A Good Try?

Indiana Pacers make a feeble attempt to beat the Heat

By Doug Knopf

AP Photo/ Alan Diaz

Right at the start of the game it seemed like the Pacers had a chance to defeat the Heat. They beat them twice at home by double digits and won the tip-off to start on an offensive note. Halfway through the first quarter, it still seemed possible for Indiana to pull off an upset against the streaking Heat. The teams were trading baskets; Indiana was using their size advantage down low, and Lebron James was a non-factor. All except one of those changed quickly.

Statistics aside, Miami decimated Indiana in all phases. It was clear that Miami had the Pacers figured out. The Pacers had no room to pass the ball and looked confused on the court. Dwayne Wade had steal after steal and disrupted the Pacers’ offense. The only person who produced anything for Indiana was David West. Paul George just rattled off 3’s for, what it looked like at least, absolutely no reason. The game clearly became a one sided match.

The sad thing about the game was that the Indiana Pacers had no answer for… Mario Chalmers. He was constantly left wide open near the three-point line and a cardboard cutout could have done a better job guarding him. Thought to be one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, Indiana could not contain the fourth-best Heat. Even though it does not look it sometimes, basketball is a team sport and the Pacers got a good re-teaching of that Sunday. 

This game did not have many implications. I think everyone wanted the Indiana Pacers to win, but no one actually thought they would. Indiana is still tied for the second seed in the Eastern Conference with the New York Knickerbockers. Home court advantage is big for these two teams and it will be a true grind for these teams to earn the second spot.