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Posted by on May 29, 2013 in Featured Sports, Pat Wong, Sports | 0 comments

Instant Coffee: Pacers Tie Series at 2, Spurs Sweep

Pacers vs. Heat

Miami Heat 92 Indiana Pacers 99

The Pacers were taking control of the game and up 9 in the middle of the 4th quarter. A missed call turned an 11 point lead into a 24 second shot clock violation. The Heat took advantage and came storming back and took a league. When the Pacers could have shriveled up and collapsed, they fought back and Roy Hibbert led the way dominating in the post as the Pacers tied the series. Roy Hibbert finished the game with 23 points and 12 rebounds. David West was solid with 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Pacers front line continues to pound the Heat. Lance Stephenson has been the big wild card for the Pacers in the playoffs and had 20 points and 5 rebounds in the series. The Pacers have been at their best when Stephenson steps up.

On the defensive end, they made the adjustments necessary to slow down Lebron James in post after he dominated them and set up his teammates in Game 3. James also got very little help again as even Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade were terrible. However, Bosh and Wade will be fine and their role players should play better at home. Nevertheless, the Pacers size is a real problem for the Heat. If the Pacers can pound the ball consistently throughout the game to Hibbert and West, they definitely have a chance to win this series. Although the series is tied 2-2, the Pacers have outplayed the Heat in 3 of the 4 games.

Key Observations from TNT/ ESPN

Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith made some key observations that I strongly agree with for this series:

1)      The Pacers playing small is ill advised. Their only advantage on the Heat is their size. Having DJ Augustin and George Hill in the game at the same time has led to Miami runs.

2)      The Pacers need to use Paul George less on Lebron James. Barkley made a great point in that George is expending a lot of energy on defense on Lebron and getting into foul trouble. They need George on offense as he is the one perimeter player that can break down a defense consistently with his athleticism. They should put Stephenson on James early. George can switch to Lebron down the stretch of games but they need to keep George fresh and on the court.

Stephen A. Smith also made a great point in that the Pacers guard did not do a great job getting the ball to Hibbert and West. Smith nailed it when he joked that the two big men were doing jumping jacks for half the game for their guards to throw them the ball. As much as Hibbert and West took control down low, they could have down a lot more if the guards executed better inbound passes consistently so their big men are in position to score. When the Heat made their run in the fourth quarter, the guards looked completely lost dribbling too much, going isolation, and forcing up shots instead of getting the ball down low. They need to do better the rest of the series to take utilize their greatest strength.

Quick Thoughts on the Spurs Sweeping the Grizzlies

I picked the Grizzlies because I thought they would present the problems that eliminated the Spurs the last 2 seasons. Although I am not shocked the Spurs won the series, I am shocked that they swept the Grizzlies. Although Tony Parker was a little hurt going into the playoffs, he looks healthy now and dominated the series like a true superstar. He will need to do more of the same in the Finals against whichever team the Spurs face. In the Western Conference Finals, Tim Duncan dominated like his old self and their role players stepped up. They picked apart the Grizzlies like I thought they would do against the Warriors but that series ended being a lot more of a struggle. It is a shame that they will have 10 days off. On one end, Duncan and Ginobili could use the break for a refresher but they looked like they were peaking and 10 days is too much rest. The extra rest hurt them against the Warriors as they looked rusty the first two games and they will be facing a far superior opponent in the Finals who will be very sharp as the Eastern Conference Finals will go at least 6 games.

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