2012 NBA Playoffs – Indiana Pacers Out Muscled in Game 4 (Pacers POV)
By Editorial Staff
The Indiana Pacers could not capitalize down the stretch as the Miami Heat muscle their way through for a game 4 victory. Indiana played efficient basketball for the first half of the game, moving the ball around the perimeter and playing suffocating defense on Miami’s key players. With a nine-point lead to start the second half, Indiana seemed to have everything under control, looking for a 3-1 series lead going into Miami. (Only 8 teams in NBA history has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit) But Miami’s duo of Lebron James and Dwyane Wade took no chances as they exploded for a combined 28 points in just the 3rd quarter alone. Talk about teamwork…or lack of.
Indiana’s bench has provided some much needed energy throughout the entire playoffs, and with David West and Roy Hibbert in foul trouble, coach Vogel was forced to go small. Darren Collison was HUGE (despite his size) off the bench scoring 16 points, and former Raptor Leandro Barbosa added 8 points of his own, including a buzzer beater floater right before the half. If this were a game of bench vs. bench, Indiana would have the upper hand; to bad James nor Wade even know the meaning of the word “bench” (that’s a shot at Wade by the way).
No matter how you look at it, this series is still up in the air. Both teams have displayed their strengths and weaknesses, and both teams have an equal chance of moving on to the semi-finals. It is now a best out of three series; let’s see if Miami’s home court advantage will be the difference maker.
Key Players:
Yay – Danny Granger: 20 PTS, 5 REB, 4-9 3PM-A, 41:47
This was Granger’s best shooting game of the series. After struggling to find his shot in both games one and two, Granger has looked more and more comfortable as the series wears on. Going 4-9 from beyond the arc, Granger has the ability to create his own shot while spreading the floor for his teammates. In order for Indiana to continue to have success on the offensive end, Granger will have to be that consistent scorer he was back in the regular season. Danny Granger is the only original Pacer on this line-up, so we can just imagine how much it would mean to him to see this team advance in the playoffs.
Nay – David West: 8 PTS, 6 REB, 5 PF, 27:59
With David West earning most of his minute on the bench, his contribution was very limited on both the defensive and offensive end. Going 3-8 from the field, with only 2 attempts from the free throw line, West will have to step it up in Game 5 with his leadership if he wants his team to prevail.
KEY MOMENT: Udonis Hasslem draining four straight shots for the Heat
Nope it wasn’t Dwayne Wade who came up big down the stretch. Nope, it wasn’t Lebron James either, it was Heat reserve Udonis Haslem who’s been struggling mightily throughout these playoffs. With 5 minutes to go in the fourth, Udonis drained shot after shot after shot, keeping the Heat ahead for a convincing win. I guess there are more then two players on this Miami Heat team, who would of known?
KEY STATS:
Yay: Indiana Bench: 38 Points
Miami Bench: 20 Points
Nay: Miami’s 47 team rebounds to Indiana’s 38
Quote of the game:
Danny Granger on confrontation with Heat: “We have to send a message as a team that we won’t back down. They are kind of the media darlings of the NBA right now; they get a lot of publicity and what not. It just basically sends a message that Indiana basketball is about playing tough, playing every possession, and that we’re really not afraid of anybody.” (NBA.com)
Next Game:
Tuesday, May 22nd, 7:00, @Miami
Series:
Series Tied 2-2
Notes:
Lebron James pregame ritual consists of reading “The Hunger Games”. I’m not too sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing?
Also, my apologizes for being away for the last game, my partner in crime Joseph Nardone did a splendid job with the game 3 review. Although he got it all wrong, I wasn’t multiplying gremlins with my new water gun, I was merely training for a coming zombie apocalypse. He’s just a little jealous that I’m more prepared =)
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