Miami Heating up!

The Miami Heat are now 2 wins away from becoming the first team to advance to the NBA Finals in four consecutive seasons since the Boston Celtics in the mid 1980's.  The organization is in pursuit of its fourth world championship since entering the league in 1988.  Not bad for only 26 years of existence.


The Indiana Pacers were moments away from taking a commanding 2-0 series lead over the defending champions.  After letting game two slip away Indiana needed to try and steal back home-court advantage in game three.  Seeing as how that proposition has failed, Indiana is now in danger of letting the series slip away.  Miami's goal entering the playoffs was to get through the Eastern Conference Playoffs as quickly as possible.  If the Pacers don't show up to play 48 minutes of clean, turnover free, playoff basketball they can kiss this series goodbye.


Ray Allen burned the Pacers for 16 points, included a perfect 4-4 from three point range.  Ray was acquired to put his staple on a playoff series of this manner.  Jesus Shuttlesworth is still getting it done on the verge of 40.


Prior to game three these two teams alternated wins and losses for 13 games this season.  Miami wants to give the perception they've figured the Pacers out.  This is still a winnable series for the Pacers.  Frank Vogel has to reach into his bag of tricks and figure out how to get the most out of his team.  At this point last year the Pacers were coming into their own.  No matter the outcome of this series, it would be refreshing to see Indiana maintain some consistency.  The Pacers are a mentally weak basketball team.  However, Indiana possesses the tools to win it all.


Indiana was rolling in game three when David West, Luis Scola and Roy Hibbert were punishing Miami's front-court.  Size has been Miami's kryptonite since the big three took their talents to South Beach.  Vogel needs to come up with a way to exploit their size advantage more.