For the first time in a while, the Miami Heat are hoping to go on a playoff run. Can they start it off by defeating the short-handed Indiana Pacers?
If everyone in the series were fully healthy, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Indiana Pacers took the Miami Heat six or seven games. Unfortunately, full health doesn’t happen so often. Because of that, this most likely won’t be a competitive series.
The Heat have surprised almost everyone en route to the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference. Through elite coaching, tremendous player development, superb leadership from several key veterans, and a key trade, the team made themselves into a contender.
The Pacers were still without their best player in Victor Oladipo for the majority of the season, but they had the entire team stepping up when they needed to. Players like Domantas Sabonis becoming an All-Star, TJ Warren being the leading scorer, Malcolm Brogdon leading the team in assists and having Myles Turner as their defensive anchor.
Both teams played well in the bubble, even if Miami’s 3-5 record doesn’t tell the entire story.
Duncan Robinson is still the best shooter in the league. Tyler Herro has improved a lot. Jae Crowder is shooting like he is Stephen Curry. Many bench players stepping up and the veterans are playing winning basketball.
As for the Pacers, Warren. That is it. Maybe he took Jimmy Butler’s comments personally because he is averaging 31.0 points per game on .578/.524/.889 splits – and he is taking 7.0 3-pointers a game!
The rest of the Pacers are playing the way the been playing the entire season, but most importantly, Oladipo is beginning to look like himself.
Now, let’s get to the series preview!