Can the Pacers actually pull this off?!?!?!

[Senninsage]

You must be out your [dang] mind. We have an easier match-up against the Pacers. Although, we can beat both teams.

The Heat are without Chris Bosh. He changes everything. He's a big deal for their team, but never gets the credit he deserves.

[guava_wrench]

It was over for the Heat as soon as Bosh went down.

Think about it.

Outside of LeBron and Wade, they have nobody, nada, ziltch, nothing.

LeBrons Cavs actually had top of the line role-players, hustle guys, rebounders, and shooters. This heat team has none of the above.

Its LeBron, Wade, and a bunch of scrubs or washed up veterans, they wont go far with that.

i really hope youre right but i mean if wade & bron played like a shell of themselves today if they step it up they have more than enuff to beat the pacers ...i really think the winner of game 4 will win the series

Those two will have bad games since they are the only 2 that the Pacers have to defend.

[action781]

To the people who would rather play the Heat next round:

Are you considering the Heat with or without Bosh?  I'm guessing that you're making these judgments based on the Heat's recent play without Bosh.  Bosh could be back for the ECF though and are a far more dangerous team with him.

[LarBrd33]

Not gonna lie... Id rather play the Heat than the Pacers right now... The Pacers look dang good and we match up terrrrribly with them.

Here's your 300th tommy point

I don't care if we play Miami or Indiana.  If we get to the eastern conference finals, I'll be overjoyed.  I couldn't even fathom us in the ECF earlier this year.  It seemed impossible.  Then Miami and Chicago caught the same injury bug that hit us earlier this season... KG saved the season... and suddenly the oceans are parting and we are in prime position to make the ECF.  Anything beyond the first round is gravy at this point if you ask me.

[jdz101]

I dont get the people on here that would prefer the heat.

These guys have the two best players in the east who absolutely torched us last year and you're more scared of danny granger and roy hibbert?

Roy isnt going to have a 20/20 game when playing on KG, and the rest of their guys can be silenced with good team defense. Give me the Pacers any day.

[thestackshow]

I dont get the people on here that would prefer the heat.

These guys have the two best players in the east who absolutely torched us last year and you're more scared of danny granger and roy hibbert?

Roy isnt going to have a 20/20 game when playing on KG, and the rest of their guys can be silenced with good team defense. Give me the Pacers any day.

Hibber isnt going to have a 20/20 game period.

He tops out at around 15 points, Hibber is a solid player, but hes not a star by any means. Hes good for 15 points and 10+ rebounds, but hes not going to dominate a game like Dwight Howard is. I dont get all this Hibbert hype.

If we face the Pacers we will have the three best players on the court, by far in Rondo, Pierce and KG. That alone makes me comfortable facing them, when you face the heat you have to worry about LeBron and Wade each scoring 50, and getting your enitre team in foul trouble.

[j804]

random stat overheard on ESPN: Pacers are first in overall rebounding in the playoffs, I'm not sure where we are at but my guess is probably last

just saying

[jdz101]

I dont get the people on here that would prefer the heat.

These guys have the two best players in the east who absolutely torched us last year and you're more scared of danny granger and roy hibbert?

Roy isnt going to have a 20/20 game when playing on KG, and the rest of their guys can be silenced with good team defense. Give me the Pacers any day.

Hibber isnt going to have a 20/20 game period.

He pretty much did today. That was my reference point.

[Bahku]

Indiana is a more balanced, less selfish team, and the Heat just plain don't scare me like they do some people, as they're not difficult to defend. We've also already shown more than once this year that we can beat either team, in our house or theirs. The only opponent that scares me is inconsistency, but I think the odds are in our favor from here on out.

[kne]

Not only could the Pacers do it, I'm starting to think I'd rather play Miami.

My thoughts exactly.

[Kuberski1]

I'd certainly rather play Miami without Bosh, or even a limited Bosh.  Indiana has a solid 8 man rotation, and 9/10 aren't bad either.  They would be very tough on the boards.   A healthy Miami though, is our most formidable competitor IMO...

By the way, if you're looking for a chuckle, here's a link to the Heatles coming out party if you want to watch again....."not 5, not 6 "....."the best trio to ever play the game of basketball".   Uh yeh, right.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9BqUBYaHlM

[j804]

I'd certainly rather play Miami without Bosh, or even a limited Bosh.  Indiana has a solid 8 man rotation, and 9/10 aren't bad either.  They would be very tough on the boards.   A healthy Miami though, is our most formidable competitor IMO...

By the way, if you're looking for a chuckle, here's a link to the Heatles coming out party if you want to watch again....."not 5, not 6 "....."the best trio to ever play the game of basketball".   Uh yeh, right.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9BqUBYaHlM

It never fails to make me laugh my you know what off.

Bosh posing letting out screams like he's making an entrance on WWE...and his goofy "Let's get it done man." rofl

[Celtics18]

I'd certainly rather play Miami without Bosh, or even a limited Bosh.  Indiana has a solid 8 man rotation, and 9/10 aren't bad either.  They would be very tough on the boards.   A healthy Miami though, is our most formidable competitor IMO...

By the way, if you're looking for a chuckle, here's a link to the Heatles coming out party if you want to watch again....."not 5, not 6 "....."the best trio to ever play the game of basketball".   Uh yeh, right.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9BqUBYaHlM

Phew, that's embarrassing.  They can never take that back. 

[mctyson]

There is no way the Heat should lose that series with a healthy Lebron and Wade. Just like there is no way the Celtics should lose to the Sixers with a healthy KG and Rondo.

When you have transcendent players like that you shouldn't lose a series to a team that has a some nice pieces

This. When you have 2 players who carry themselves as All NBA talent, one of them with a ring and the other with 3 MVPs and 2 Finals appearances, losing a good but not great player should not collapse your team.

In other words...Chris Bosh is NOT the MVP of the league.  MVPs find a way to get it done when their teammates breakdown.  Lebron had plenty of days in Cleveland when his squad was not giving anything on the offensive end, but he carried the team to victory.  That was Cleveland's identity - play really tough defense, rebound, and let Lebron facilitate on the other end of the floor.

What is Miami's identity?  Bill Simmons has mentioned that they don't have one, they don't know who they are.  I agree, particularly after last night.

Last night was a classic example of when Lebron had it going, Wade did not, and Lebron could go Cleveland-mode and tell his team "I'm winning this game for us."  He shrunk in the second half.  When Mario Chalmers is your most aggressive player, at some point you realize your team has no identity, no conviction, no character.

Instead, Wade kept taking shots, trying to ignite himself in vein.  I don't blame him: that's what lead scorers and best players are supposed to do when they are struggling.  The problem is that Wade is not Miami's best player.  Until he realizes this, and defers to Lebron, Miami is fundamentally broken.

[clover]

I'd certainly rather play Miami without Bosh, or even a limited Bosh.  Indiana has a solid 8 man rotation, and 9/10 aren't bad either.  They would be very tough on the boards.   A healthy Miami though, is our most formidable competitor IMO...

By the way, if you're looking for a chuckle, here's a link to the Heatles coming out party if you want to watch again....."not 5, not 6 "....."the best trio to ever play the game of basketball".   Uh yeh, right.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9BqUBYaHlM

Even the chairs are arranged in a 2+1 configuration.