Indiana Pacers: What went wrong against the Heat in the NBA playoffs

The Pacers couldn’t play their way out of a long history of injury problems

Indiana also had another young star in Domantas Sabonis, who has been rehabbing an injury since the end of the regular season and was noticeably absent from the playoffs. Sabonis’ presence was missed especially after Game 2. Game 3 was scary to watch. It became apparent then, that “something” was wrong with the Pacers and that “something” was Sabonis and the countless other injuries that plagued the Pacers.

Brogdon and Oladipo missed several games throughout the regular season, which didn’t give the Pacers a fair shot to win or the fans and analysts a fair shot at deciding whether or not they could win. Without a full, healthy roster, the outlook of the Pacers didn’t seem to be an outlook at all. The Pacers needed their star and the supporting cast to compete in a seven-game series against the Heat and other teams.

Indiana played sluggishly, and they weren’t ready for the less sluggish and fresh Miami Heat. Warren was to step up in Sabonis’ place against Butler and his new squad as Indiana’s go-to guy. Warren’s scoring ability certainly put some pressure on the Heat’s defense.

But instead of steadily relying on him, the whole team played sluggish as if they knew something was missing and wanted sympathy. Their chemistry was discombobulated. Indiana let the injuries get the best of them, and not even Warren, neither Brogdon or Oladipo could get them to bounce back.