Heat - Pacers, not as bad as the media will make you believe

I'm so fed up with the media coverage of the Heat, and the commentators too. People like Stephen A Smith, that patronizing a..hole, or that other idiot Dan Shanoff in espn.com. Of the four series, three have a team down 2-0. Minnesota almost fell on the same hole last night. Yet all you hear is how the Heat has no chance, will get swept, doesn't belong here, etc. The Lakers are disparaged too, but way less, and it's focused more in the Payton-Parker matchup. We are playing gainst the deepest team, the one with the best record, huge disparity in size in the front court and still playing with heart, not rolling over. The bench, supposedly our weak point, actually played as well as the Pacer's on the first game. It definitely reminds me of the Marlins coverage. Ppl just have a chip on their shoulder when it comes to Miami. I'm not harboring any illusions that we'll win the series or anything, but more respect will be nice.

 

I don't think anyone is disrespecting the Heat whatsoever but they are getting creamed in this series. Even yesterday's score wasn't as close as it was, it was a pure domination from start to finish again.

I believe that once this series is over the Heat will get articles regarding how good they are gonna be and how much heart they have. But until then this series is looking like a wash and everyone is counting them out which they should. The true test for Miami will be once they get back home but I don't see this series going past 4.

 

This is my favorite series to watch apart from the Hornets and Heat series. I really admire the Heat going at it with their full capacity. It's too bad that the Pacers are just too strong. The fact that they have easier scoring options, meaning their power in the paint in one, J'O'Neal. The Heat need to be faster then they are and try to get some power of their own. As much as I like and know how good Odom is, I don't think chances of that will happen.

Grant might have a chance, but he'll be going up against good defensive players if they're playing man to man. Rafer needs to hit his shots if they're to win at least 1 or 2 games. Just like what's been said, home court advantage is their biggest and probably only hope. Wade would be killer over there and probably wreak havoc.

 

Actually Courtvisoon, it wasn't pure domination from start to finish, the Heat kept it close till about towards the end of the 2nd quarter which is when the Pacers pulled away. But we all have to remember that the Heat are on the road and have sucked all year on the road, look at against NOH, they can't win on the road and to just be fighting against one of the East 2 best teams while in their building is pretty good.
They could possibly take one or 2 games when they go home depending on the energy and how they come out, but Caron Butler needs to make the easy ones.

 

Pistons would take Heat, Heat would take Nets

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">Actually Courtvisoon, it wasn't pure domination from start to finish, the Heat kept it close till about towards the end of the 2nd quarter which is when the Pacers pulled away. </div>
Even in the first quarter I knew what the outcome would be. Maybe it wasn't pure domination but for 3/4's of the whole game Indiana had the lead. I would say that's domination.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But we all have to remember that the Heat are on the road and have sucked all year on the road, look at against NOH, they can't win on the road and to just be fighting against one of the East 2 best teams while in their building is pretty good.

They could possibly take one or 2 games when they go home depending on the energy and how they come out, but Caron Butler needs to make the easy ones.</div>
I'll give you that one because it's something I can see happening. But the NOH are not the Pacers no matter what way you look at them. Pacers are healthy and talented from top to bottom and they have two of the best players in the league. The Hornets were a hobbled group of players who could not even feed the post properly to take advantage of Jamaal Magloire. The Pacers haven't even been playing good basketball offensively and they are still killing the Heat. Add in the fact that Rick Carlisle is 2 times the coach Tim Floyd is and you have yourself a big mountain to climb.

Caron Butler did not have to face a Ron Artest in the playoffs and it shown yesterday with his 1 for 9 performance. Do I think he can score 15 a game? Probably but with 17-20 shots. With Artest there is nothing that comes easy and Butler is faltering because of that.

I'm not gonna count out the Heat yet but logical thinking tells me that this series is finished in Miami.

 

Butler has never been able to score as well as he use to since the injury though right? Good thing he's always kept his lockdown defense, though that probably won't work on Artest for obvious reasons. I think the ball should mostly be in Odom and Wade's hands. Grant too, he's been trying hard and getting it done. Jones, well yes, but I think the others ought to get a chance, I think double teaming on both ends is the key for them to come away. Odom can't take J'O on his own. Butler can't take Artest on his own.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think anyone is disrespecting the Heat whatsoever but they are getting creamed in this series. Even yesterday's score wasn't as close as it was, it was a pure domination from start to finish again.</div>

The games were a LOT closer than the first two Pistons-Nets, even the first two Lakers-Spurs. Yet I hear everybody saying, once the Lakers and the Nets get back to their homecourt they'll put up a fight but the Heat is just expected to be swept. I don't know if any of you heard the comments right before the game on TNT. You could say the Nets got creamed by the Pistons in their first game, but not that the Pacers dominated the Heat in either game. They were close games and both teams are playing good basketball, except for the last two quarters where the Heat absolutely stunk, nothing was going right. If you have the capacity to know which team is going to win in a first quarter where the lead is only 3 points, you need to go to Vegas and do some heavy betting. Seriously.

 

^I can predict if a team is going to win just by watching them execute on both ends of the floor. Also I'm just being logical and going with the law of averages. Miami just does not match up fairly with Indiana. If you look at the Pistons/Nets and Lakers/Spurs, all four teams match up well with each other and all four have a shot at making to the next round based on their talent alone not to mention their team chemistry. Miami on the other hand is working on a 7 man rotation with budding superstars in the NBA and it's going against Indiana has a 10-11 man rotation with a runner up for sixth man of the year, The Defensive player of the Year and a runner up for MVP who has NOT had a good game yet. I would say that the odds are stacked against them no?

BTW if all I had to do in Vegas was say that Indiana was gonna win and not worry about the odds.....You damn right I'm gonna do some heavy betting!!

I am so confident that Indiana is going for a sweep that I'll put my "money" where my mouth is and make an signature bet with you and/or anyone that disagrees with me. Hows that for heavy betting? :thumbsup:

 

Amazing how 1 playoff series win in 3 years suddenly make some fans extra cocky. Reminds me of L.A

Everyone knows Miami are a completely difference team on their homecourt. They show far more energy and are allowed to get out and run much more than they do on the road, they have been bad all season when they are awaying from home so It was no surprise to see them struggle. I reckon It should be different in Miami.

 

^Care to make that bet then Allnet? The game is at 8:00pm eastern time down here. So there is still 9 hours to accept my challenge.

 

I'm not a Heat fan so It doesn't bother me but the bet Is they won't get swept right? Tell me what the terms are and what signatures would be involved and how long It would last for.

It's only abit of fun so why not.

 

Well it's IF Miami gets swept. I say yes.

If they do I will request a sig to be done for you asap so you can wear for a week. IF they don't you can give me a sig to wear for 1 week in total. Okay?

I don't have the sigs done but we can always ask the RDT to help us out.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">Well it's IF Miami gets swept. I say yes.

If they do I will request a sig to be done for you asap so you can wear for a week. IF they don't you can give me a sig to wear for 1 week in total. Okay?

I don't have the sigs done but we can always ask the RDT to help us out.</div>

Sounds fine to me, one week would be about right.

 

^Its a deal then. I guess we'll find out tonight whether or not my prediction will come true.

 

CourtVision you cocky S.O.B. Miami won't be swept, and Indiana will be swept by the Pistons in the next round. I'll make a bet that the Pistons will destroy the Pacers next round... It's obvious, the pacers stand no chance whatsoever, how bout that for a taste of your own medicine.

 

You are already conceding defeat on the first bet?

So you want to make a bet on the Pistons and Pacers eh? I'll take it.

You say Pistons over Pacers

I say Pacers over Pistons

Simple signature bet, I win you wear what I give you and vice versa. I'll contact the RDT to see if they can make our sigs once the bet is finished. Any other takers??

BTW I'll do the official one once the season starts....

 

damn, interesting bet! i got in late, courtvision, since allnet already took your bet. but here's my offer: if the pacers sweep, not only i'll wear the sig, i'll even do them myself!

 

Heat are going to win this game, I love the way they play at homecourt. GO HEAT

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting cubanballer:</div><div class="quote_post">damn, interesting bet! i got in late, courtvision, since allnet already took your bet. but here's my offer: if the pacers sweep, not only i'll wear the sig, i'll even do them myself!</div>
Damn this game and the Heat. Okay Cubanballer, contact Allnet and see what he wants. I will definitely honor my side of the bet.