Heat vs Pacers

[Prometheus]

does anyone really think Miami has a chance against the pacers this year? I'm rooting for LeBron, I usually do, but Indiana at this point just seems to be a vastly superior team. I'd go into more detail, but that's what replies are for!

[Im Still Ballin]

does anyone really think Miami has a chance against the pacers this year? I'm rooting for LeBron, I usually do, but Indiana at this point just seems to be a vastly superior team. I'd go into more detail, but that's what replies are for!
Its the middle of January.

[SavageMode]

Miami will turn it up come playoffs and they are a different beast in the Playoffs. 3 straight Finals does fatigue you.

[navy]

does anyone really think Miami has a chance against the pacers this year?
:biggums:

[Joe Anderson]

does anyone really think Miami has a chance against the pacers this year? I'm rooting for LeBron, I usually do, but Indiana at this point just seems to be a vastly superior team. I'd go into more detail, but that's what replies are for!
1-1 against the Heat this year equals vastly superior? :biggums: Yes the Pacers look very impressive right now, but the season isn't even half way over yet. There is a good chance the Pacers will be burnt out by the playoffs, similar to how the Heat were after winning 27 straight. This thread should be made in April.

[Droid101]

Point differential is the best predictor for the playoffs. Much more accurate than win/loss record.

So yes, the Pacers will probably beat them.

[Dro]

1-1 against the Heat this year equals vastly superior? :biggums: Yes the Pacers look very impressive right now, but the season isn't even half way over yet. There is a good chance the Pacers will be burnt out by the playoffs, similar to how the Heat were after winning 27 straight. This thread should be made in April.
Doubt they'll burn out....they have a pretty deep team...If they fall off, that won't be the reason....But I don't see them falling off this regular season, they're too hungry when compared to Miami who takes games off because of all the success they've had...

[DaSeba5]

What do you mean a chance? It's fine that people think that the Pacers will beat them in a series this year, but some people are acting like Miami will be the major under dogs here.

[HoopsFanNumero1]

Seriously? Pacers are the unproven team here, not the Heat.

[Joe Anderson]

Doubt they'll burn out....they have a pretty deep team...If they fall off, that won't be the reason....But I don't see them falling off this regular season, they're too hungry when compared to Miami who takes games off because of all the success they've had...
You may be right, but the number 1 seed doesn't guarantee the Pacers anything. Last season the Heat were the East's first number 1 seed to make it to the finals since the 08 Celtics. This supports my stance that most teams who over work themselves in the regular season don't have enough left in the tank come playoff time.

[Joe Anderson]

Seriously? Pacers are the unproven team here, not the Heat.
Right!? I swear the Heat are the most disrespected Champion in NBA history. You would think after back to back titles and 3 straight finals appearances, people would learn to stop overreacting every time the Heat have a mid season slump. :coleman:

[Milbuck]

Of course Miami has a chance..even if they're in a slump they are the 2x defending champs. It's gonna be an all out war between these two teams for that #2 spot in the East.

[DaSeba5]

Right!? I swear the Heat are the most disrespected Champion in NBA history. You would think after back to back titles and 3 straight finals appearances, people would learn to stop overreacting every time the Heat have a mid season slump. :coleman:

Most stacked team in history tho

sarcasm

[JBrizzy]

Can't pick a winner at this stage. Bran has impressed over the last few years with his response under pressure. So even if Indiana has the Heat on the ropes, you still never know.

Playoffs are still months away and we don't know what's going to happen with injuries. We don't know if either of the teams make any trades before the deadline.

Too close to call.

[Illuminati]

Right!? I swear the Heat are the most disrespected Champion in NBA history. You would think after back to back titles and 3 straight finals appearances, people would learn to stop overreacting every time the Heat have a mid season slump. :coleman:

Cosign with this.

The Bulls were 3-0 in the 2011 regular season against Miami, but they won in 5 games in the playoffs. The Pacers were like 3-0 in the 2012 regular season against Miami, but they won in 6 games. People need to chill.

[Akrazotile]

Heat in 4

[SavageMode]

Right!? I swear the Heat are the most disrespected Champion in NBA history. You would think after back to back titles and 3 straight finals appearances, people would learn to stop overreacting every time the Heat have a mid season slump. :coleman:
Dem mid season overreactions as well!

Heat ain't got no worries.

[Dro]

You may be right, but the number 1 seed doesn't guarantee the Pacers anything. Last season the Heat were the East's first number 1 seed to make it to the finals since the 08 Celtics. This supports my stance that most teams who over work themselves in the regular season don't have enough left in the tank come playoff time.
I can be quoted zillions of times saying Miami is still the favorite come playoff time, regardless of HCA....But IMO, we will beat Miami this year. But I don't see the Pacers overworking themselves,they lead the league in point differential or they're pretty close to the top, because they blow a lot of teams out which means players are resting....The only one who seems to play a lot of minutes regardless is Lance and thats because he's young and he has a new found role as sort of a point guard for the team...Its important that he's out there with the bench...

[Prometheus]

I understand that this looks like a reaction to Miami's little slump -- I was saying the same thing before the season even began once I saw that the pacers got scola. not that scola is a major game changer, but combined with their youth, hunger, and the fact that I only see Miami getting worse leads me to believe the pacers will soundly defeat the heat this year (only to lose to okc in the finals)

[Joe Anderson]

Most stacked team in history tho

sarcasm
Yep, most stacked team ever. Yet they would be destroyed by any other great team from decades past! :rolleyes:
Gotta love the hypocrisy of Heat haters.

[Dro]

Cosign with this.

The Bulls were 3-0 in the 2011 regular season against Miami, but they won in 5 games in the playoffs. The Pacers were like 3-0 in the 2012 regular season against Miami, but they won in 6 games. People need to chill.
No they were not. The Pacers were 1-3 against the Heat in 2011-2012 season.

[All Net]

You have to like pacers chances with Hca.. They are much better than a year ago and that series did show how key Hca was.

[JebronLames]

Healthy, well rested heat > home court advantage.

Wade and bosh could not have played worse in last year's series.
Hibbert couldn't have played better.
The calls heavily favored Indiana last year.
Greg oden and Beasley


Paul George and Stephenson have improved.
Scola and granger.
Probably will have home court.

Heat in 6.

[Illuminati]

No they were not. The Pacers were 1-3 against the Heat in 2011-2012 season.

Hmmmmm, must be thinking of another team.

[Joe Anderson]

Healthy, well rested heat > home court advantage.

Wade and bosh could not have played worse in last year's series.
Hibbert couldn't have played better.
The calls heavily favored Indiana last year.
Greg oden and Beasley


Paul George and Stephenson have improved.
Scola and granger.
Probably will have home court.

Heat in 6.
Preach. People need to stop acting like homecourt guarantees a trip to the finals, cause recent history has shown us just the opposite. Since 2006 the East's number 1 seed has only made it to the Finals twice! :eek: Think about that.

[JBrizzy]

Two evenly matched teams. No team is clearly better than the other.

[Milbuck]

Hmmmmm, must be thinking of another team.

Or you just pulled it out of your *** to suit your argument :confusedshrug:

[Dro]

Preach. People need to stop acting like homecourt guarantees a trip to the finals, cause recent history has shown us just the opposite. Since 2006 the East's number 1 seed has only made it to the Finals twice! :eek: Think about that.
I don't understand what else you expect teams to play for in the regular season. Every teams goal is to get the #1 seed, I don't care what they say. Just because Miami or whoever is not playing well enough to get it this year, doesn't mean they "aren't trying", or are "coasting", or any other excuse...Like Lebron really steps onto the court not trying to win every game? Usually, teams try to rest veterans like the Spurs have done in the past but that didn't mean they weren't trying to get the #1 seed. How many people on this forum have said that Pacers getting the #1 seed guarantees a trip to finals because you haven't been hearing Pacers fans saying that. Honestly, its probably 50/50 on this board as far as Pacers vs. Heat...

[AintNoSunshine]

No the Miami Cavaliers has no shot at the stacked Pacers. If Lebron somehow gets them past Indiana he should immediately be crowned the GOAT over Jordan.

[Joe Anderson]

I don't understand what else you expect teams to play for in the regular season. Every teams goal is to get the #1 seed, I don't care what they say. Just because Miami or whoever is not playing well enough to get it this year, doesn't mean they "aren't trying", or are "coasting", or any other excuse...Like Lebron really steps onto the court not trying to win every game? Usually, teams try to rest veterans like the Spurs have done in the past but that didn't mean they weren't trying to get the #1 seed. How many people on this forum have said that Pacers getting the #1 seed guarantees a trip to finals because you haven't been hearing Pacers fans saying that. Honestly, its probably 50/50 on this board as far as Pacers vs. Heat...
Teams who have gone to the finals multiple years in a row coast, that is a fact. Shaq even admits that he and his Lakers used to take nights off all the time. There is no way a team like Miami is going to give max effort EVERY game of an 82 game season. The Pacers might because they have something to prove, but the Heat know that they will only be defined by what happens in the playoffs. The Heat have been resting several players at the slightest sign of injury, so the number 1 seed is certainly not their top priority. If it is within reach by seasons end I'm sure they will try their hardest to get it, but right now they are not worried about keeping up with the Pacers.

[I<3NBA]

does anyone really think Miami has a chance against the pacers this year? I'm rooting for LeBron, I usually do, but Indiana at this point just seems to be a vastly superior team. I'd go into more detail, but that's what replies are for!
:coleman:

no you're not. i've been reading your posts and you're a Lebron hater.

[oarabbus]

Chalmers/Hill everyone DGAF
Wade > Stephenson (?)
Lebron >> PG
Battier < West
Hibbert > Bosh

Oden = X Factor

[crunk-juice]

Chalmers/Hill everyone DGAF
Wade > Stephenson (?)
Lebron >> PG
Battier < West
Hibbert > Bosh

Oden = X Factor


Battier <<< West

[Prometheus]

:coleman:

no you're not. i've been reading your posts and you're a Lebron hater.

false. I've been rooting for LeBron since the moment he got drafted. I'm just more of an objective fan who enjoys the aesthetics of basketball in general. I root for LeBron, truly I do, and if I could have anyone win the finals it'd be Miami. however, I really don't care that much. I just want to see entertaining basketball, and if the team I'm rooting for loses, I'm pretty much just :confusedshrug: and I just keep watching. I root for Miami/LeBron, but also for okc/Durant as a close second (even though I believe Durant is now the better player, I still root for LeBron over him because I've been rooting for him for so long it's just kind of ingrained). maybe it's just hard for people to believe that I can root for a player but still make fun of him and point out his flaws since 99% of the people on here are super-biased fanboys who never say anything bad about their hero

[Prometheus]

oh and just so everyone is clear, listing the starting lineup for each team with > or < signs to indicate the "better" player will never be a sufficient analysis to try and decide which team will win. do you think the 5 starters take turns playing 1 on 1 or something? :facepalm

[Demitri98]

4 scenarios:

A: Oden locks down Hibbert for 20min/game and Wade turns into vintage Flash in the ECF and Finals.
Heat in 5 or 6.

B: Wade doesn't turn into vintage Flash but Oden still locks down Hibbert.
Heat in 7.

C: Wade turns into Flash and Ode's knees explode. Heat in 7.

D: Wade get hurt and has 13/game playoff run again and Oden's knees explode.
Pacers in 6.

Now, if the Heat sign Bynum, it's a different story. Heat in 5 regardless.

[aj1987]

Chalmers/Hill everyone DGAF
Wade > Stephenson (?)
Lebron >> PG
Battier < West
Hibbert > Bosh

Oden = X Factor
Why is that even a question Wade >>>> Stephenson and it's not even close.

[leMVP]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlHmHKzl7eU

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwcZIH2FJHg

How quickly people forgets!

[no pun intended]

Right!? I swear the Heat are the most disrespected Champion in NBA history. You would think after back to back titles and 3 straight finals appearances, people would learn to stop overreacting every time the Heat have a mid season slump. :coleman:
2011 Mavs were and it's not even close.

[EnoughSaid]

You guys need to pick a side. It's either "Miami is soooo stacked and the east sucks and they should be able to easily make the Finals" or "Miami is not good enough, they suck, no depth, etc."

[freshperry]

Chalmers/Hill everyone DGAF
Wade > Stephenson (?)
Lebron >> PG
Battier < West
Hibbert > Bosh

Oden = X Factor

I understand why people do these individual matchup inequations however i feel as though miami role players have a higher probability of having one spectacular game. For instance when mario chalmers went off on game 4 agaidnt okc finals n then mike miller went off on game 5. Because of the amount of effort and preperation it takes to shut down superstars like lbj n wade, other role players r exposed to more oppurtunties to shine. Ultimately, i believe thats what will propel miami to a 3 peat chip.

[PJR]

You guys need to pick a side. It's either "Miami is soooo stacked and the east sucks and they should be able to easily make the Finals" or "Miami is not good enough, they suck, no depth, etc."

They can't. All reason, logic, and perspective go out the window in topics discussions LeBron or the Heat. It's hilarious.

[Prometheus]

They can't. All reason, logic, and perspective go out the window in topics discussions LeBron or the Heat. It's hilarious.

well I'm the OP on this thread, and I'm a reasonable fan of LeBron and the heat. and I don't agree with either perspective - the east sucks but Indiana does NOT suck, and I believe they will beat Miami this year. Brooklyn will also give them major problems in the playoffs if they face them. and Miami has a very good roster, but when people call them the most stacked team of all time, they lose all credibility immediately

[Nikola_]

whos hoing to hit big shot for indy ? i dont think george or anybody is on that level yet. on the other hand heat always have someone to drain a clutch three.
they dont necessarily have to be "better" to win
i think heat as a whole shot about 43 and 44 % in 2012 & 2013 finals from downtown

[Prometheus]

whos hoing to hit big shot for indy ? i dont think george or anybody is on that level yet. on the other hand heat always have someone to drain a clutch three.
they dont necessarily have to be "better" to win
i think heat as a whole shot about 43 and 44 % in 2012 & 2013 finals from downtown

I'd rather have George take a clutch 3 than LeBron or wade. not allen, but then again allen wouldn't be able to create his own shot

[Prometheus]

whos hoing to hit big shot for indy ? i dont think george or anybody is on that level yet. on the other hand heat always have someone to drain a clutch three.
they dont necessarily have to be "better" to win
i think heat as a whole shot about 43 and 44 % in 2012 & 2013 finals from downtown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHmRykTdh8E

[aj1987]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHmRykTdh8E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p3xWG3mkXE

[Prometheus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p3xWG3mkXE

read the previous page. context my fellow poster, context. dude said no one on pacers could hit a clutch shot

[aj1987]

read the previous page. context my fellow poster, context. dude said no one on pacers could hit a clutch shot
My bad. Carry on.

BTW, I'd take Lebron and Wade over George to hit a clutch 3 any day.

[Prometheus]

My bad. Carry on.

BTW, I'd take Lebron and Wade over George to hit a clutch 3 any day.

I could see LeBron, but wade? he can't shoot a 3 to save his life

[Nikola_]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHmRykTdh8E

that type of shot doesnt go in very often. i dont like that shot, maybe you do
anyways, pacers offense will struggle down the strecth and they turn the ball over too much, especially against miami trapping defense

if heat can get from oden just to stand behind hibbert its done

[aj1987]

I could see LeBron, but wade? he can't shoot a 3 to save his life
He's actually pretty clutch though. Dude's on Kobe's level (percentage wise), when it comes to making shots in the clutch.

[Prometheus]

He's actually pretty clutch though. Dude's on Kobe's level (percentage wise), when it comes to making shots in the clutch.

kobe's clutch numbers? you mean the 7/27 garbage?

[Prometheus]

He's actually pretty clutch though. Dude's on Kobe's level (percentage wise), when it comes to making shots in the clutch.

it's bordering on semantics at this point, but I'd like wade to take a clutch jumper... just not a three pointer

[Lordsteven]

the heat havent shown their true colors yet. yawn.

[aj1987]

it's bordering on semantics at this point, but I'd like wade to take a clutch jumper... just not a three pointer
This, I can agree with.

[chazzy]

He's actually pretty clutch though. Dude's on Kobe's level (percentage wise), when it comes to making shots in the clutch.
Not game winners for their careers

[aj1987]

Not game winners for their careers
I was talking about clutch. Not game winners. Obbiously Kobe has more game winners. More than anyone else, ever, if I'm not mistaken.

[Olacinco]

But... But... Greg oden doe

:roll:

[J Shuttlesworth]

So far it's a toss-up, but i'm leaning more towards the Pacers. It's the worst matchup in the league for the Heat, but they still were able to take them last year. Depends a LOT on Wade's health, and if Bosh can actually make an impact against them.

[rlsmooth775]

It depends on the play of Hibbert "sirlancealot"