Eastern Conference Finals, Game 4: Heat @ Pacers

[Bruno]

9-0 start for Indy

[TrainOfThought5]

Indiana not playing consistent defense. Only leading by 5 after all of Miami's mistakes.

[Captivus]

No love for this thread!!
16-11, looking good

[Bruno]

Wade being that bad should give Spurs a glimmer of hope.

[timtonymanu]

Miami down 1 after all that.

Not surprising at all.

[TrainOfThought5]

Indiana playing like trash. Losing by 1.

[hooperflash]

This game is chaos.

[DesertSpur50]

James getting every call under the sun.

[Captivus]

Wade being that bad should give Spurs a glimmer of hope.

I assume the Spurs are watching the game...

[timtonymanu]

Ray Allen getting another ring would be really irritating. :lol

[crc21209]

Indiana has to keep up the energy, defense, and rebounding for the entire game in order to pull this one off tonight..

[DesertSpur50]

Stephenson has made some impressive shots but damn his BBIQ is so low he makes me cringe every time he has the ball.

[Texas_Ranger]

Stephenson thinks he's MJ.

[hommeaetage]

The calls that Miami are getting...I can only shake my head

[Spursfanfromafar]

The Heat's strengths and weaknesses are shown up in such sharp contrast -

Weaknesses -

a) Not good enough defensive rebounding
b) too much dependence on Lebron (which is not necessarily bad).
c) Inconsistent defense
d) Limited Post defense

Strengths -

a) Lebron
b) Superb on transition (despite Wade's misplay)
c) Good ball movement.
d) Dominant finishing.

a)

[Bruno]

Ray Allen getting another ring would be really irritating. :lol

I would be more irritated with Battier getting another ring.

[itzsoweezee]

The Miami offense is not very difficult to figure out. The Spurs could choose to make Lebron a scorer and that could make things tough for the rest of the heat.

[Capt Bringdown]

It'd be a shame if the Pacers lose this series. They've played better & should be up 2-1.

[Texas_Ranger]

Hibbert with a Duncan move to the basket.

[peacemaker885]

Effing ring chasers

[itzsoweezee]

There's no excuse for the Pacers to be this bad offensively. Do these guys even have any offensive plays? No idea even on how to get the ball into the post.

[HarlemHeat37]

Spoelstra hasn't established Bosh as a priority option since joining the team, tbh..so when Wade struggles like he has been lately, the Heat become Lebron's Cavs with better defenders and spot-up shooters..

The Spurs better hope that Wade continues to struggle, because if he does, they have a great chance of winning the series, tbh..

[HarlemHeat37]

There's no excuse for the Pacers to be this bad offensively. Do these guys even have any offensive plays? No idea even on how to get the ball into the post.

They don't have any PGs or skill players in the backcourt, along with no bench..their PG is DJ Augustine, a 3rd stringer on most teams..

Did you forget George Hill's playmaking skills as a Spur?:lol..

[Seventyniner]

There's no excuse for the Pacers to be this bad offensively. Do these guys even have any offensive plays? No idea even on how to get the ball into the post.

Pacers = Grizzlies. On offense and defense.

[itzsoweezee]

They don't have any PGs or skill players in the backcourt, along with no bench..their PG is DJ Augustine, a 3rd stringer on most teams..

Did you forget George Hill's playmaking skills as a Spur?:lol..

The problem is that they don't try angles other than straight on. You never see the Pacers moving the ball around to get a better angle.

[crc21209]

Hill on Wade? WTF?!

[HarlemHeat37]

The problem is that they don't try angles other than straight on. You never see the Pacers moving the ball around to get a better angle.

Sure, but their ball-handlers, which is generally the root of decision-making and passing, are absolutely horrible and all 3 of them(Hill, Stephenson, Augustine) all have low basketball IQ and limited guard skills, tbh..

[timtonymanu]

You have to hope the Spurs shooters will be hot against Miami.

Other than Green and maybe Bonner, the Spurs 3 point shooting hasn't been that good.

I can already imagine Gary Neal missing open 3's while leaving Allen/Battier/Cole wide open.

[RD2191]

The Pacers have the pieces to beat the Heat, I'm just seeing a very poorly coached team.

[RD2191]

Neal and Bonner shouldn't even be active against the Heat.

[Sean Cagney]

Effing ring chasers
Yep, I was thinking the damn same thing when they were showing their bench. Those guys are pathetic! This is the NBA though.

[timtonymanu]

:lol Ray Allen is the only player I would call a ring chaser.

But tbh, if the opportunity was there, you guys would play for the Heat.

[moisaenz]

Allen has played horribly , Allen is their tmac..

[EVAY]

I would be more irritated with Battier getting another ring.


Me too, man! That guy just irritates the hell out of me.

[Texas_Ranger]

Indiana is not that good. All they do is iso and pass the ball to Hibbert and West down low. No plays, no real PG's, nothing. George Hill is not a great passer, Augustine is pretty much just a 3 point shooter and Stephenson is an idiot. Sometimes even Paul George tries way too much. Also their bench is pathetic. Yes they play good defense, but their offense is hard to watch. Other then their 2 bigs I don't see a lot of threats for Miami. After all that, they are still a pretty good team, but let me just say that I think 6 teams in west are better than them.

[Bruno]

Indiana a nice likable little team but they have nothing to do in a conference finals. The east is so weak with injuries to Rose, Rondo and Granger not helping to make it a competitive conference. In the west, Indiana would be first round material and nothing more.

Given that difference in level between conferences, it's crazy to have Spurs entering the finals with more rest and not more game played than Miami.

For reference, west teams have a combined 262-188 record against east teams this season.

[moisaenz]

Indiana is not that good. All they do is iso and pass the ball to Hibbert and West down low. No plays, no real PG's, nothing. George Hill is not a great passer, Augustine is pretty much just a 3 point shooter and Stephenson is an idiot. Sometimes even Paul George tries way too much. Also their bench is pathetic. Yes they play good defense, but their offense is hard to watch. Other then their 2 bigs I don't see a lot of threats for Miami. After all that, they are still a pretty good team, but let me just say that I think 6 teams in west are better than them.

Sounds like memphis...Although conley would make a difference in this Indiana team.

[Texas_Ranger]

Sounds like memphis...Although conley would make a difference in this Indiana team.

yea, but Memphis's got a way better bench than them.

[DesertSpur50]

James so far in this game looks mortal. It seems when Lebron posts up he goes to the left just about every time,whether its a drop-step, hook shot or a fade away. I don't know if that's just this game. I haven't really paid attention to his post game so I could be wrong on his tendencies.

[TheGoldStandard]

Lebron is left handed if I remember correctly even those he shoots righty so he probably feels more comfortable going left. Pacers are so inconsistent its sad, Hibbert in the post on every possession or at least give him a touch to create space and an open shot. Stephenson is Indy's Gary Neal, he'll try to take over while neglecting open shooters or better looks. They play decent defense but Vogel has a tendency to do stupid shitty things to there lineup. Never go small against Miami and never intentionally play small. Miami has length at every position and they can hit shots if left open.

[HI-FI]

Indiana a nice likable little team but they have nothing to do in a conference finals. The east is so weak with injuries to Rose, Rondo and Granger not helping to make it a competitive conference. In the west, Indiana would be first round material and nothing more.

Given that difference in level between conferences, it's crazy to have Spurs entering the finals with more rest and not more game played than Miami.

For reference, west teams have a combined 262-188 record against east teams this season.

good stuff. we've had some stuff go our way, but have also been primed and ready to take advantage of the blessings. it is great that we can get some serious rest since the Finals will be balls to the wall.

[siraulo23]

pacers are having trouble getting the ball into the paint, thats not gonna change anytime soon,

the heat are doing a great job with their gameplan im not sure the pacers can counter that, they havent in 3 and a half games

even if the pacers win this game, theres just no chance for them to win the series

[DesertSpur50]

Lebron is left handed if I remember correctly even those he shoots righty so he probably feels more comfortable going left. Pacers are so inconsistent its sad, Hibbert in the post on every possession or at least give him a touch to create space and an open shot. Stephenson is Indy's Gary Neal, he'll try to take over while neglecting open shooters or better looks. They play decent defense but Vogel has a tendency to do stupid shitty things to there lineup. Never go small against Miami and never intentionally play small. Miami has length at every position and they can hit shots if left open.

You think that is something that can be exploitable a la Zack Randolph?

[TheGoldStandard]

You think that is something that can be exploitable a la Zack Randolph?

Nope unless Pop goes mental and decides to play small ball against Miami which will be total disaster. Lebron won't try to post Tim or Tiago, maybe Diaw and of course Bonner. If we end up playing Miami Lebron will probably try to spread the floor and drive or come off screens for open shots. I see him playing the 4 and making Tiago or Tim creep out of the paint.

[Captivus]

Bosh gone, Indiana must take advantage of that.

[moisaenz]

Hill being exposed

[crc21209]

George Hill...what an idiot. That was the softest attempt at finishing at the rim that I've ever seen...

[Drachen]

LOL, "HE'S A FLOPPER" clap clap clapclapclap

[DesertSpur50]

Hill makes up for that week shit, with an and-1, sorta...

[DesertSpur50]

Holy Shit!!! Stephenson333333333333333!!!!!!!!!

[Sean Cagney]

:lol Ray Allen is the only player I would call a ring chaser.

But tbh, if the opportunity was there, you guys would play for the Heat.

If I got a few mill I would play for any team man :) If I could stay with the team I was with though and they paid me evenly I would probably stay loyal to the fans and the teammates and stay there. Ray Allen yes I am calling out there lol.

[crc21209]

Damn its a whistle fest now...:td

[spursparker9]

ref at work. Pacer 3 team fouls in 1 and a half min.

[spursparker9]

Ian Mahinmi is a french right? I don't remember that he played in the 2012 Olympics...

[TheGoldStandard]

Indy working hard to overcome refs and Miami. Refs trying to gift Miami into the bonus. Miami inept without Lebron on the floor.

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

Ian Mahinmi is a french right? I don't remember that he played in the 2012 Olympics...


I think he is French, and was first drafted by the Spurs. He did play for the Mavericks in 2011 when they won the Finals.

[timvp]

The Heat will still win this game by double digits.

[TheGoldStandard]

Well if you can't stop them might as well get them in foul trouble.. Refs "miss" the ball hitting the rim and then lets call a foul

[SA210]

:lol refs

[crc21209]

Wow....Indiana is going to choke this game away...

[davemaniscool]

Pacer's offense is painful to watch

[crc21209]

Indiana needs to stop with the Hill-Augustin backcourt. Its too damn small...

[crc21209]

Fkn Ray Allen with the 3 falling out of bounds...

[davemaniscool]

Hill doesn't pass when guys are in good position. Every shot is difficult

[Samr.]

"These playoffs are not for george hill"

[crc21209]

Indiana's offense is terrible, damn.

[Samr.]

Indiana's offense is terrible, damn.

They're trying too much hero ball.

That only works if you have an actual hero.

[TheGoldStandard]

They're the Memphis Grizzlies without a second big. They play decent defense but they can't score consistently. Everyone wants to play ISO ball.. I'd be calling 5 down every play, get the ball to Hibbert and have George be the dump man ready to slide over either left or right to get the pass back and shoot or re post.

[Samr.]

. (repeat post whoops)

[davemaniscool]

how many are posting on this game? Looks like 3-4 :rollin

[Captivus]

AND 1

[Captivus]

WOW THAT CALL!!!!
WWWOOOOOWWWW!!

[SA210]

:lol Lebron with a clutch foul

[Samr.]

Stern's about to fire a ref

[itzsoweezee]

Paul George needs to accept being a role player.

[SpurPadre]

Hell has frozen over: Lebron fouls out in a game?! What the fuck?! Stern is gonna put a hit out on that ref!

[SpurPadre]

Wade: 5-15
Lebron: 8-18 and fouls out
Bosh: 1-6

And yet they're only down 4 on the road.

[Samr.]

Wade: 5-15
Lebron: 8-18 and fouls out
Bosh: 1-6

And yet they're only down 4 on the road.

And yet it's the Pacers.

[Samr.]

Traveling on Wade now? Refs are pulling out all their tricks.

[Texas_Ranger]

lol

[Captivus]

rare play by Wade

[SpurPadre]

And yet it's the Pacers.

Hey, you gotta give them props at this point. Beating these rent-a-champs is a tough thing to do and they're about to do it for the second time and should be up 3-1. My point is you really have to play a perfect game for 48 minutes to beat those assholes.

[SA210]

:lol Anyone denying the NBA is rigged is blind as fuck.

[Texas_Ranger]

Hey, you gotta give them props at this point. Beating these rent-a-champs is a tough thing to do and they're about to do it for the second time and should be up 3-1. My point is you really have to play a perfect game for 48 minutes to beat those assholes.

you just need some bigs that can rebound the ball.

[TheGoldStandard]

If the Pacers were more diligent about getting the ball into the post and then finding open shooters it would be an easy series for them. If you pay a max deal to a player then treat him like a max deal player. Hibbert needs touches and they need to drive and kick.

[ace3g]

George almost did something really stupid there, luckily players got between them, no point to even bother with Battier when you are up; can't risk any type of suspension.

[team-work]

2-2

[RD2191]

Hope this doesn't come back to bite me but the Pacers have beaten the Heat twice while playing terrible, stupid, idiotic, selfish basketball. I think the Spurs are in a good position heading into the Finals.

[SA210]

Pacers overcome the refs. Good job. Good luck in Miami

[tim_duncan_fan]

The Pacers are too stupid to play from Hibbert out. Many a series has been won by an inside-out team featuring a good big man. The dumb fucks were taking iso jumpshots.

[Dex]

Best of 3 with two in Miami. Heat still the heavy favorites, but at least they are having to work for it.

[thiste]

Nice job Pacers. :tu

[timvp]

The Heat will still win this game by double digits.

:wakeup

[SA210]

Hope this doesn't come back to bite me but the Pacers have beaten the Heat twice while playing terrible, stupid, idiotic, selfish basketball. I think the Spurs are in a good position heading into the Finals.

Until Bonner enters the game lol

[RD2191]

:wakeup
:lmao

[Das Texan]

:wakeup


you are doing bad lately in predictions.



:smokin

[Brazil]

The Heat will still win this game by double digits.

2 options here: you lost his mojo or you are in full jinxing mode

[SpurPadre]

Well, this doesn't really change anything except that the Pacers are softening them up for us. Vogel handed this series over to the Heat in Game 1 with this terrible coaching at the end of the game and he'll come to rue that decision of benching Hibbert. I mean, it's asking too much for the Pacers to basically have the Heat beat 5 times if you factor that game. They can still take it to 7 games, though.

[m33p0]

well done, pacers. :clap

[timtonymanu]

Well, this doesn't really change anything except that the Pacers are softening them up for us. Vogel handed this series over to the Heat in Game 1 with this terrible coaching at the end of the game and he'll come to rue that decision of benching Hibbert. I mean, it's asking too much for the Pacers to basically have the Heat beat 5 times if you factor that game. They can still take it to 7 games, though.

I still feel that even if the Pacers won Game 1, Miami would have won Game 2. It's not like the Pacers blew them out of the gates in Game 2. It could have gone either way.

[ace3g]

Game 6 is Saturday

[SpurPadre]

I'd thought I'd bring this classic bit up in relation to the Heat and how everybody wants to put them in a pedestal. They can be beat.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_N1OjGhIFc
Teams just can't let them off the hook...like Vogel did in Game 1.

[TampaDude]

Good job, Pacers...the ECF is gonna go at least 6 now.

FWIW, Miami looked very beatable tonight. I can't wait for the Finals!

GO SPURS GO!!!!!

[Mugen]

Who would win a Pacers/Grizzlies series?

[TampaDude]

Who would win a Pacers/Grizzlies series?

Probably the Pacers, but it would be a 6 or 7 gamer.

[m33p0]

Who would win a Pacers/Grizzlies series?
depends... what sport?

[dbreiden83080]

So the Heat are this unstoppable machine that will kill the Spurs in 5 hey Spurstalk.. :lol

[Mugen]

I'd take Grizzlies in 6 tbh.

[dbreiden83080]

Good job, Pacers...the ECF is gonna go at least 6 now.

FWIW, Miami looked very beatable tonight. I can't wait for the Finals!

GO SPURS GO!!!!!

They have looked and been beatable 3 of 4 this series. Lebron is the best player in the game but his team has flaws..

[Prime Time]

Who would win a Pacers/Grizzlies series?
Grizzlies. They'd completely shut down Pacer's ISO game while Roy and West don't have the IQ Splitter/Duncan had to shut down ZBo. What killed the Grizzlies was SA's IQ, speed and tricky passing. All things Indiana isn't AMAZING at.

[Mugen]

Actually Grizzlies in 5. Memphis has the frontcourt advantage and Conley/Allen would probably average 10 steals a piece against that backcourt.

Gonna be a long 9 days tbh.

[Das Texan]

Who would win a Pacers/Grizzlies series?


the NHL.

[TampaDude]

Grizzlies. They'd completely shut down Pacer's ISO game while Roy and West don't have the IQ Splitter/Duncan had to shut down ZBo. What killed the Grizzlies was SA's IQ, speed and tricky passing. All things Indiana isn't AMAZING at.

So...what you're saying is...if the Pacers somehow make the Finals, they're likely to get swept by the Spurs?

[TampaDude]

the NHL.

:lol

[BatManu20]

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18p4oblhv9c83gif/ku-xlarge.gif

[TampaDude]

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18p4oblhv9c83gif/ku-xlarge.gif

WTF??? :lmao

[dbreiden83080]

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18p4oblhv9c83gif/ku-xlarge.gif

LOL

WTF???

[dav4463]

Let's Go Pacers! I want an ABA Final!

[TheGoldStandard]

Lebron working on his flopping game.

[SnakeBoy]

The Heat will still win this game by double digits.

You better pick the Heat over the Spurs!

[Dex]

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18p4oblhv9c83gif/ku-xlarge.gif

Good god. This is what the NBA has become.

[TheGoldStandard]

Good god. This is what the NBA has become.

I think West saw the flop coming and decided to throw up his hands too but the stumble was legit. Lol, very sad that this is what players are doing to get an "edge"

[Prime Time]

So...what you're saying is...if the Pacers somehow make the Finals, they're likely to get swept by the Spurs?
Haha well just because Spurs swept Memphis doesn't mean they'd beat the Pacers even easier. Just my two cents, but Indiana does have better perimeter shooting with David West, Hill, and Stevenson. Paul George alone is going to be a handful for Kawhi (compared to LOLPrinceLOL) and overall Hibbert is playing better than Gasol is. (Though his stats might be inflated due to Miami's shitty frontcourt.) I just think Memphis matches up with the Pacers a lot better.. due to Pacer's lack of play making/IQ (which is really what tore Memphis apart.) Still, if Spurs played Indy. I'd say Spurs win in 5 or 6 :hat

[TampaDude]

Still, if Spurs played Indy. I'd say Spurs win in 5 or 6 :hat

I'll go with that. :toast

[Samr.]

I think West saw the flop coming and decided to throw up his hands too but the stumble was legit. Lol, very sad that this is what players are doing to get an "edge"

It's called "retaliatory flopping."

Somewhere Bruce Bowen is downing a bottle of scotch.

[Spurs and Mavs fan]

Such a "talented" team shouldn't have to resort to flopping.

[Samr.]

Such a "talented" team shouldn't have to resort to flopping.

uhm.... how do you think they got to the ECF?

Having a big three is now mandatory in this league. So is having a deep bench, as well. Miami doesn't have a "deep bench" in the conventional sense, so they flop and hope to supplement their bench with that + "benefit of the doubt."

It's called "strategy." Some teams, like the Heat, fake it. Others, like the Spurs, actually have it.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Atrocious flopping by the Heat, and I can't beleive Wade's flying elbow wasn't properly penalised by the league with a 1-game suspension. :rolleyes

I think the Spurs are playing better than both of these teams right now, and with a bit of good fortune with the bounce of the ball and the refs, we should beat either one. Should be a tough Finals series either way.

[NASpurs]

Ray Allen was their leading rebounder and Hibbert, West and George combined to have more rebounds between themselves the whole Heat team. That team has some serious flaws when they're not making those fluke shots. For God's sake, Chris Andersen is their second best player in the playoffs so far. :lol Wade is just a walking shell of his former self.

Milwaukee were a joke to make it in the playoffs. Chicago were missing half of their team and still took a game and Indy so far have been giving them serious competition even though their team is full of dumbasses and chuckers like Stephenson and George who don't know how to throw the ball into the post. All three are on the bottom half in the league when it comes to offensive efficiency. We too can play these games Homeland Security.

[z0sa]

The FT disparity between the two teams will even out as the series goes on... I fully expect LeBron to take the East still. The Pacers are playing pretty well though. I think it's safe to say their style of play is legit. Them winning it all shouldn't be too far fetched at this point, regardless of the odds being against them. I still believe they would be a much easier out than the Heatles.