<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> The one place the Miami Heat were supposed to be at a clear disadvantage against the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series was on the bench. No, not the coaches, but the personnel each team could call upon if the starters weren't playing well. The Heat had stuck to a strict rotation of seven to eight players, with backup point guard Rafer Alston being the one steady minute-grabber. Alston did his part Thursday night at Conseco Fieldhouse, leading the Miami bench with 17 points, but to no avail in the Heat's 94-81 loss. In fact, the Heat bench produced more points (27-20) and rebounds (16-12) than the Pacers' bench. Miami also outscored the Pacers 14-0 in fast-break points. They did themselves in, though, by allowing the Pacers to capitalize on their turnovers (21 points off 13 Miami turnovers) and from the free-throw line (plus-14 attempts in the Pacers' favor). "We tried to come in here and start this series off the way we finished Game 7 of the first round, with that energy and that fire," Alston said, referring to Miami's victory over New Orleans. "Coach (Stan Van Gundy) talked to us about coming in here and providing that spark, that energy. It just didn't happen for us</div> <div align="center"><u>Full Story</u></div>
