NBA Playoffs 2011: Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers May Be One Player Away
The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat are both up 3-0 on the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers, respectively, in their opening round series. However, both series have been pretty competitive.
The Pacers held the lead by 10 points late in Game 1 and have been in position to win all three games. Also, the 76ers have played the Heat extremely tough in their series.
What separates the Pacers and 76ers from their opponents is having players who can take over games and make baskets when their teams need them to. The Bulls and Heat have that; the Pacers and 76ers do not.
Derrick Rose has been tremendous for the Bulls and Dwyane Wade and LeBron James have been too for the Heat. That has been the difference late in games.
The Pacers and 76ers have some pretty good talent. Both teams have big men and pretty good guard play. They both may be one player away from taking that next step towards the upper tier of teams in the Eastern Conference.
The Pacers have been a physical team against the Bulls in the playoffs. They have fouled Rose hard and anyone who comes to the basket. The biggest problem for them is that they do not have anyone who they can go to late in games to get them a basket.
In Game 1 they needed a basket after Kyle Korver hit a go ahead three-pointer and could not get it. In Game 2 they need a basket with less than a minute to play and could not get it. In Game 3 were down two points with less than 20 seconds left and could not get off a good shot.
The Bulls on the other hand do have someone who can get those shots. Although Rose has not been shooting the ball particularly well he has made shots late in the fourth quarter of all three games. That has been the difference between the two teams.
Indiana has some good players in Tyler Hansbrough, Darren Collison, Roy Hibbert as well as Danny Granger. None of those players are guys you can count on late in games.
The Pacers have some cap space this offseason and whenever free agency starts they should be heavy players in the mix for a big time player.
The 76ers have played the Heat very tough. Although the 76ers have talent they do not come close to equalling the talent of Miami's Big Three. That has been the difference in this series.
All season long the Sixers have been a team that shares the basketball. Elton Brand led the Sixers in scoring at 15 points per game. That is not a high average for a teams leading scorer.
The Sixers have some good, young players in Jrue Holiday, Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams. As well as veterans Brand and Andre Iguodala. All those players are good players, but they lack that one dominate player you can count on in the last five minutes of a game.
The Heat have three guys who can get a basket late in games and that is the difference between these two teams. Just like it is with the Bulls and Pacers.
The 76ers and Pacers should be up and coming teams in the Eastern Conference with the current players they have. However, if they can attract that one big time player they could really move up the ladder of the East.
