Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat: Game 5 Preview and Predictions
Deadlocked in a 2-2 tie, the Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat are heading back to South Beach for Game 5 on Thursday. After Miami played a nearly perfect Game 3, it appeared that the plucky Pacers were finally going to succumb to the Heat team that ran roughshod over the NBA during the 2012-13 regular season.
Now, the Heat will have to sort out a couple of critically problematic areas if they hope to regain the upper hand.
Of course, they do technically have an edge in that two of the series' final three games are slated to be played in Miami. But from what we've seen so far, home-court advantage hasn't counted for much. And regardless of where the games take place, if the Heat can't find a way to at least be competitive in the paint and on the glass against the bruising Pacers, Indiana could very well win this series.
That's the long view of things, anyway.
More immediately, the Heat will need more than six combined field-goal makes from Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. The duo, along with the rest of Miami's supporting cast, basically abandoned LeBron James in Game 4—a somewhat surprising disappearance after a solid effort in Game 3.
If the Heat reserves show up, knock down shots and help out on the glass, Miami can push Indiana to the brink by winning Game 5. But if the Pacers continue to dominate on the interior, the Heat could be in serious trouble.
