The Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat are expected to have an intense series in the Eastern Conference finals and if Game 1 is any indication, the tilt between the two should be as physical as it was last year, as LeBron James led the Heat to an overtime victory in Game 1 after a fantastic play past Paul George.
The Heat aren't worried at all that they went 1-2 against the Pacers this past season despite losing both games by double digits, as they know how good they are playing right now after going on a 45-3 stretch and LeBron James is playing like a man possessed. The Pacers did a good job of keeping James down in those games, limiting him to 13, 22 and 28 points during the regular season, but the playoffs are a different animal.
While the Pacers are an experienced team like the Heat, they aren't quite as experienced, as this is their first trip to the conference finals since 2004 and James and company have been doing this dance for the last three years. This will be their third straight trip to the finals if they make it and after losing to the Mavericks in the first year of the Big Three, the team now has the chance to pull off the repeat. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade have been excellent in the playoffs and the depth of both teams will be tested, including the play of Paul George, David West, Roy Hibbert, Lance Stephenson and George Hill.
The winner of the series will advance to the finals where they will play the winner of the West series between the Memphis Grizzlies and the San Antonio Spurs, who have an early 2-0 advantage after winning both games at home. The Spurs took care of the Warriors in six games, while the Grizzlies did the same to the Thunder and after a blowout in Game 1, the Grizz were able to force overtime, although they lost 93-89 after some great play from Tim Duncan.
The team was demolished in the first game and was down 13 at one point near the end in Game 2, but a string run of 15-2 in the fourth quarter helped the team force overtime after outscoring the Spurs 21-9 in the fourth. Duncan scored the first few baskets for the Spurs in the OT period and there was nothing that the Grizzlies could do to stop Tony Parker, who finished the game with 15 points and a career high 18 assists. Zach Randolph had a bounce back Game after scoring two points in Game 1, adding 15 points and 18 rebounds, but it wasn't enough, as Duncan led the spurs with 17 points, why Mike Conley had 18 points for the Grizzlies.
The Spurs now have a 2-0 lead in the series, but that will be no issue for the Grizzlies, as they went down 2-0 against the Clippers in the first round and were able to come back. The team plays much better at home and will be ready to battle for Game 3 on Saturday in Memphis.