Paul George: Heat have Big Three, we have Big Five
The Indiana Pacers evened their Eastern Conference finals series with the Miami Heat Friday night with a 97-93 victory in Game 2. Pacers forward/guard Paul George, who scored 22 points and had six assists, credits playing as a team and not relying on one guy for the win. “Take nothing away from their
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NBA Picks: Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers, Game 3
The Miami Heat are 4-0 against the spread on the road during the 2013 NBA playoffs, which can’t be ignored when making your picks Sunday, as they continue their best-of-seven series against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Sports bettors will find that the Heat are one-point favorites in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 183.5 in the betting market.
Let’s take a closer look at Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.
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Pacers steal Game 2 from Heat, 97-93 (Yahoo! Sports)
MIAMI (AP) — David West punched two passes from LeBron James away in the final minute, then punched the air.
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Paul George, Pacers beat LeBron James, Heat in Game 2
LeBron James had a great first 47 minutes, then had two costly turnovers late.
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Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat Game 2: Video Highlights and Recap
Just when we thought the “is LeBron clutch?” conversation had ended, Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals will undoubtedly get the NBA‘s most oft-debated conversation heated up once again.
James turned the ball over twice in the final minute of Friday night’s action, helping the Indiana Pacers defeat the Miami Heat, 97-93, to even the best-of-seven series at 1-1.
The critical turnovers obscure an otherwise brilliant performance from the league MVP. James scored a game-high 36 points and grabbed eight rebounds on a night where Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh both turned in disappointing outings.
Wade scored only 14 points, while Bosh had a customary 17 but grabbed only five rebounds. Both shot 6-of-14 from the floor.
While most will focus on the implications for Miami as the series heads back to Indiana, Game 2′s biggest star was Pacers center Roy Hibbert.
The 7’2″ big man, who was infamously benched for James’ game-winning basket on Wednesday, scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. And on Miami’s final meaningful offensive possession—James’ second turnover of the final minute—it was Hibbert‘s length that forced LeBron to stop in his tracks and attempt a difficult pass.
The man who tipped that pass, David West, was involved with both James turnovers—making up for a dreadful offensive evening.
Meanwhile, Paul George’s leap to superstardom continued. The 23-year-old All-Star scored shot 9-of-16 en route to scoring 22 points, including a ferocious dunk that will assuredly make highlight shows across the nation.
Indiana now heads back home having done what all underdogs aspire to do—win one of the first road games. The pressure will now be firmly on the Heat, as the series gets back underway Sunday night in Indianapolis.
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Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat: Game 2 Score, Highlights and Analysis
The 2013 NBA playoffs resumed on Friday as the Indiana Pacers defeated the Miami Heat by a score of 97-93 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Finals series.
With the victory, Indiana ties this series at 1-1.
LeBron James led all scorers with 36 points, while Dwyane Wade added 14 points, six rebounds and five assists. Chris Bosh scored 17 of his own and Chris Andersen continued his efficient offensive play with seven points off of the bench.
For the winners, it was all about the interior.
Roy Hibbert responded to his late-game benching in Game 1 by scoring a playoff career-high 29 points paired with 10 rebounds. Paul George added 22 points, while George Hill dropped 18 and David West tallied 13 points and seven rebounds.
Lance Stephenson was well-rounded again, tallying 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Both teams started hot, combining for 19 points during the first four minutes of the game. Indiana used a 15-3 run and Hibbert’s low-post prowess to jump out to a double-digit lead, but Miami countered to bring the lead down to six points entering the second quarter.
Even still, Indiana had every reason to be confident while holding a 28-22 lead and showing no signs of broken will after a heartbreaking Game 1 loss.
Indiana refused to let up in the second quarter, using 12 made free throws to maintain its lead entering the half. With that being said, Chris Andersen took over offensively and managed to keep the Heat in this one.
Mike Miller drained one heck of a buzzer-beater to end the half and the stage was set for something classic.
These teams didn’t disappoint.
The third quarter was all about the Big Three, as Bosh started a furious rally, Wade hit one of his signature circus shots and James was his usual self. The trio accounted for 24 of Miami’s 27 third quarter points, outscoring Indiana by themselves.
With Indiana’s offense continuing to pound it down low and space the floor with the three-ball, however, the Pacers held on to a 76-74 lead. The key to that lead was one of the most glorious plays of the postseason.
George shot down the Birdman.
Now that’s what you call a dunk.
For those upset at what happened on this play, don’t be. George took it in cleanly and threw down a dunk of such extraordinary heights that the opposition offered him praise.
Most specifically, the man whom George has been defending—LeBron.
Respect.
During the fourth quarter, the Pacers and Heat battled down to the wire as neither found a way to pull away. It came down to the final minute, when the Pacers used Hill’s defense and Hibbert’s presence—believe it or not, he was on the floor during crunch time—to secure the lead.
With Hill making four free throws to close out the game and Hibbert’s rotation forcing LeBron into a late turnover, Indiana took Game 2 and evened the series—things just got interesting.
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This was yet another display of exceptional resiliency by the Indiana Pacers, as they refuse to back down against the heavily favored Miami Heat. Fortunately for those in need of some competition, the Pacers haven’t checked the paper rosters.
They’re just leaving it all out on the floor.
And that’s what makes a series great.
Per usual, James was sensational, scoring at will and making pinpoint passes to his teammates. While the numbers keep coming, though, the adjectives to describe his play are running thin.
It’s time we simply shut our mouths and enjoy greatness.
All who disagree are given permission to pose some new terms to describe LeBron’s greatness.
Nevertheless, for everything that LeBron was able to do, he was consistently countered by Indiana breakout star Paul George. George, who won the 2012-13 Most Improved Player award, had some detractors questioning his legitimacy.
No more.
George has been sensational in both games of this series.
If there’s one thing for us to follow as we push through this series, it’s the positional battle between George and LeBron. Not only is James the best player in the world, but he’s also one of the premier defenders.
George hasn’t let that prevent him from creating one of the NBA’s best rivalries.
Hit the comments section and let us know.
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Roy Hibbert’s Performance Around the Rim Will Be Biggest Key for Pacers vs. Heat
While Paul George’s ability to match LeBron James‘ output on the offensive end is crucial to the Indiana Pacers‘ chances of taking out the Miami Heat and advancing to the NBA Finals this summer, Roy Hibbert‘s play around the rim is the biggest key of all for Frank Vogel‘s squad.
You can’t turn on the television without hearing someone second-guessing Vogel and his decision to leave Hibbert on the bench at the end of Game 1.
And while it is far too late to ask “what if?” there’s definitely a strong case to be made as to why Hibbert should have been in the game. Either way, you can bet he’ll be standing tall in the paint if Indiana finds itself in a similar situation down the road.
A Defensive Player of the Year candidate in 2012-13, Hibbert has emerged as one of the top interior defenders in the game today. While his offensive game is still developing, Hibbert‘s shot-blocking and rebounding prowess has made him a key player for Indiana.
Now, those attributes make him the key to a potential NBA Finals berth.
In their Eastern Conference finals series with the Heat, the Pacers will need to call upon Hibbert more often on both ends of the court. The reason is simple. Miami doesn’t possess a post scorer or defender who can score on Hibbert or consistently stop him from scoring.
Establishing Hibbert early on the offensive end is a great way to get the big fella going and to perhaps put Miami in early foul trouble.
Plus, if Hibbert is involved in the offense, it’s nearly impossible for him not to be on the defensive end. In addition to averaging 14.4 points and 9.5 rebounds per game this postseason, Hibbert is averaging 2.5 blocked shots per game in these playoffs.
He blocked 19 shots in six games against the New York Knicks in the conference semifinals.
There’s definitely no questioning Hibbert‘s effort out on the floor either. A poor stretch of play on offense isn’t going to make him invisible on defense.
Therefore, Hibbert‘s performance around the rim, both offensively and defensively will be pivotal for the Pacers the rest of the way against the Heat. While Chris Bosh‘s perimeter-oriented game can give Hibbert trouble, Bosh has no answers for Indiana’s big man on the other end.
The former Georgetown star is the one player who can exploit Miami’s seemingly one and only weakness. After all, without Hibbert on board, the Pacers wouldn’t have ranked first and second in the NBA in rebounds (45.9 per game) and points allowed (90.7 per game) respectively this past regular season.
Roy Hibbert scored 19 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field and picked up nine rebounds in Wednesday’s gut-wrenching Game 1 loss in South Beach. And considering the question being asked is how Indiana blew what should have been a series-opening victory, that level of production from the fifth-year center is enough to power the Pacers past the Heat.
Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter.
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5 Free Agents the Miami Heat Must Avoid
The Miami Heat won’t be the most active team on the free agency market this summer, but general manager Pat Riley and team owner Mickey Arison will still be looking to make some minor tweaks to Miami’s roster.
There’s no doubt the Heat will at least attempt to get younger this offseason, especially with the need to ensure LeBron James remains in Miami for years to come.
However, there are a few free agents Miami should avoid this summer, despite these individuals appearing to be ideal fits.
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Pacers vs. Heat Game 2: Live Score, Highlights and Analysis
The Indiana Pacers almost nabbed a Game 1 overtime stunner, but LeBron James found the seam to a 103-102 Miami Heat victory at the buzzer.
Can Paul George and Co. get over the hump in Miami tonight or will the Heat find yet another gear to pull away with?
Especially important will be how the Heat slow down behemoth Pacers center Roy Hibbert (19 points and nine rebounds in Game 1) along with David West, George and Tyler Hansbrough, who combined for an additional 63 points and 15 boards.
Moreover, will Hibbert—the team’s leading shot-blocker and highest-paid player—be on the floor in end-of-game situations? Pacers coach Frank Vogel certainly took enough heat for sitting Hibbert while James got to the rim undeterred for the game-winning layup on Wednesday.
For the Heat, it’s about getting Chris Bosh more than two boards (as he had in Game 1), figuring out why Ray Allen and Shane Battier suddenly can’t shoot and monitoring Dwyane Wade‘s ever-finicky knee injury.
Triple-doubles and buzzer-beaters from James, along with perfect games from Chris Andersen, will be enough to keep the Heat going for now. But will it be enough against a Pacers team that took them to the brink in Game 1, led 2-1 in last year’s semifinals and beat Miami two out of three times during the regular season?
We’ll find out tonight in Game 2 at 8:30 p.m. ET on TNT.
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Heat, Pacers say Game 2 should be even better (Yahoo! Sports)
MIAMI (AP) — Losing a game at the final buzzer, no less than a playoff game on the road against the reigning NBA champion Miami Heat, would seem to have potential to demoralize the Indiana Pacers.
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