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2014 NBA Playoffs: 10 Burning Questions (Part 2)

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 24, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and guard Russell Westbrook (0) talk during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies beat Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime 98 - 95. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2014; Memphis, TN, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) and guard Russell Westbrook (0) talk during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Memphis Grizzlies beat Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime 98 - 95. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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4. Can we trust the Indiana Pacers?

While Miami has waltzed into the conference finals in nine quick games, the Pacers have had to scratch and claw their way there like Andy Dufresne crawling through a river of crap in search of freedom. But the media s**t storm that’s descended upon Indiana hasn’t been as palpable recently, as Larry Bird‘s team won four of its last five games against a very talented Washington team. You can focus on how a 38-win Hawks team took the Pacers to seven games or how Indiana’s offense is prone to disappearing for entire quarters at a time, or you can remember that this is still the league’s best defense. It’s really a matter of perspective.

Despite the ugly route they took to get here, the Pacers are exactly where everyone had them pegged at the start of the season: the Eastern Conference Finals, ready for a rematch with the Miami Heat. Are the Indiana Pacers back or still in mid-collapse? It’s too early to tell, and it honestly wouldn’t surprise me if the Heat swept Indiana while the insane amount of pressure on the Pacers finally reached its breaking point.

But predicting doomsday for the No. 1 seed in the East is no fun, especially since Miami hasn’t had any real short of challenge in the first two rounds. Then you have to consider that although the Pacers completely bombed the last two months of the season, they still managed to beat Miami while two consecutive losses and three consecutive losses sandwiched the big victory. Why is this important? Because even at their worst, the Pacers always get up for Miami.

All the turmoil and controversy and rumors and lack of chemistry of the last few weeks? Throw it out the window. If there’s one thing that can unite this team again, it’s their mutual hatred for the Miami Heat. Paul George has been quietly having a stellar postseason, averaging 21.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game while shooting 41.8 percent from downtown. Roy Hibbert, who was on the verge of hiring a private investigator just a few weeks ago to find the Monstars that zapped his talent, is averaging 14.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game in his last five. If Hibbert and the Pacers can rally and actually utilize home-court advantage for once in this postseason, who knows? We could be going seven games again.