Miami Heat-Indiana Pacers series: Star-power vs. team function - MiamiHerald.com

Pacers coach Frank Vogel left for Miami on Saturday feeling “great.” When Indiana’s team plane landed, his mood probably changed.

Having to cough up $15,000 to the NBA will alter anyone’s mood.

Just a few days ago, the second-round series between the Heat and Pacers seemed like an afterthought amid juicer matchups such as the Celtics-Sixers series and the dogfights out West. Then the jabbering started. Back-to-back days of trash talk by the Pacers followed by a Most Valuable Player Award for LeBron James has added some much-needed spice to Miami’s Eastern Conference semifinal.

The ever-expanding buildup for the Heat-Pacers series added another element of intrigue to the equation Saturday night when the NBA slapped Vogel with a $15,000 fine for, according to a news release, “his comments about how the referees should officiate” the series. Vogel called the Heat players the “biggest floppers” in the NBA on Thursday.

Styles clash

So, with that, the series begins at 3:30 p.m. Sunday: The Floor Floppers against the Gum Flappers.

About 10 minutes before tipoff, NBA commissioner David Stern will present James with his third MVP Award. Shortly thereafter, bodies will collide and elbows will fly in what’s sure to be one of the most physical series of the NBA playoffs. Earlier in the week, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra predicated the physical nature of the best-of-7 series will rival a cage match. Vogel did his part to hype the series by attempting to influence the series’ officials.

Compared with the first round, Heat big man Chris Bosh expects “a more physical series.” Bosh, who is expected to alternate between power forward and center throughout the series, will square off initially against Roy Hibbert, the Pacers’ All-Star center. Four inches taller than Bosh, Hibbert will be the focal point of the Pacers’ defensive effort. For Indiana, putting brakes to the Heat’s high-wire transition game will be a top priority.

“If something is working for me against [Hibbert], I’m going to use it,” said Bosh, whose quickness and speed could cause Hibbert problems. “I’m not going to sit here and try to battle him and see who’s the strongest. I’m not really worried about nothing like that.

“I’m going to move around him and make him move his feet and make him run up the floor as quickly as possible and see how he guards it.”

Late charge

Led offensively by wingman Danny Granger, the Pacers were one of the NBA’s most improved teams this season. The addition of Leandro Barbosa and the improved play of guards George Hill, Darren Collison and Paul George helped Indiana finish with the fifth-best record in the league. The Pacers went 12-3 in April and blew past an undermanned Magic squad in the first round.

“They’re a much different team in the last six weeks,” Spoelstra said. “We feel we are, too. Watching some of our film from those last two games [against Indiana], it’s not really recognizable. Our energy level at that period of time, but also how we were playing offensively â€" there’s a lot of different things from our standpoint.”

The Heat went 3-1 against Indiana during the regular season but lost by 15 points to the Pacers in the final meeting. Six Pacers scored in double figures in that game. Granger led the team with 25 points, and Barbosa had 14 points off the bench.

“I feel great,” said Vogel before leaving for the Miami on Saturday. “You never know how it’s going to go once you get out there, but we’re as prepared as we have been for any game this year, and I feel good about what we can do.”

MVP motivation

The Pacers will have to contend with James, who will hoist the MVP trophy to a sold-out arena before game. Never mind the Pacers’ comments this week, Heat guard Dwyane Wade said the award will serve as the perfect motivator for Game 1.

James, fixated on winning his first NBA championship, said the MVP will be an afterthought.

“I’m all about team. That’s all I care about. That’s all I know,” James said. “This game is all about team. And the ultimate team goal and the ultimate team trophy is the gold ball we see at the end of June every year.”