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After losing Game 1 to the Pacers, the Miami Heat bounced back with a huge statement in Game 2 by knocking off the Pacers 87-83 in Indiana’s home floor. With the victory, Miami has claimed home court advantage in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals and bolstered their chances for a three-peat.
Turning Up the Heat in Defense
After giving up 107 points in Game 1, Miami turned up the heat on the defensive side of the court. They allowed only 10 points in the final 7:19 of the game. The Pacers outrebounded the Heat 38-29 in Game 1. However, Miami kept it close in Game 2 by being three rebounds short of the Pacers’ total at 38-41.
But the big difference was playing honest defense. Miami yielded 26 fouls in Game 1 which led to the Pacers’ 29-37 free throw shooting. In Game 2, Miami committed just 17 fouls and sent the Pacers 15 times to the foul line. Indiana made only 10 free throws, so the difference in free throws made was a huge 19 points.
King James
Lebron James took over when it mattered. He had 24 touches in the fourth quarter, which was the most in a fourth quarter during this post season. James scored or assisted in 17 of the Heat’s 25 points in the payoff period. He scored the first six points on that decisive 12-2 run that sealed the win. James finished with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks. James statline has been dominant in the last four postseasons. Take a look at this incredible statistic that was mentioned in ESPN.com:
Most playoff games with 22 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists since 2011
|
Lebron James |
23 |
|
Russell Westbrook |
11 |
|
Kevin Durant |
9 |
|
Dwyane Wade |
5 |
|
Chris Paul |
5 |
James has done it thrice already in the 2014 playoffs, and they’ve only played two games in the conference finals. This comparison is ridiculous. Lebron James is in his own planet and this feat just proves that he is the best basketball player in the planet right now, bar none.
What Home Court Edge?
The Pacers preached all season long on how badly they needed the home court advantage to win the east and the NBA title. When Miami overtook them late in the season for the top spot in the East, the Pacers fought back despite their late season struggles to re-capture and secure the Top seed in the East.
The Pacers had the NBA’s best home record during the regular season at 35-6. They’ve yielded it after two games of every playoff series so far. They were able to get away with it during the first two rounds when they battled #8 Atlanta and #5 Washington. But this time, they’re not just up against the #2 seed of the East. They’re battling it out with the two time defending champions Miami Heat.
And these Heat know them like the back of their hands. They battled it out for seven games in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. During the 2014 regular season, these two teams split their season series 2-2. Home court advantage has been very important to this rivalry. Before Game 2, Pacers were 6-1 at home against the Heat. They are just 1-6 in Miami.
Overall, these two teams were tied with 7 wins apiece against each other in the last two years. Miami’s Game 2 win broke that tie, and more importantly, they won for only the second time in two years in Indiana. So the Pacers are in a lot of pressure right now because they’ve yielded their biggest advantage that they had over the Heat.
For the Heat, it’s just a matter of holding court. And with a King like Lebron, Miami’s kingdom is in good hands.
