would say majority of the people saying this is going to be a short series are NOT Heat fans. We know how your team gets up for us. I even said this before the series started before someone argued with me that I was wrong. I said no matter how the Pacers are playing right now against us they will play like world beaters and they did last night.

On the Heat board, most are saying 6-7 competitive game series with a few saying it will be a short series.

[Benedict_Boozer]

I'm not buying into it. The past two years there have been multiple series where it looked like Miami might be going down but they only REALLY seem to bring it when their backs are against the wall. It's almost like they do the bare minimum at times as weird as that sounds to win games, and probably underestimated the Pacers based on their recent erratic play. You could tell from the moment the 1st quarter started the Pacers were bringing their A game and Miami was on their heels, that ain't happening in key swing games like Game 2 or Game 5, etc.

If I'm Vogel, I'm making sure my team understands that and comes out even more desperate in Game 2. A split is not a good outcome, Pacers need BOTH home games at the start to win this series IMO.