Pacers defense disappears in this loss to Heat

The visiting Pacers lost to the Miami Heat 99-87 Saturday night in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat lead the series 2-1 with Game 4 set for 8:30 Monday night in Miami.
Forethoughts

It was a frustrating night for David West and the Pacers Saturday.

The Pacers couldn't keep this one ugly enough. When the announcers are talking about how bad both teams are playing, how there are too many turnovers and nobody can make shots, then well, it seems the Pacers are usually ahead and that's what was going on in the first quarter here when the Pacers pretty much dominated. However, the third quarter, which has been the Pacers best for much of this season, was pretty much the opposite. The Pacers allowed the Heat too many uncontested baskets as Miami hit 11 of 15 shots in the quarter. You simply can't beat anybody when that happens. The biggest shame of all about this game for the Pacers is that early on this was a game that appeared very winnable. The Heat came out flat, scoring just 14 points in the first quarter and the Pacers had the lead up to 15 midway through second.  But the Heat closed the second quarter strong and kept it going into the third and the flatness they had disappeared. Now the Pacers are in a must win situation in Game 4 and face the unenviable task of having to win two straight at some point to win this series, something they could not do last year.
The Big Plays
As always there are a lot of big plays in these games, but when the Heat cut into the Pacers lead by going on an 8-0 run near the end of the first half, and trailed just 42-38 at the half, then they knew they were in the game.
The Ups
1) The Pacers did get good efforts off the bench from Luis Scola and Rasual Butler. They combined for 14 points and were a big reason the Pacers were able to build that 15-point lead in the second quarter.
2) That first quarter, that's the way the Pacers need to play the whole game. They were going to Roy Hibbert and David West inside and the Heat could do nothing to stop them. The Heat shot just 37 percent and had seven turnovers while West and Hibbert combined for 17 points in the quarter and then had just 12 for the rest of the game. That's where the Pacers have the advantage and they need to exploit that throughout the game, not just in the beginning.
The Downs
1) Where is the defense? For the third straight game, the Pacers allowed the Heat to shoot better than 50 percent and in this one, the Heat scored 61 points in the second half. It's one thing to lose to the Heat in a grind-it-out down to the wire type of game where both teams have trouble making baskets. But to lose to them by offering so little resistance, that's the most disappointing thing of all. If I have watch to Dwayne Wade dribble across the lane, then stop and take that little uncontested eight-foot jumper again, I may just throw up. At least force him to make the extra pass or take a difficult shot. It was just way too easy for him and the Heat in general.
2) The Pacers still don't understand that every possession importance. There were sloppy passes at times (see Paul George and Lance Stephenson as Exhibit A) and there was trying to dribble through three defenders at times (see Evan Turner as Exhibit B). They have to understand these behind the back passes just don't fly in the playoffs, and they really don't fly against the Heat. Just good solid regular passes will do fine. It's a hard lesson to learn, but until they do, they are going to have a hard time beating the Heat.
3) This is not calling for coach Frank Vogel's job or anything like that, but it is disappointing to see the Heat do the same thing over and over again on offense and be successful. And it was really disappointing that there wasn't a better game plan to defend Ray Allen in this one, who put the game away for the Heat in the fourth quarter by scoring 13 points by hitting 4 of 4 from 3-point land. Shooting 3-pointers is all Allen can really do these days and there has to be a better plan to cover him when he's in the game.
Next Up
The Pacers have their backs to the wall now and if they don't respond with a better defensive effort they will be in that next to impossible hole to climb out of. I'd be happy if the Pacers put Wade on his behind a couple of times when he comes in the lane just to give him something to think about. Let them be called bullies or thugs or whatever, but if the Pacers don't offer some type of resistance, they are simply not going to win this series. Right now, the Heat have the Pacers defense figured out. It's up to the Pacers to do something at least a little different to confuse them because right now the status quo isn't working.