Yep, I freely admit I didn't think any team could seriously challenge the Miami Heat on their quest for another NBA title. Barring Lebron James getting injured, yours truly just couldn't foresee any other team capable of beating them in a 7 game playoff series. Now it may be time to reassess.
No, the Indiana Pacers haven't beaten them yet in their current playoff series, far from it, but this is starting to get interesting. After splitting the first two games in Miami, both dogfights, Indy has reclaimed home court advantage. The Pacers are yet to lose at home in this year's playoffs. Can Miami storm into Indy and take control of the series? Maybe. Never underestimate what the defending champs are capable of when they get on a roll -- but the Pacers would appear problematic for the Heat, for a few reasons.
The Pacers aren't the least bit intimidated by the Heat. Quite the contrary. They appear to be very confident they can defeat Miami. Yes, Miami got more press throughout the year, while Indy pretty much flew beneath the radar, but don't be fooled. The Pacers are the real deal -- just in a different way.
Miami has it's superstars like Lebron, Wade, and Bosh, but Indy's got other things that may be even more important over the course of a long playoff series. They're bigger and stronger across the board. They're deeper with the amount of quality players they can rotate in and out of the game, without their level of play noticeably falling off.
And perhaps unlike what Miami has become accustomed to when playing other teams -- there will be no run and gun dunkathon for easy points. Indiana simply won't allow it. They contest everything, all over the court. While most casual observers merely follow the basketball, they might fail to notice how good Indiana's defense is. The Pacers' defense seamlessly switches coverages from man to man depending on what the other team presents. On the rare occasion an opponent gets an "open look" for a shot, he'd better do it in a hurry, because somebody's coming -- fast -- and usually the defender is bigger than the shooter.
Getting points in the "paint" against Indiana is brutal. When any opponent gets the ball under the basket, he'll likely find at least three very tall Pacers standing next to him just waiting to block his shot, and rough him up a bit in the process. Kick the ball out to the perimeter, and somehow the Pacers seem to get back out there in a hurry as well. No, Indy doesn't have anybody that's "superstar" status like Miami, but as a team, they're quite formidable. Plus, they've got several guys that can shoot the lights out as well as crash the boards. Miami definitely has it's hands full with the Pacers.
Yeah, Miami will definitely "bring it" when they roll into Indianapolis and try to kick the Pacers to the banks of the Wabash.
But I wouldn't be so sure about that. I suspect in their heart of hearts, Lebron and Co. aren't either right about now.
The Pacers are convinced they can win. They just might be right. The theory here is -- the longer the series goes, the more it would seem to favor Indiana, because their abundance of big bodies will take it's toll and wear down the shock troops of the Heat. And wouldn't it be something if the Pacers actually knocked them off? With the Indy 500 race thrown into the mix -- it would definitely be a good week in Hoosierland.
Yep, this is getting interesting......
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