The Indiana Pacers put on one of their most impressive performances of the year against the Miami Heat on May 17, taking a 2-1 lead in Eastern Conference semifinals with their 94-75 victory.
The Heat actually got off to a solid start against the Pacers, but they weren't able to keep it up as the game progressed. The Pacers fought their way back in the second quarter, and they lit the Heat up in the second half, walking away with the 19 point victory.
After slowing down in the first two games of the series, Mario Chalmers stepped his game up in Game 3, leading Miami's offense with his 25 points. LeBron James was Miami's second highest scorer, finishing with 22 points and 7 rebounds.
Dwyane Wade had a hard time knocking down shots against the Pacers, converting on only 2 of his 13 field goal attempts. He finished the game with 5 points - a career low in the postseason. Wade exchanged some heated words with Miami coach Erik Spoelstra as the game spiraled out of control, prompting some to question the team's morale.
"That happens," Spoelstra told reporters about the altercation. "Anybody that has been part of a team or has been a coach or been a player, you have no idea how often things like that happen. That was during a very emotional part of the game. We were getting our butt kicked. Those exchanges happen all the time during the course of an NBA season."
Spoelstra does deserve some of the blame for Miami's Game 3 loss, considering the fact he allowed Indiana's defense to alter their offense, turning them into a jump shooting team. Miami's players also did a poor job of boxing-out their opponents, getting outrebounded by 16.
When most basketball fans think of the Heat's "big three," Chris Bosh is often seen as the third wheel. However, Bosh's presence on the floor is certainly missed by the Heat, and regaining control of the series without him won't be easy.
With Game 4 set for May 20, the Heat will have a couple of days to figure out what adjustments they need to make against the Pacers. The Heat will obviously need Wade to play a lot better on Sunday, and they'll also need a lot more hustle from the entire team.
David is a Miami Heat fan that has followed the team for 16 years. Follow him on twitter @davidkingwriter and check out his blog.
Sources:
Associated Press, "Roy Hibbert scores 19 and adds 18 boards as Pacers pound Heat"
Player and game information from ESPN.com
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