The Miami Heat are in a tough spot on Monday night after losing Game 6 to the Indiana Pacers and after the team was totally dominated late in the game, LeBron James will need to be even more valuable as the team tries to close things out in the East finals on Monday night.
James was utterly amazing in Game 5 against the Pacers as the Heat dominated the third quarter by outscoring the Pacers 30-13, but in Game 6 Indiana turned the tables and held Miami back to take a 29-15 advantage. James scored or assisted on 25 points in Game 5 and despite leading the Heat in scoring in Game 6, it wasn't enough to win. Paul George did his best LeBron James impression for the Pacers and James was let down by his supporting cast in the blowout loss, leaving very little room for error on Monday night.
James ended up with 29 points and six assists while George finished with 28 points and the Pacers got another solid game from Roy Hibbert, who added 24 points and 11 rebounds as well as huge play on James at the end that sealed things for Indiana. The depth of the Pacers bench was in full effect on Saturday and the lack of it for the Heat was an issue, as Chris Andersen was suspended and Mike Miller couldn't hit enough threes to get the team back into it. Norris Cole and Miller have been solid, but without string play from Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, the Heat has looked less dynamic and more beatable.
Game 7 will be a test of wills and while Miami does play better at home, they have all the pressure on Monday night and their championship that seemed like a lock when they had that amazing win streak could vanish in a flash. The Spurs have been waiting for a week for the winner of the east finals to see who they will play for the championship and while the team would love a rematch with LeBron James, the hope is that the Pacers win so they get home court advantage. James would love a rematch after being swept out of the finals in 2007 while with the Cavs and this time he would have a title in hand as he takes the team on.
Wade is not playing at 100 percent and the production of Bosh has been awful, but even with all that, the Heat have James and depending on how he plays Monday night, that could be enough. The team will need to be dominant from the start after dealing with the disappointment in Game 6 and if Wade and Bosh can play just a little bit better, James and Miami will be back in the finals for the third straight season as they look for their second straight title.