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NBA -- Pacers pound glass to even series with Heat at 2-2 By Michael Medina PhilBoxing.com Wed, 29 May 2013  INDIANAPOLIS -- Fresh off an embarrassing Game 3 drubbing at home from the defending champion Miami Heat, the Indiana Pacers knew they had to come out with a lot of intensity and determination to avoid digging themselves an improbable hole to dig out of and even their Eastern Conference Finals series. The Pacers responded by opening Game 4 with an 11-0 lead, which helped them set the tone all throughout the game and pull out a thrilling 99-92 victory. Known for their defense, the Pacers used their size advantage over the Heat and capitalized on the offensive glass when their offense wasn?t clicking. In the end, the Pacers out-rebounded the Heat 49-30, which proved to be the difference in the game. ?The offensive rebounding obviously, the second life, was probably the biggest difference in the game,? Heat coach Erik Spoelstra noted after the game. Roy Hibbert played as huge as his 7?2? height for the Pacers with 23 points and 12 rebounds, and most importantly scored on back-to-back put-backs down the stretch with the game tied and in the balance. For only the fifth time in his career and second in the playoffs, NBA MVP LeBron James fouled out of the game as he saw multiple Pacers take turns in guarding him throughout the night after Paul George got into foul trouble early in the game. Lance Stephenson took on the challenge of guarding James, even asking coach Frank Vogel to allow him to defend James. The Pacers also changed things up by sending help over to whoever was guarding James and did not allow any one-on-one situations unlike in game 3, where he was able to score at will in the post. James? absence in the game?s final possessions hampered the Heat?s chances of making a comeback as his banged-up running mate Dwyane Wade could only turn the ball over in the ensuing play. The Pacers threw their size around and outrebounded the Heat, 49-30, which resulted in multiple second chance opportunities for the Pacers, including Hibbert?s five points down the stretch which gave the Pacers a 94-89 lead with less than 3 minutes left in the game. The Heat?s big men seemed like they were invisible throughout the game. ?The Birdman? Chris Andersen, who was a huge factor in the Heat?s Game 1 win, failed to even attempt a single field goal. Haslem who had an amazing game 3 with 17 points, was a missing in action as well and only managed to score 6 points. The third piece the Heat?s ?Big Three?, Chris Bosh, struggled with his shot all night until an ankle injury in the second half further rendered him insignificant. Bosh finished the game with only 7 points. As with their Game 2 win, all of the Pacers? 5 starters scored in double figures, including 20 points from Stephenson who had an amazing night. Stephenson stepped up for the team with George struggling and in foul trouble?thanks in large to his unenviable task of guarding James. George Hill also made his presence felt in Game 4 by scoring 19 points, 9 of which came from the charity stripe. But the story of the night was the Pacers? bigs. Hibbert was too much for the Heat to handle and was very resilient in not giving up on missed shots, which led to plenty of second chance points off of his offensive rebounds. West also had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds while providing toughness in the paint for the Pacers. Game 5 goes back to Miami, and should be considered as a ?must-win? for the Heat for them to avoid facing elimination against the Pacers on the road in Game 6. Photo: Roy Hibbert (R) had 23 points and 12 rebounds and the Indiana Pacers went on the beat the Miami Heat, 99-92, and tie the Eastern Conference Finals series at 2-2. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Michael Medina.  |
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