The Big Picture
Members of both teams tried to down play this game coming in, but while their words said one thing their play said something else. The defensive rotations were tighter and baskets were not easy to come by. The Pacers played much like they have all season, falling behind by as much as 13 late in the second quarter, then using a big third quarter to take the lead, which included a 7-0 run midway through the third quarter to take the lead for good at 62-57, the only lead change of the game. The Pacers by no means ran away with it after that, but Miami could never regain the lead. The win also allowed the Pacers to finish a crucial six-game stretch with a 4-2 record, which included the first five games being on the road, and five of those games being against the league's elite.
 |
| Pacers center Roy Hibbert had 24 points and five rebounds in Tuesday's win over Miami. |
1) The one position where the Pacers have a significant advantage against the Heat is at center with Roy Hibbert. Even late in the regular season last year, the Pacers were preparing Hibbert to be a prime offensive option against the Heat by force feeding him the ball on offense. It took a while for the big guy to find his rhythm, but eventually he figured it out. And the good news for the Pacers is he still has it figured out after scoring 24 points Tuesday night. Hibbert hit left-handed and right-handed shots and also had a key offensive rebound basket early in the fourth quarter. The Heat clearly had no answer for Hibbert in the middle. Sure, there is talk of them saving Greg Oden for the playoffs to guard Hibbert and it's true, Oden may be better at that than anyone they have now. But also, you can't take two-plus years off from the NBA and step back in and be expect to be effective. So, while that may not be a bad plan that the Heat have, it should not be assumed that it will work. The Pacers know what they have in Hibbert and it's not a bad assumption to think he will be back in the NBA All-Star game this season.
2) It's been good to see Pacers coach Frank Vogel call a timeout in almost every game lately if the Pacers have the ball for what is likely the final possession of the first half. The timeouts recycle in the second half, so there's nothing to lose with taking one. However, the Pacers have had inconsistent success in scoring off those timeouts, so while it's the right move, it just hadn't really worked that much. With the Pacers down 10 as the second half was nearing it's end Tuesday, Vogel called a timeout to set up a play. And this time the Pacers' version of the three-man weave worked as Lance Stephenson turned the corner and made the layup and was fouled. He hit the free throw and the Pacers went into the locker room with some momentum. It's a stretch to say that was the definitive play that turned the game in the Pacers' favor, but it certainly among the plays that helped turn the tide.
3) Pacers guard Lance Stephenson was active throughout the game and that was a big key in this win. Along with the three-point play to end the half, he also hit a 3-pointer to begin the second half and just like that the Pacers were right back in it by being just down three. Stephenson also made a nice pass to Luis Scola midway through the fourth quarter that gave the Pacers a six-point advantage and had a key steal late in the game that helped secure the win. Also, Stephenson wasn't just a threat Tuesday night, he was a realistic option on the offensive end as he finished with 12 points, six rebounds and five assists. He also pushed the ball up the floor at times which allowed the Pacers to get into their offense early in the shot clock, a subtle, but key factor against a good defensive team like Miami.
4) Part of being a top player is learning how to shake off a bad quarter, or half, and comeback out and play up to your normal level. That's what Paul George did for the Pacers Tuesday. He had just two points in the first half and wasn't as active in the offense as he normally is. Part of that was because LeBron James was guarding him and part of it was because he played maybe a little tight in the first half. But George recovered to score 15 points in the second half, including two key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter that helped keep the Pacers in the lead. Was it his best game? Certainly not, but it was the kind of game that can be considered an important step in his growth.
The Downs
1) It's hard to keep putting this in the down category if they keep winning, but again most of the second quarter was a problem. The fact the Pacers were down 13 and came back to win is good, but being down 13 or whatever-teen is still a problem in the second quarter. Sure, there's still time for them to overcome those deficits, but if you're playing to try and win a championship, it is one area the team knows it can improve in.
Afterthoughts
While this was a key regular season matchup, the team that wins it can't get too high and the team that loses it can't get too low. They will have a rematch in Miami next Wednesday, anyway. Sure, you would always rather win than lose, but let's not forget it's still a long way until early June, where at this point, it would be a major upset if these two teams were not in the Eastern Conference finals. The Heat are looking a little older these days as Dwyane Wade has had trouble staying on the court due to injuries and they are depending on a bench that features minutes for Rashard Lewis. Make no mistake, the Heat are definitely a flawed team. But when you have a guy like James, he can hide a lot of those flaws. With all due respect to George and Kevin Durant, James is still the best player in the league. But with his supporting cast breaking down at times, James may be forced to carry the team even more and he's certainly one player who can do that. The good thing for the Pacers in this game is that they didn't need a spectacular game for anybody to win. That's a good sign for the rest of the season for them. We may very well see contrasting styles for these teams come playoff time.
Next Up
The Pacers have two days off before trying to continue their perfect home record against the Charlotte Bobcats. The Bobcats have been trying to reach the .500 mark and are 10-11 going into their game Wednesday against visiting Orlando. The Pacers won the first matchup at Charlotte back on Nov. 27 by a 99-74 count. The Bobcats are led Kemba Walker at 17 points per game and Al Jefferson and Gerald Henderson each averaging just over 15 per game.
No comments:
Post a Comment