Heat vs. Pacers: Indiana Must Set the Pace to Steal Game 5 in Miami
The Indiana Pacers need an early lead to have a chance at stealing Game 5 from the Heat tonight in Miami. The Pacers could not capitalize on a chance to take a commanding lead on their home floor—now they are faced with the daunting task of beating the Heat in South Beach.
We all know how pivotal Game 5s are, and it's even more vital in this situation for the young Pacers' psyche. If they lose to Miami again, the 3-2 deficit will be too much to overcome, as it will ignite the Heat's finishing mentality.
Few teams are better at vanquishing a reeling opponent than Miami.
The first quarter hasn't meant much this series, as the team that has had the advantage after 12 minutes has lost every game. I expect that trend to change tonight.
After LeBron James and Dwyane Wade's dominant performances in Game 4, they will be looking to bury the Pacers early. The Heat are at home, and role players always perform their best at home, so the dynamic duo will likely get a little more help.
If Wade and James are anywhere close to what they were in Game 4 and they get solid games from Shane Battier and Mario Chalmers, the Pacers are toast.
One key for Indiana is to go back to their bigs for scoring. Their biggest advantage is in the paint, but in Game 4 David West and Roy Hibbert had a combined 18 points on 17 shots. Both of those totals were a series low for the Pacers' frontcourt.
Indiana needs to establish Hibbert and West early, but Miami will be taking the ball right at Hibbert to get him in foul trouble. If they can get the big man out of the game, the middle is wide open. As for West, Indiana would love to get him to the free-throw line early and often.
He's an 84 percent free-throw shooter. He can be productive from there, and it helps to slow the tempo to the half-court game the Pacers need to play to have success. Involving Hibbert and West early is critical for the Pacers' success.
They need an early lead, and the best way for them to get that is by going inside. They can't depend on shooting the lights out from deep, not on the road.
It's possible, but not likely. This game is about production in the paint for the Pacers.
The Heat will be riding high after an emotional win, and the supporting cast will be eager to give James and Wade some assistance. If the Pacers don't grab early control of this game, they will lose the game and the series.
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