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Game 4: Miami at Indiana

In the 3rd quarter, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade each scored 14 points and the Pacers scored 16 points—as a team. Stats are a quantitative way of explaining what happened to people that didn’t watch, but I’m not sure that’s the case with those 3rd quarter numbers. Because the game and the whole zeitgeist of Heat hate that’s infiltrated almost every discussion of their success or failure has now clouded any actual enjoyment of their games, it’s hard for me to conclude anything about this win other than, they’re not going to win the title this year.  

It’s right to extol James, he did just put down 40 points, 18 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks on the road in a very big playoff game, but the Heat are supposed to be title contenders, and they aren’t. Even after today.

Wade’s 22 second half points and Haslem’s sudden realization he still has a mid-range jumper notwithstanding, this collection of props surrounding Wade and ‘Bron isn’t going to be enough. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade both shot over 50% and scored 70 of their team’s 101 points, and they won by 8? Against the Pacers? 

It’s true the Pacers are much better than I gave them credit for: Roy Hibbert is the best center in the East when Dwight Howard is injured; Danny Granger has a nice jump shot and a tendency towards hyperbole—after the game, he said the Heat were “media darlings”; Darren Collison + George Hill is what Kobe Bryant wishes Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake were; David West is a grown-ass man that is not to be trifled with; and Frank Vogel is a real-deal coach, able to coach his team past their talent level. But they’re an awesome collection of pieces without the final piece: the necessary superstar: the Dirk, the Wade, the Kobe, the Pierce, the Duncan. Larry Bird put together a great squad of role players, but they’re missing their Larry Bird. Shit, they’re even missing Kevin McHale. But these role-playing Pacers are out-playing the Heat, and that says more about the Heat than it does about the Pacers. Sorry Indiana fans, but your squad is just, not, quite, there. Yet.

But that also means the Heat are even further from the level they’ll need to reach if they’re to have any chance against a Thunder or Spurs team (Yeesh, I can just imagine a Spurs-Heat series mimicking the abysmal Cavs-Spurs Final from 2007). In fact, I don’t think—as of right now—the Heat will get out of the East (depending on the Boston-Philly series).

About the only thing I’ve learned from watching these two teams compete, is they really don’t like each other.  Before the game even started, Juwan Howard and Lance Stephenson got into it over Stephenson’s Reggie Miller from the sidelines in game 3 (Juwan and Lance have a history: they had to be separated during a game earlier this year). Granger and LeBron are tussling with Granger trying to assume a superstar’s role. I sorta like the vile being thrown around. It feels nasty and it’s got that same sort of tension that happens whenever Metta’s eyes get really wide. You’re not entirely sure who is going to do what and it makes for captivating television. I don’t think there’s going to be a brawl or anything (David West wouldn’t allow it), but these teams are  so irritating to each other, I’m looking forward to more shots on the court and in the press. 

The other thing they have in common, aside from that mutual enmity, is neither of them is a real title contender at this point, which isn’t a surprise for the Pacers—but is a death knoll for the Big Three experiment in Miami. Whether Spoelstra or Bosh is gone next year because of it, they’re not gonna win a title. Not with this group.

The Heat soap opera is fun for bloggers and casual fans, but the Jekyl and Hyde play of Wade—who came into the game in the running for most loathed NBA player since ‘Bron in the fall of 2010—combined with LeBron’s very real disappearances in large swaths of meaningful games are problems to vast to overcome this year. They just don’t have enough around their stars. I’m happy they evened the series and the Pacers will be forced to continue and push them, but even if Miami survives Indiana—and I’m not so sure they can—they’re not going to win the title.

That’s all I have to say about that.  

Final: Miami Heat 101 - INDIANA PACERS 93

The Pacers and Heat are tied 2-2

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(Source: haymitchings)

(Source: yyhlove, via fuhthesun)