<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MIAMI (Ticker) -- The Indiana Pacers try to snap the Miami Heat's 18-game home winning streak and move into the Eastern Conference finals when they meet on Tuesday at American Airlines Arena. The home team has won each game of the series, with Indiana taking Game Five on Saturday, 94-83. Jeff Foster, who had a total of 11 points in the first four contests, had playoff career highs of 20 points and 16 rebounds, helping the Pacers grab a 47-30 advantage on the glass. Jermaine O'Neal had 22 points and eight rebounds for Indiana, which has not lost at home since March 19. The Heat fell to 0-6 away from home in the postseason, scoring no more than 85 points. But the Pacers have a difficult task in trying to close out the series at American Airlines Arena, as the Heat have not lost here since March 2 vs. Toronto. MEANINGFUL MATCHUP: F Lamar Odom vs. F Jermaine O'Neal. Odom, Miami's best and most versatile player, had 14 points and 10 rebounds in Game Five, but he was hounded by O'Neal into just 6-of-15 shooting, including misses on seven of his first eight attempts. O'Neal, meanwhile, sank 10-of-18 shots and, as usual, was a presence in the paint. </div><div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"><u>Full Preview</u></div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"><u></u></div> <div align="center"> </div>
I think Miami will win this game. They are too good at home and I think they will be victorious, but lose in game 7.
I'd be a bit worried if the Heat do pull off a Game 6 victory. That'd take all the momentum away from Indiana heading into Game 7. It's best for us quick and finish them off tonight. No streaks are to last forever.
Indiana know they can eliminate the HEAT tonight, so i expect them to play INDY Quality basketball, that we haven't seen in these series so far. GOOOOOOOOO PAAAAAAAAAAACERS!!!!!
The Miami are a great home team but I think the Pacers will win this game. The Miami have a streak of 18 straight wins at home but no streak last forever. There will be a end to it and I think it will be in this game. The Pacers will need to win this game and not take this series to game 7. There will be to many risks. It's better to win this series now better than later. For the Miami, they will have to feed off the fans energy to keep them going. The Pacers will need to silence the fans. Don't get the fans excited. Rick will need to use his timeouts when he needs to. I predict the Pacers by 5.
I respect Heat... but this is Pacer's year, I don't give a damn if they won 18 in a row at home, they're going all the way baby, no IF in this situation... GO REGGIE!!!!
Dwyane Wade is literally taking apart the Pacers in the 4th quarter,he is puttin ona show!Even Ron Artest is not able to stop him right now,very impresssive.He has bought the Heat back into the game.BUt know he has picked up a stupid fould and has 5 with 7 minutes left in the game.
Damn, how can they not stop Ron Artest? All you need to do is cut him off on the baseline since he's pretty slow, and if you don't, your center would come help and alter his lay up. If they did that, the Heat would of won tonight. Anyways, props to the Heat for contesting with the better team. I expected them to get swept.
The Pacers win the game 73-70 and win the series. It was an ugly, scrappy game. Ron Artest got 27 points for the Pacers, and held Caron Butler to 2 points. Jermaine O'Neal could only manage 7 points, but got 13 rebounds and was a key player down the stretch on D. Both teams struggled from 3, and the shooting was far from impressive with Indiana shooting 32.4% for FG's and that was higher than Miami's. Now the Pacers will play Detroit or New Jersey in the ECF.
I too expected a Indiana sweep of this series but I give major props to the Heat for playing the way they did. It gives the Miami fans something to look foward to next year. <u>Game Recap:</u> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> MIAMI -- Miami's fans were urged to wear black for Tuesday's playoff game at AmericanAirlines Arena. Turned out to be the perfect touch for their team's funeral. The Indiana Pacers overcame fashion statements, pre-game pyrotechnics, clackers, blaring music and their own offensive struggles to end Miami's homecourt dominance -- and its season -- with a 73-70 victory. They now get three days of rest and preparation before facing the winner of the Detroit-New Jersey series in the opening game of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse. In three of the past four playoff series the Pacers have won, dating to the 2000 season, they clinched in Game 6 on the road. This one turned out to be a fitting ending for a physical, defensive-oriented skirmish, going unresolved until Rafer Alston air-balled a 3-point attempt at the final buzzer.</div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chungster:</div><div class="quote_post">Vince Carter for Ron Artest and a 1st round pick, straight up.</div> What! VC for Artest? R U on Pills or somethin? Vince can't play D, and that's what the pacers are about, how do you think they got this far....." D " Vince isn't a team player, he is good for the raps, but not the pacers though, it doesn't work out... and that 1stpick, doesnt make any difference. I like the pacer team as it is, and the pacer players do to, so don't think the pacers will let their defensive PLY go, to a name like vince!
Vince for Ron Artest is stupid for the Pacers, what are you thinking. Artest is a defensive beast, and his offense isn't bad, it isn't as good as Carter's but he makes up for it with his defense, and he rebounded a little better than Carter this year. The deal would suck for both teams, the Raptors need a big scorer also, not a defensive anchor with good offense but not nearly enough for their needs, and the Pacers don't need a big scorer who's defense is sub-par since he put's no effort into it, he's a good team defender but horrible one on one defender. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Vince isn't a team player</div> Not true, everyone, well Raptors fans that watched him every game this year were complaining about him passing too much, that's one of his problems, he cares too much about making the other players happy and passing instead of taking over by himself.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Kareem.02:</div><div class="quote_post">What! VC for Artest? R U on Pills or somethin? Vince can't play D, and that's what the pacers are about, how do you think they got this far....." D " Vince isn't a team player, he is good for the raps, but not the pacers though, it doesn't work out... and that 1stpick, doesnt make any difference. I like the pacer team as it is, and the pacer players do to, so don't think the pacers will let their defensive PLY go, to a name like vince!</div> "Can't play D". "Isn't A Team Player". Ok, I'll stop right here since you have no clue what you're talking about. Vince at best is easily a top 10 player, while although Artest is amazing, he's no where near Vince's level. But his inability of staying healthy and his slim chances of most likely not becoming his old self has made me think that Artest is approaching, and almost near Vince's level, and a 1st round pick would make up for that level gap.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Not true, everyone, well Raptors fans that watched him every game this year were complaining about him passing too much, that's one of his problems, he cares too much about making the other players happy and passing instead of taking over by himself.</div> Exactly. Whoever said he's not a team player... That's one thing that drives me nuts watchin him play lotta times, he passes wayyy too much, almost to the point where you think he just can't create for himself anymore... but you can't be droppin 20pt every game off of open shot or good pass... be more like IVERSON for cryin out loud! Just not too much.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Chungster:</div><div class="quote_post">"Can't play D". "Isn't A Team Player". Ok, I'll stop right here since you have no clue what you're talking about. Vince at best is easily a top 10 player, while although Artest is amazing, he's no where near Vince's level. But his inability of staying healthy and his slim chances of most likely not becoming his old self has made me think that Artest is approaching, and almost near Vince's level, and a 1st round pick would make up for that level gap.</div> I would not exactly call Vince Carter a top ten talent. Top 15 though? For sure. Artest may not be on Vince's level offensively but defensively obviously he kills him. Artest's defense is what makes me value him over Vince at this point. I would not exactly state that Artest isn't on Vince's level though. I would love him on my team moreso than Vince. The Raptors will not pull off that trade ever. The Pacers would not even trade Artest for Vince straight up guranteed.
Yea calling Carter selfish was a little odd, Vince is not a top 10 player in my eyes, favourite player or not, he's not a top 10 player. A top 15 talent, that he is, I would say top 5 or top 10 talent before but with guys like Wade, Lebron, Carmelo, Arenas, Amare, Randolph etc being added to the list of top NBA talents (not players) which included the likes of KG, Kobe, Tmac etc, Vince isn't a top 10 talent anymore.
