Pacers Slumping

The Indiana Pacers have owned the best record in the eastern conference for the majority of the season thus far.  The Pacers and the Miami Heat appear to be on a collision course to meet in the eastern conference finals once again. 

Home-court advantage has been heavily stressed within the Pacers franchise this season.  With this latest three game losing streak the Pacers are now tied with Miami in the loss column.  The Pacers haven't been doing themselves any favors by repeatedly stating their desire to capture the number one seed in the east.  By doing so the bar has now been set extremely high. 

The Miami Heat usually take their game to another level this time of year.  If Indiana continues to slump they can kiss home-court advantage goodbye.  Miami is a confident group of players.  The Heat feel they can go into any teams building and win if necessary.  The Heat also feel like no team can come into their building and win a game seven.  The million dollar question is will losing the number one seen destroy Indiana's psyche.

Paul George couldn't have chose a worse time to enter a slump.  Over his last three ball games he's averaged 13.7ppg while shooting only 29.5% from the field.  Keep in mind, Paul George at one point this season was beginning to garner MVP consideration.  Such conversations have recently been quieted by the excellent play of LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

LeBron is in an excellent position to win his third NBA championship.  Now is the time for the Pacers to right the ship.  If Indiana misses out on the number one seed you can all but pencil in the Miami Heat in the NBA finals.