For the first time in what seems a long time, fans were introduced to a Miami Heat team that played its brand of basketball. The NBA Standings have the Heat now at 10-2 following their blowout of the Indiana Pacers in Game 3. The Heat are now two wins away from finding themselves in the NBA Finals for the third straight year, while the San Antonio Spurs look like the team that will surface out of the West.
Miami's win was huge. It cut into the Pacers' momentum after Indiana won Game 2 and it ended the Pacers' home streak of six straight playoff victories. The Heat came out shooting in Game 3. If it seemed like the Heat didn't miss a shot in Game 3, that's because they barely did. The Heat were hitting both the outside shots and they burned they paint. The Heat knocked down 55 percent of their shots and all their starters were in double figures.
Stepping up huge in Game 3 was Udonis Haslem who knocked down baseline shot after baseline shot. The Pacers hadn't seen Haslem shoot this well all series long. He finished the night 8-9 from the floor as his jumper was automatic. All the Heat starters except for LeBron James finshed with 50 percent shooting or better. Though Miami was out-rebounded, they looked like the Spurs moving the ball as they had 21 assists in Game 3. The Pacers grabbed 45 rebounds in this game, but they shot below 40 percent from the field.
The Pacers didn't get enough from two of their starters, Paul George and Lance Stephenson, as both players combined for 20 points shooting 5-20 from the floor. It was a frustrating night for these guys and Stephenson continued to completely miss the rim shooting up a couple of air balls. David West continues to be the driving force on offense as he finished the night with 21 fouls, but his five personal fouls are proof that the big games get to his head as West was unable to stay out of foul trouble.
The Heat are now two wins away from the Finals where it looks as though they will face the Spurs, who just took a 3-0 lead in their series against the Memphis Grizzlies. Once again, the Grizzlies played decent basketball for 48 minutes, but then completely lost it in overtime. They had a chance to win the game in regulation, but Mike Conley missed a layup at the buzzer. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan are still a head of a duo as the two almost scored half of the team's 104 points as they combined for 50 in Game 3.
The Grizzlies are now one game from elimination. It would be a bit foolish to say that they can't be counted out as no team has returned from an 0-3 deficit, but Memphis should try their best to at least get the franchise one victory in the Western Conference Finals, something the organization has never accomplished.
Here are these four team's records in the playoffs and how each series stands:
Miami Heat (10-2)
San Antonio Spurs (11-3)
Indiana Pacers (9-6)
Memphis Grizzlies (8-6)
West: Spurs 3-0 Grizzlies
East: Heat 2-1 Pacers
