Pacers strike first, lead Heat 1-0
By TYLER SMITH
ISL Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — This series is what we’ve all been waiting for.
Pacers.
Heat.
Eastern Conference finals.
Nothing from the season or even playoffs matters anymore. This is now a seven-game season, and one that gives the Pacers a brand new start. So far, so good. The Pacers came out of the gate swinging, controlling Game 1 from start to finish on their way to a 107-96 victory Sunday afternoon.
Yes, the team that nearly lost to the 8-seed Atlanta Hawks leads the two-time defending champs 1-0 in the conference finals. There’s obviously a long way to go, and if anybody is built to come back in a series, it’s the Miami Heat. Still, this was a huge win for Indiana and it already shows that the Heat will once again have their hands full with this team.
As I noted in my series preview, two keys to this series are: Winning Game 1, and controlling Miami’s role players. Considering neither of these teams loses two in a row in the playoffs, Game 1 became huge. Winning this game also now gives the Pacers three chances to win another game and come home for Game 5 with the series tied at 2-2. As for the other key, it was another mission accomplished in this game. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade combined for 52 points on 23-of-36 shooting. The Pacers were able to control everyone else, which will be something to watch throughout this series.
The Pacers were able to get to the foul line a lot in this game. They took more free throws in the third quarter alone (17 attempts) than the Heat had the entire game (15 attempts). Balanced scoring was also a key in Game 1: These were the point totals for the Pacer starters: 24 (Paul George), 19 (David West), 19 (Roy Hibbert), 17 (Lance Stephenson), and 15 (George Hill). C.J. Watson also contributed 11 off the bench.
Every time the Heat made a run, the Pacers were able to answer.
“It’s a good start to the series. But that’s all it is,” Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. “The team that’s coming back for Game 2 is the two-time champs.”
Paul George added that they had to have the opener.
“This is a fun matchup, and one we’ve been waiting for all year,” he said. “This is a game we needed. We’ve had a past of dropping Game 1 in these playoffs, and that would’ve been a huge setback against this team.”
George also knows it’s only one game.
“We know we’re playing against the champions,” he said. “They’re going to make adjustments. We’ve been complacent many times in the playoffs and throughout the season. We’ve got to stay humble with this win.”
Things can change in a hurry in a playoff series, as we’ve seen already this postseason. Look for Miami to come out swinging in Game 2. Even so, the Pacers have a huge opportunity on Tuesday night to really put the defending champs on the ropes.
Buckle up, we’re just getting started.
Follow Tyler on twitter: @sports_tys_20
