#NBA2015: Players to Watch Part Two

With the 2014-2015 NBA season beginning in fewer than 10 days, I found it just right to look at some players we should all keep tabs on. There are no-brainers like LeBron, KD, CP3, and James Harden, of course, but there are also many other characters on whom we should put the spotlight. In this first of five parts, we’ll take a look at some key guys for the Mavs, Nuggets, Pistons, Warriors, Rockets, and Pacers.

Three forwards and three centers will shape the futures of their
respective franchises this season.

Chandler Parsons (DAL) -  Paying a professional athlete 46 million dollars to play for three years is the working definition of expensive. Doing that to someone who has never been an NBA All-Star that much money is the working definition of overpaying. Still, despite all the doubt and flak, the Dallas Mavericks are trusting Chandler Parsons, and Parsons, for his part, is more motivated than ever to prove he’s worth every cent. His numbers might not (yet) be worthy of All-Star consideration, but he has improved his offensive production every year he’s been in the league, and now that he’ll probably have more possessions than he did last season on a team featuring James Harden and Dwight Howard, Parsons should up his numbers even more. But, again, will it be worth being paid nearly double what Dirk Nowitzki is getting this season? That we’ll have to see.

They Be All-Stars: Our East All-Star Reserves

The 2014 NBA All-Star Game promises to be another awesome multi-platform sports media and marketing spectacle, what with many of the world’s best athletes competing in several contests. Undoubtedly, the centerpiece event is the All-Star Game itself, mainly because participation in it is one significant form of star-status validation.

After this year’s All-Star starters were announced, I felt really excited simply because fresh up-and-coming talent seems to be the main driving force not only in the All-Star showcase but in the entire season itself. This year’s starters, in fact, have four first-timers — Steph Curry, Kevin Love, Paul George, and Kyrie Irving. 

So many guys have gone down with injuries, yes (D-Rose huhu), but so many have also stepped up to help their individual stock and/or teams rise to new heights. Guys like Andre Drummond, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Anthony Davis have really bloomed so far and have relished in the spotlight. 

John Wall should be an All-Star in 2014.
(image from Red Navy)

In light of all these, I’ve decided to give my own unsolicited take on who else should be named All-Stars. Yes, I probably won’t get all fourteen reserves right, but that’s not the point anyway. This is not a prediction, just a statement of opinion on who, I believe, are good enough to fill the seven reserve slots for the East and, likewise, seven for the West.

The NBA: 2013 ECF: Top of the East

Dwyane Wade finally had a good game to support LeBron James in Game 7.
Miami will appear in their 3rd straight NBA Finals vs San Antonio
(Image from: Joe Skipper/REUTERS) 

#beatdown #Game7 #LetsGoHeat
Defense wins championship and in this case, it won Game 7 of the East Finals. This was a tight and contested series with defense and rebounding being the winning factors in each game. Miami won 3 of their games by double digits and Game 7 was a total team effort that resulted into a beat down of the Pacers. Miami limited Indiana to a measly 76 points including a dominating 2nd quarter where the Heat took over by scoring 33 to the Pacers' 16 which bumped the halftime lead to 17 points. The Pacers never recovered as the lead ballooned to 29 plus George and Hibbert got into foul trouble for the first time in the series. The Heat led by Wade and Bosh, finally owned the glass as they grabbed more rebounds than the Pacers. Miami was more aggressive with their shot selections as they attacked Hibbert and the paint at will which resulted to a staggering 33 of 38 FTs (highest of the series). LeBron James spearheaded the attack with his smothering defense of Paul George to start the game (7 points) and on offense, LBJ made sure that Wade and Bosh got their touches to get them more involved. The strategy worked in the first half when Wade/Bosh already eclipsed their total production from Game 6.

#JesusSaves #WoW #Finally #AboutTime
It was about time for some of the Heat players to show up. Ray Allen was missing for most of the series as he struggled to get his threes in while his FTs also deserted him. He still got his 20 minutes of playing time but the production was not there. Things finally went his way during the 2nd quarter when Allen erupted for 10 points including 3 threes that helped Miami establish a big lead which they never relinquished. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade produced his best game of the series and the playoffs with his 21 points and 9 rebounds (6 offensive). This was the first 20-point outing for Wade in the past 12 games. D-Wade a.k.a WoW was active on defense and his scoring provided ample support to James. Wade attacked the paint and drew fouls which resulted to 7/7 FTs. As for Chris Bosh, he had a productive first half with his 8 points and 7 rebounds. He still struggled shooting (3-13) but he was engaged and competing. Bosh did not always settle for the long jumpers as he tried to drive to the hoop and challenge Hibbert at the rim. The results were not pretty for Bosh but that was a lot better than doing nothing. More importantly, Bosh played solid defense against Hibbert in the 1st half as he finally delivered better numbers during the opening half.

#PacerNation #PG24 #Elite
The Pacers had a wonderful season and they exceeded expectations. They were not supposed to reach this far in the playoffs without Danny Granger while Paul George's rise to stardom was not expected to happen this early. Lance Stephenson had a decent season as he became a full time starter while Roy Hibbert and his verticality deserve a ton of credit for challenging Miami. The Pacers truly had a chance to upset the Heat and some (Sir HoopNut) would argue that they should have already won the series. In truth, the Pacers are an amazing defensive team but they simply lack the offensive firepower to match the Heat. In 3 of their losses, Indy averaged 84 points while giving up 101 to Miami. The Pacers are on the cusp of becoming an elite team but they need another shooter (maybe a healthy Granger) plus more help from their bench. A more capable backup PG and a shooting wing player should elevate them to another level for next season. Miami always dominated Indiana when their starters went for a short rest.

#NBAFinals #GoSpursGo
The Finals start on Thursday with the San Antonio Spurs resting for about 9 days. This series will be billed as the fight between whose "Big 3" is better while other subplots include: the chance for LeBron James to avenge his 2007 loss as a Cavalier, which team is healthier (Wade or Manu), which bench is better and can Coach Spo hold his ground against the best in the business, Gregg Popovich. The Spurs swept LBJ in such a dominating fashion 6 years ago which left James embarrassed and humiliated. Their season series was 2-0 in favor of Miami but both games featured a bunch of missing key players which offer us nothing in terms of advantages and disadvantages. Both teams are among the top in offensive production while also being devoted to defense. Stay tuned at here at Hoop Nut as we will have additional articles to cover the NBA Finals. We will have guest writers as well!

#Player of the Night
LeBron James (Heat) - 32 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and a nasty alley-oop in the 2nd quarter!

#Highlight of the Night
Dunkathon in Game 7

#Tweets of the Nights

David West ‏@D_West30

Salute to MIA...Championship Resolve 2nite!!

Paul George ‏@Paul_George24

GREAT year.. Proud of my guys! Nothin better than competing agaisny a great competitor.. We there tho Pacer Nation! #Wethere

The NBA: 2013 ECF: New "Big 3" helps Miami Win

Udonis Haslem had another big game in Game 5 and the Heat won by double digits.
His numbers were similar to their win in Game 3. Are we seeing a pattern?
(Image from: Lynne Sladky/AP)

#MVP #SuperMario #ThisIsUD
Miami is one win away from making their 3rd straight Finals appearance to play the waiting and resting San Antonio Spurs. Thanks to LeBron James who dominated the 3rd quarter with 16 points to outscore the Pacers who only had 13. LBJ had help but it did not come from the usual suspects. Mario Chalmers and Udonis Haslem had big games and they both contributed in a big way during the Heat's run in the 3rd frame. Super Mario had another good game (had 20 in Game 4) with 12 points and 6 assists. More importantly, he helped limit George Hill to just 1 point. Udonis Haslem produced 16 points on 8-9 shooting which was similar to Game 3 when the Heat won by double digits. He made 8 straight shots after missing his first attempt. Haslem was pivotal in the 3rd as he scored 10 points on mostly baseline jumpers. James was masterful in that quarter as he scored or assisted on 24 points of the 30 that Miami scored to pull away from the Pacers. LBJ did most of the work but at least he had help from more reliable players in Chalmers and Haslem. If Wade and Bosh decide to join the party, then the Heat will be in the Finals next week.

#Big3? #NoExcuses #Play2Win
The Heat 3 has been reduced to the Big 1, namely LeBron James who has carried Miami in their 3 wins. Sure he had some help from Birdman, Chalmers and Haslem but the other All-stars have yet to provide solid contributions. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade continued to struggle in this series vs the Pacers. Wade and Bosh combined for a measly 17 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists. They are shooting below 50% after finishing the regular season with career-high shooting numbers. Miami was very fortunate to win this game but they cannot expect to finish off the Pacers without help from Bosh and Wade. Even if the Heat advance to the Finals, there's no way they can beat the Spurs without the production of Wade and Bosh. D-Wade has looked ordinary and slow in this series while Bosh has been content to stay in the perimeter and launch jumpers all day long. His rebounds are pathetic and his defense has been below average. To make things worse, their bench has not been better either. Battier, Cole and Allen are all in shooting slumps and that needs to improve ASAP.

#PacerNation #BIGs3
The Pacers dominated the Miami front line again. Indy was led by Roy Hibbert and Paul George who scored the first 29 points for the Pacers. They also had the lead for most of the first half with just the 2 of them scoring. David West added a couple of baskets as well. The BIGs 3 of the Pacers combined for 66 points and 25 rebounds but the Pacers as a whole managed only 79 points and just 33 boards. Paul George was so hot in the first quarter that he scored 13 points which eclipsed the 12 points he scored in Game 4. The problem for the Pacers was the lack of scoring coming from everbody else especially their starting backcourt of Hill and Stephenson. That duo combined for 5 points, 6 assists and 6 turnovers after getting 39 points, 8 assists and 2 turnovers in their last game. Stephenson has been a barometer of how good or bad the Pacers are playing depending on his production. Lance started the game with 2 quick fouls and he lost his rhythm and focus as the game went along. Stephenson also irked LeBron which was a bad idea as LBJ totally decimated him on both sides of the court.

#Game6 #Preview #Adjustments
The series is far from over. The Pacers have a chance to tie this up in Game 6 if they manage to get production from their back court plus shut down Haslem and Chalmers. For the Pacers to win, they simply need to dominate the boards and pound the paint. A few more baskets from Hill and Stephenson will definitely help as well. Miami managed to narrow the rebounding gap (33-32) and points in the paint (34-32). The Heat forced 17 turnovers and they had a better shooting percentage against the Pacers. The Heat also reduced the FTs awarded to the Pacers and most importantly, LBJ did not foul out. James did not operate from the low post often in Game 5 but his mid-range and threes were working. Miami NEEDS Wade and Bosh to offer something for Game 6 because the Heat cannot expect Chalmers and Haslem to continue having big games.

#Player of the Night
LeBron James (Heat) - 30 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 16 points in the 3rd quarter

#Highlight of the Night
3rd quarter explosion by LBJ
Birdman blocks Psycho T

#Tweets of the Nights

Roy Hibbert ‏@Hoya2aPacer

I'm sorry for the loss Pacer Nation. Have to force a game 7. I have to do better. We all have to do better.

Michael Wilbon ‏@RealMikeWilbon

LeBron's too good...He's just too skilled, his judgment now is so sound, he's calm, not afraid to roast his teammates if needed...2 good...

The NBA: 2013 ECF: Scorching Heat Take Game 3

Udonis Haslem was active on both sides of the court in Game 3.
UD finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes
(Image from: Michael Conroy/AP)

#RedHotHeat #ontheblock #lowpost
Prior to Game 3, Miami's largest lead in the series was 5 points and they have not shot the ball efficiently. Their offense has sputtered and the turnovers were uncharacteristically high. All of that changed in Game 3 plus a few other things that all favored Miami. The Heat exploded for 70 points in the first half to finish with 114 and won by 18 points on the road. They finished with just 5 turnovers and shot 55% from the field while going 24-28 from the foul line. LeBron James had so-so stats with 22 points and 3 assists but he dominated on the block against Paul George. LBJ manhandled PG24 with an array of low post moves that focused on the left block. James would back down George with about 4 dribbles then he would finish with a lefty shot that George had no shot of contesting. The Pacers decided NOT to send help against James and they effectively left George on an island. James feasted on that match-up and the results were great for Miami. Miami also got a solid game from Dwyane Wade with 18 points and 8 assists including a couple of highlight plays that reminded us that he is still a superstar.

#ThisisUD #Little12 #bigs
The Heat needed the others to step up and contribute. They were not going to beat the Pacers with LeBron doing everything. Finally, some players on Miami decided to announce their presence in this series and one of them was Udonis Haslem. He had his best playoff game since 2006 and had a season-high 17 points on 8-9 shooting. UD was hitting his trademark baseline jumpers all night long as Roy Hibbert kept leaving him open. Meanwhile, Chris "Birdman" Andersen has been unstoppable in the paint. He is still perfect in this series at 13-13 FGs after going 4-4 for 9 points and 9 rebounds. He is shooting 35 of 41 in the playoffs and is easily their best player off the bench in this series. The Heat's bigs played better than Hibbert and West and when that happens, Miami is unbeatable. Heck, even Ray Allen (2-6), Norris Cole (1-5) and Shane Battier (1-4) made timely three-pointers. They have not exactly broken out of their shooting slumps but a made shot in this game could trigger a better shooting performance in the next game.    

#PacerNation #BeattheHeat
The Pacers did not play that bad at all. They shot 14 more FTs, made 2 more threes and out-rebounded the Heat by 9. Indiana only had 11 turnovers while limiting Miami to 6 fast break points. The Pacers had 4 of their starters in double figures plus Roy Hibbert and David West finished with double-doubles as they combined for 41 points and 27 rebounds. Paul George did not shoot particularly well but he had 8 assists to go with his 5 turnovers. Indiana was limited to below 40% shooting while their FTs faltered at 30 of 44 after shooting close to 80% in the first 2 games. Indy's problems were clearly on the defensive side since Miami torched them from the opening tip until the final buzzer. Miami never trailed after the 1st quarter and the Pacers only got close by 7 points before Miami put on another run to end all hopes of a comeback. The Heat rolled out a flawless offensive game which the Pacers did not have enough firepower to match. Can Miami duplicate the same efficiency for Game 4?

#Game4 #Preview #chessmatch
The Heat made adjustments by putting LBJ on the block more and Coach Spo made minor tweaks in the rotation. Haslem was active and aggressive with his jumper while Wade involved in the drives to the paint. It will be up to Coach Vogel to adjust and game plan for Game 4. Expect the Pacers to send help when James is back in the post. Hibbert was also late on a few rotations so expect him to improve his defensive reads on when to help. That would give Miami more open shots and it will be up to their shooters to make the Pacers pay. Miami cant shot 55% from the field again, right? Allen and Battier have yet to find their shooting stroke but if they make a few shots in Game 4, the Pacers are in deep trouble. The Heat bench was averaging 35 points in the playoffs but so far vs the Pacers, they have been scoring around 25 points. It is also unreasonable to expect Haslem to score 17 points again while shooting a high percentage so Chris Bosh needs to be more engaged offensively PLUS he needs to rebound. Bosh only grabbed 3 boards to up his total rebounds to 10 in 3 games. Dwyane Wade also needs to attack more and less on jumpers. The Pacers have to make their FTs and they need to force turnovers to create easier shots. Lance Stephenson needs to start making shots while Paul George cant wait for the 2nd half before he starts scoring.  

#Stats #News

• Miami has not lost back-to-back games since January
• Miami still perfect on the road at 5-0
• Heat dominated points in the paint: 52-36
• LeBron James was +22
• Stephenson was 2-10, he is shooting 6 of 32 vs the Heat

#Player of the Night
Dwyane Wade (Heat) - 18 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks and a vintage Wade dunk!  

#Highlight of the Night
D-Wade circa 2006

#Tweets of the Nights

Paul George ‏@Paul_George24

Champs made adjustments.. Our turn! A joy to play this game.. #Game4 #PacerNation

Chris Tomasson ‏@christomasson

Frank Vogel on Udonis Haslem: "Is he going to shoot 8 for 9 every night? If he does, it will probably be a long series for us.''

The NBA: 2013 ECF: Pacers Burn Heat

Coach Vogel learned his mistake. Roy Hibbert stayed in the game
during the clutch and the Pacers tied the series at 1-1
(Image from: Lynne Sladky/AP)

#GoldSwagger # @Hoya2aPacer #Pacers
Let's face it. Miami is LUCKY to be tied at 1-1 as they go to Indiana for Games 3 and 4. The Pacers were just 2.2 seconds away from a commanding 2-0 lead. Indiana has been in control majority of the time in both games. Indy started hot to begin the game at 10-0 and they even had a lead of 13 points while the Heat could only muster a 4-point lead late in the 4th. The Pacers are simply playing better on offense and defense. They are sharing the ball more (18 assists to 14 from Miami), shooting better from the field and rebounding better. Their defense limited Miami to below 47% shooting and they defended LeBron well when he made 2 turnovers in a span of 30 seconds. Their starting 5 all scored in double digits including a monster game from Roy Hibbert (29 points & 10 rebounds) who dominated Chris Bosh and whoever else tried to guard him. Indiana is shooting more FTs and making them at a higher clip while Miami has struggled from the foul line and the tree-point arc. The Pacers made adjustments (more Hibbert touches in the post, more active Hill, less points from Birdman) while the Heat regressed on offense and defense. Miami relied more on isolations and jumpers instead of attacking the paint. Adjustments were not made by Coach Spo as Allen, Cole and Battier gave next to nothing while Mike Miller and Rashard Lewis continued to sit on the bench.

#turnovers #careless #Big3?
LeBron James did not get a triple-double in Game 2. He only had 3 assists and 5 turnovers. His teammates were not doing their jobs and their shots were not falling. A lot of credit goes to the Pacers for bothering Miami but the Heat supposedly has the better players and deeper bench. So far, none of those have been true after 2 games. Dwyane Wade continues to struggle scoring in the playoffs. He had 14 points and scored ZERO points in the 4th after playing virtually the whole quarter. Wade is averaging 13.7 points and shooting 47% in the playoffs. I know he is injured but if he decides to play, he must make sure that he is positively contributing to his team's success and not hampering them. As for Chris Bosh, he more than doubled his rebounding numbers from last game. Bosh had 5 boards compared to 2 from the first game. Miami got beaten on the glass again by 7 rebounds. The Heat Big3 is not playing to their potential and only LBJ has produced. James carried the Heat with his 36 points but he had 2 costly turnovers during the clutch. They were "careless" mistakes and unforced. It would have been a lot better if LBJ forced the situation and hoisted a contested shot. At least Miami would get a shot attempt or maybe a foul call. James did not get a rest during the 2nd half and maybe fatigue played a role in his miscues.

#George&George #xfactor
George Hill scored 5 points in Game 1 and shot poorly. He played much better in Game 2 as he finished with 18 points on 6-8 shooting including making 4 clutch free throws to preserve the win for Indiana. Hill outscored Chalmers, Cole and Allen (they combined for 15 points). Paul George had a solid game with 22 points and 6 assists. The key stat: only 2 turnovers and he fronted LBJ on defense during the last minute of regulation. The Pacers are getting contributions from their starters while the Heat is having problems getting consistent production from players not named LeBron. Miami desperately needs someone else to step up and help LBJ. The Heat CANT expect to win Game 3 and this series with LeBron doing all the heavy lifting. Someone else needs to rebound (Come on Bosh! You can do better than 3.5 rebounds per game) and score on offense when open shots are there (Battier, Cole & Allen need to wake up). Wade cant continue to be the 4th or 5th best player on the court after James, Hibbert, George, Hill, and West/Bosh. Last year, D-Wade exploded from Games 4-6 and Miami needs some kind of spark from Wade if they want to steal one in Indy.

#Game3 #Preview 
The Pacers are going to Indiana where they are unbeaten after 6 home games in the playoffs. Miami was the best road team during the regular season and they are 4-0 on the road during the first two rounds. The Heat needs at least a split if they still want to defend their title in June. The Pacers know their strengths and they are not shying away from pounding the ball in the post and attacking the glass. Hibbert has stayed away from foul trouble while Miami has been racking up more fouls. If the Pacers continue to shoot more FTs and dominate the boards, Miami will probably be looking at a Game 3 loss. The Heat needs to make adjustments on their rotation especially by giving LeBron a rest in the 2nd half. They cant expect him to be fresh and at his best by playing 45 minutes while doing everything from guarding West to blocking Hibbert's shots. Wade has to be more aggressive and decisive if he is playing. He cannot be invisible in the 4th quarter again. If Ray Allen, Norris Cole and Shane Battier are not producing, Miami should not hesitate to play Mike Miller or Rashard Lewis. They have a deep bench with veterans who are ready to play so why not use them? Miller played 3 minutes in Game 2 and scored 3 points and was a +3.

#Stats #News

• Both teams had 40 points in the paint
• Indy is shooting close to 80% on FTs while Miami is hovering at 65%
• Battier has not made a FG in 2 games
• Paul George was +17 while the Big 3 combined for -21
• West and Hibbert combined 18-20 on FTs
• Allen missed 2-4 FTs

#Player of the Night
Roy Hibbert (Pacers) - 29 points, 10 rebounds, 10-15 FGs, 9-10 FTs  

#Highlights of the Night
Paul George poster!
Ball Dont Lie

#Tweets of the Nights

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA

On James' welcoming of George into the elite, the young Pacers star couldn't hide his appreciation. "That was a moment for me," George said.

Michael Wallace ‏@WallaceNBA_ESPN

Roy Hibbert: "They may be the defending champs, but we're coming for them."

The NBA: 2013 ECF: LeBron Bests PG24 in OT

Paul George and LeBron James traded clutch shots in OT.
LBJ ended with the last shot and the Game 1 win
(Image from: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

#freebasketball #MVP #clutch #tripdub
This game could have gone either way. Miami had the best chance to win in regulation when they were up 2 and Ray Allen was shooting 2 FTs. Allen is among the best in NBA history but he made only 1 of 2 which gave the Heat a 3-point lead. On the ensuing possession for the Pacers, Paul George made a very tough three from about 30 feet and sent the game to OT. In overtime, the Pacers were up 3 until Chris Bosh connected on an offensive rebound (his 2nd rebound) and was fouled. Bosh made the FT and tied the game. With the game tied at 99, Miami had the ball and LeBron drove to the rim unhindered to give the Heat the lead. Indiana almost lost the ball to a steal but George recovered and hoisted a contested three which he missed badly. Heat win, right? Nope, because Dwyane Wade was called for a foul and it was his sixth. The foul call on Wade was debatable and the replay was inconclusive. Anyway, Paul George made all 3 FTs to give Indy a 1-point lead with 2.2 seconds left. That was all the time LBJ needed as he received a pass from Battier, then James drove left and finished with a lefty layup that was uncontested as time expired. Miami escaped with the win and LeBron collected a triple-double.


#PG24 #RimProtector #BadDecision
Paul George went back and forth from goat to hero a couple of times during the 4th quarter and overtime. George started it poorly in regulation with a bad pass when the Pacers needed a basket. He was not totally all to to blame for that turnover since the Pacers had players standing at the sideline which George might have mistaken as an open teammate. PG24 made up for that gaffe by nailing a desperation trey from at least 25 feet which sent the game to OT. George almost became the hero in overtime when he made all three FTs to give the Pacers the lead. With 2.2 seconds left and Miami ball, George made the mistake of paying too much attention to other players. George should have fronted LBJ to force him to a jumper but PG24 overplayed his left side which gave LBJ all the daylight he needed. That left LeBron with a better angle when he got the ball and the rest is history. Now, Roy Hibbert was not in the game for the winning play and the previous defensive play as well. Both plays resulted into layups for LeBron. Coach Vogel took Hibbert out twice to match the smaller unit of Miami. Vogel defended his decision by saying that he was worried about Bosh (or other shooters) getting an open jumper. There was no rim protector thus, LBJ attacked the basket without fear. Vogel said that probably wont happen again in the future.


#Birdman #PsychoT #rebounds
Chris Andersen has only experienced 4 losses while playing 52 games for the Heat this season. He played huge coming off the bench during the first 2 rounds of the playoffs and his contributions in Game 1 were amazing. His energy and hustle negated the impact of Tyler Hansbrough who had 10 points and 6 rebounds. Andersen even got a technical foul for shoving Hansbrough during one of their skirmishes. Birdman was super efficient offensively as he shot 7 of 7 to finish with 16 points (playoff career-high), 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. Most of his baskets were dunks due to his constant movement and cutting to the rim. Andersen also managed to play decent defense on Hibbert and West. Meanwhile, PsychoT was no slouch either as he constantly attacked the boards and gobbled up second chance points. The Pacers won the rebounding battle but not by a very big margin (+5). Credit goes to LeBron (10 boards), Haslem (7) and Wade (6) who kept the Heat competitive on the glass. Bosh was a non-factor with just 2 rebounds.

#Game2 #Preview 
The Pacers showed the Heat that they can certainly hang with them and they almost escaped with a Game 1 win. Miami could not stop David West in the first half although he cooled off in the second half due to foul trouble. Expect Miami to keep throwing different defenders at West and getting him in foul trouble again would be a priority. Haslem, Bosh, Battier and Andersen all had turns on him but West still finished with 26 points on 11-17 shooting. Maybe putting LBJ on West for a few possessions might be explored. Miami needs to get more from Ray Allen who finished with 4 points on 1-7 shooting and missed a crucial FT in regulation. There's a chance Mario Chalmers doesnt play in Game 2 or Chalmers could be limited so Allen needs to step up. Chris Bosh needs to collect more rebounds. He had 2 (two!) rebounds and was constantly pushed around for offensive rebounds by the Pacers. Miami cant expect Coach Vogel to make the same mistake of sitting Hibbert in the clutch so they need to constantly attack Hibbert with pick and rolls to get him tired and in foul trouble. Both teams need to cut down on their turnovers and sloppiness. It was an ugly game in the first half but things changed after halftime and in OT.

#Stats #News

• For a smaller team, Heat had 9 blocks to 2 from Hibbert and Pacers
• David West outscored the Big 3 at the half, 18-17
• James has 9 career triple-doubles in the playoffs
• Both teams combined for 41 turnovers
• Largest lead was 7 points by the Pacers
• 58 total fouls were called including 9 offensive fouls

#Player of the Night
LeBron James (Heat) - 30 points, 10 assists, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks plus the game-winner! 

#Highlights of the Night
LBJ FTW
Whatashot by George

#Tweets of the Night

Sekou Smith ‏@SekouSmithNBA

Who was Hibbert supposed to guard? Tyler Hansbrough was on Ray Allen. Talk about a mismatch. C'mon man. Great play by LeBron. Period!

Michael Wilbon ‏@RealMikeWilbon

Vogel should apologize to his team for sabotaging their chance to win...Enormous coaching mistake...not once but twice...

NBA East Finals Preview 2013: (1) Miami Heat vs (3) Indiana Pacers

LeBron James versus Paul George will be the marquee match-up for the ECF
(Image from: Getty Images)

Season Series:  Pacers 2-1

How the Heat got here: The Heat coasted to the first round with a sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks. They were hardly challenged by the Bucks as the Heat won each game by double digits. As a result of that quick sweep, Miami had to wait for 7 days before they played the Chicago Bulls in the next round. The Bulls jumped them on the first game with their hustle and physical play. The Heat lost 1 game and proceeded to win the next 4 against a depleted Bulls' team. Miami managed to neutralize Nate Robinson and Jimmy Butler as the series went on. But this was an expected series win for the Heat since the Bulls played the whole series without Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich and Derrick Rose. The Indiana Pacers will be a different bunch and they are salivating at the chance of avenging their lose from last season. 

How the Heat will win: In the first 2 rounds of the playoffs, Miami shot the ball efficiently (49%, 1st in the playoffs) due to their open looks and transition baskets. They shared the ball (23 assists/game) and were willing passers for the best shot possible. They played fast and pushed an uptempo pace which produced numerous easy baskets for them. On the other hand, that frenetic pace resulted into more turnovers (15/game) which was higher than their regular season average. Still, Miami also forced more turnovers from their opponents due to their crisp rotations and active hands that resulted into deflections. The Heat still ranked near the bottom when it came to rebounds per game (39.3) but they also limited their opponents to less rebounds (37.3) which almost guarantees a Miami win. 

X-Factor for Heat: Norris Cole was great vs the Bulls as he averaged 11 ppg and shot 69% overall plus 82% from threes while hounding Nate Robinson for 23 minutes per game. The Pacers have the advantage on the PG spot so it's up to Cole (and Chalmers) to negate the impact of Hill and Augustin. If Cole manages to duplicate his production from the last round, Miami will be in a great position to advance. 

How the Pacers got here: The Indiana Pacers disposed of the Atlanta Hawks in 6 games after winning all 3 of their home games while going 1-2 on the road. That was an unusual series with 5 of the 6 games being blowouts and the final game being a win for the Pacers by 8 points. In the 2nd round, Indy went 3-0 on their home floor again while going 1-2 on the road vs the New York Knicks. They are undefeated at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers also turned up their defense by limiting the Knicks to 89.5 points in 6 games. In the regular season, the Pacers gave up 90.4 which ranked them 2nd in the NBA. Paul George defended Carmelo Anthony superbly ( 43% shooting) and Lance Stephenson stymied JR Smith (29%) which gave the Knicks no hope in winning the series. It will be up to PG and LS to try and limit Wade and James.

How the Pacers will win: The Pacers will play tough, physical defense (maybe harder than the Bulls?) and rebound the ball well. They are tops in rebounds per game in the playoffs and among the top in points in the paint. They have 2 post players in David West and Roy Hibbert who can pound it inside and punish the smaller bigs of the Heat. Roy Hibbert has been a very good rim protector and his fouls are down compared to last season. The Pacers are obviously a much better team when Hibbert stays on the court. Indiana averaged more FTs than the Heat in the playoffs and that will help them slow the game down to a pace of their liking if the Heat players are in foul trouble. Paul George has developed into an All-star plus a very good two-way player whose game mimics LeBron's albeit in a less efficient way.

X-Factor for Pacers: Lance Stephenson became a full-time starter this year due to Danny Granger's injury. He did a decent job during the regular season and he is doing a better job this postseason. He had the best game of his career in Game 6 vs the Knicks as he had 25 points and 10 rebounds. Stephenson will be against an injured Dwyane Wade most of the time and if Lance produces more stats, the Heat will be in trouble.

What will probably happen: The Pacers with a healthy Granger took the Heat to 6 games last season without Chris Bosh. The situation is reversed now with the Heat close to full strength and the Pacers with no Granger. Both teams are better than last year's versions and both know what to expect from each other. It will be up to the players to out-execute and outplay their counterparts. Miami will attack the paint and challenge Roy Hibbert to get him into foul trouble. Hibbert plays a big role in clogging the paint and anchoring the Pacers' defense. The Heat will constantly pressure the ball and double team the low post to force the Pacers to pass the ball to the perimeter. That extra pass could result into deflections or turnovers that favor the Heat. Expect Miami to force transition opportunities that will result into open corner threes for their shooters. On the other hand, the Pacers will definitely pound the ball down low in hopes of getting fouls and slowing the pace to their advantage. This allows Indiana to set up their defense which prevents Miami from creating easy baskets from defensive breakdowns. Miami has the advantage on the bench so fouls will be a headache for the Pacers. Overall, the Heat will deploy a small ball unit and it will be up to the Pacers to match up with that or continue with their traditional big lineup. Miami has only lost 3 games since February and it is tough to see them lose more than one in a series where they are motivated, focused and annoyed.  

Prediction: Heat in 5

The NBA Roundup: March 28, 2013

The streak is over! Thank you, Bulls! Oh, but give credit where it is due – the Heat were pretty impressive in winning 27 straight. Of course, the biased guy in me would also want to say the Bulls were even more impressive in putting a stop to that streak sans Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Aside from Miami’s loss igniting applause from all around the globe, however, other good things happened today, like two young guns dueling in Charlotte, Reggie Evans adding 20+ points to his 20+ rebounds, and, hey, is that the Roy Hibbert All-Star collector’s edition we see?

Day’s Best:

•       Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer paired up for 49 points to lead a herculean effort from the Chicago Bulls to interrupt Miami’s self-conscious date with history. The super play of the night, however, belonged to Jimmy Butler, who gave Chris Bosh his latest moment of humiliation with an over-the-back-alley-oop dunk. Pure awesome.
•        Kemba Walker may have enjoyed the W, but we cannot fault the effort of Orlando’s Tobias Harris. The former Tennessee Volunteer recorded 29 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 blocks in a superhuman performance worthy of notice. Walker wasn’t too shabby, too. He led Charlotte with 34 points on 13-of-23 FG shooting to go along with 9 dimes, 7 boards, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Wow. These kids today.
•        Roy Hibbert, the 2012 All-Star anomaly, scored 28 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, and blocked 3 shots to lead Indiana past the Rockets. Man, if only he can be this good every night, then I might stop ribbing him. MIGHT.

Luol Deng (R) and the Bulls were successful in
halting Miami's win streak.
(image by Nam Y. Huh/AP)

Day’s Worst:

•        So we can blame GSW’s loss to Sac-town squarely on Klay Thompson’s butt-awful FG shooting. The 6’7” Cal native finished with just 4 points, making only 1 of his 13 shots. Kids, don’t do this at home… or anywhere for that matter.
•        I’m BIG on James Harden. I mean, he’s the new superstar for sentimental favorites, the Houston Rockets, but, man, he was just too terrible against Indiana. The Beard connected on just 6 of his 24 shot attempts to go along with 3 turnovers.
•        I love the fact my former fave Fantasy NBA PG Jameer Nelson had 11 assists today, but I hate the fact he had 5 turnovers and missed 13 of his 19 field goals. Quo vadis, Orlando?