The King Has Spoken
With only 2.2 seconds left on the clock, and the Miami Heat facing another Game 1 loss at home, only one thing could happen. The Pacers knew what was coming, the fans in the building knew what was coming, and every coach on the couch at home knew what was coming...And the Pacers still couldn't stop it. LeBron got to the rim and proved once again why he is the best player in the league by a mile. That being said, this was one hell of a game providing so much material to digest that it might as well have been the NBA equivalent of a lunch at Fogo de Chao: slow at the beginning, with a giant main course, and then going for seconds and thirds because it's just too good to pass up even though you're about to fall asleep at the table. Consider this my attempt at covering it all before the coma hits.
The King Won't Stop Until He's Crowned Again
LeBron James has been a man on a mission ever since the 2011 Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Since then, the man has been on an absolute tear, despite playing basketball essentially non-stop since the beginning of the 2011-2012 season. Think about it for a second. He played in the lockout season, won the NBA finals, then went into training for the Olympics, brought home the gold in August, prepared for the 2012-2013 season, and then went on to dominate the regular season in a performance that included a 27 game win streak and another MVP award. When you consider it altogether, this quite possibly could be the greatest two year stretch of basketball anyone has had in the history of the game. To do what he is doing at such a high level considering the amount of games played is flat out astounding. Tonight proved that even though he's played a ridiculous amount of basketball over the past two years, he isn't stopping until he's got another ring on his finger.
Miami's Sluggish First Halves Continue
I don't know what it is, but Miami has had a bad habit of starting off games slowly in the playoffs this year. For a team that has only had one playoff loss so far, they've only had two double-digit leads at halftime, as every other game has been very close early on. Though they were able to get away with that in their first two series, it's not going to bode well in the future against the Pacers or either team in the Western Conference Finals. Close games early on only mean more minutes for Miami's starters, which isn't good for Dwayne Wade's ailing knee. Maybe the trainer is putting something in the Gatorade at halftime, or Battier and Spolestra are channeling Jimmy V in their half time speeches. All we can be certain of is that this is a different ball club when they come out of the tunnel for the second half.
The Birdman Is Flapping
Serious kudos need to be given to Chris Andersen for how he has played throughout the playoffs, and especially tonight. Although he was -3 in the +/- category, he provided an undeniable spark and contribution off the bench in his 18 minutes of playing time. 7-7 from the field, 2-2 from the line. You read that correctly, Birdman was perfect from the field tonight. As someone who couldn't stand him when he was with the Nuggets, he's become pretty fun to watch during his stint in Miami.
Paul George Played An Exceptional Game, But Won't Be Remembered For It
George was huge for the Pacers tonight, and had ice in his veins when the game was on the line. First was the shot from way deep to force overtime, and then came the three clutch freebies to give the Pacers the lead in overtime. Yet all George will be remembered for is overplaying James on the final play. allowing the King and Miami to get the "W" in Game 1. It will be very interesting to see how George comes back from that in Game 2.
Hey Vogel...That Guy Hibbert...He Can Play Some Defense
Yes, the real culprit for giving up a layup at the buzzer is Paul George for overplaying James. If George doesn't overplay and forces LeBron into an outside shot, we may not be having this discussion. However, if Hibbert is in there, the play may not have gone down the same way. You have to think that Vogel could have drawn up some defense that allowed Hibbert to stay close to the paint. With Hibbert in the game and anywhere near the paint, the odds of LeBron getting such an easy bucket are not as good, and you're increasing the odds of Miami taking a jumper. Either way, tonight's ending will certainly effect Vogel's decision making down the road in this series if the Pacers find themselves in a close one at the end of the game.
David West Was Huge For The Pacers
Aside from his performance at the foul line, West had himself quite a game. 11-17 from the field, 26 points, and 4 offensive rebounds. If he can put up these numbers every night, Indiana will have a fighting chance to win this series.
Norris Cole And David West's Family Jewels
This is all that really needs to be said.
What To Expect In Game 2
A lesser team would probably fold to the Heat in Game 2 after a loss like tonight. The Pacers are a very tough unit though, and Miami has a bad habit of starting off slow in the first half. If the Pacers can win the battle on the boards again, and get some quality production from Hill and Stephenson, they will have a great shot at stealing a game in Miami. Expect to see another close game on Friday night, with the Heat pulling away late in the fourth quarter and heading to Indianapolis with a 2-0 lead.
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