May 18, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers fan holds up a sign to bring on the Miami Heat after the Pacers defeat the New York Knicks in game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats New York 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

As the Miami Heat once again get a week off before starting their next round, we will take a look at some of the top news links from around the internet about the Heat.

Spoelstra: We have to be better this time against Pacers | Sun-Sentinel

The Miami Heat were good enough to get past the Indiana Pacers in six games in the second round of last season’s playoffs.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said with upgraded play from several Pacers this season that more will be required to again vanquish Indiana in the impending Eastern Conference finals.

Heat believe they can reach another playoff level | Sun-Sentinel

Perhaps it’s because the bar has been set so high. Winning 45 of their last 48 games can do that.

But even with an 8-1 postseason record, with seven of the victories by double figures, the Miami Heat believe there still is another level that can be reached as they await Wednesday’s start of the Eastern Conference finals at AmericanAirlines Arena.

LeBron responds to Frank Vogel | ESPN

The Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers don’t start the Eastern Conference finals until Wednesday, but that hasn’t stopped the teams from engaging one another early.

Heat star LeBron James took exception Sunday to Pacers coach Frank Vogel referring to Miami as “just the next team” standing between Indiana and a shot at an NBA title.

Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh is front and center this postseason | Miami Herald

A year ago, while the Heat was battling the Indiana Pacers, Chris Bosh was instead battling pain and frustration, pushing through an abdominal injury that sidelined him for nine playoff games before a Game 5 return in the Eastern Conference finals.

Not only was walking and simply getting up from a chair enormously uncomfortable initially, but he also was so angry about the Game 1 injury against Indiana that “I felt like destroying the whole [locker room]. I had so much rage.”

Greg Cote: Knicks would have been spicier matchup for Miami Heat | Miami Herald

Miami Heat players have been steadfastly neutral in claiming no preference as they waited for Indiana and New York to figure out which would play the underdog in the NBA’s upcoming Eastern Conference finals. Confident champions do not deign to worry about who’s next; they leave the worrying to opponents. The lion who runs the jungle does not much care if he is feasting on zebra or antelope, after all.

However, Miami fans and (if given truth serum) players should have had a preference. Lord knows Your Friend the Media did! And all signs pointed to the New York Knicks as the next opponent everybody outside of Indiana should have wanted. Three reasons for that…

Game one belonged to the Chicago Bulls as they came to Miami with a chip on their shoulder and something to prove. The Miami Heat were still sleepwalking through the playoffs, like they did in the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks. As a result, the Bulls entered game two with a 1-0 lead and a chance to put the defending champions on the ropes.

This was not to be, as the Miami Heat finally awakened and played their best basketball of the playoffs. From the offset of the game, both teams were in a chippy mood. The game started with a hard foul and a technical foul, which set the tone for the rest of the game.

May 8, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) is pressured by Chicago Bulls shooting guard Marco Belinelli (8) during the first quarter in game two of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Udonis Haslem sent Robinson flying on the game’s first possession and later on Miami’s first play, Dwyane Wade was fouled hard by Marco Belinelli on a drive to the hoop and took exception to the foul. Wade reacted stupidly by firing the ball at Belinelli and the referees rightfully called a technical foul on Wade. Dwyane felt the contact was excessive, but the refs made the correct assessment in not escalating the call.

The chippiness did not stop then. After Jimmy Butler committed a hard foul on Lebron James, Joakim Noah and James became entangled. Double technical fouls were called on both right away. Replays showed that not much was there between Lebron and Noah, but the fact they do have a history dating back to Lebron’s Cleveland days, as well as the chippiness earlier in the game, led the officials to calm things down early on.

In total, there were 9 technical fouls called in the game and one questionable flagrant foul on Chris Anderson. In 48 minutes of play, a total of 51 personal fouls were called. The referrees wanted to be in total control of the game and steal the spotlight from the players. They clearly did in the early going.

In between all the annoying whistles from the referees, there was actually some basketball played. Lebron James was aggressive from the onset in this game, as he started the game 6-for-6 in the opening quarter. Lebron’s aggressive play catapulted the Miami Heat to a 25-20 lead after one stanza.

The game was kept close until 3:42 left in the second quarter, with the Heat leading 42-38. The Heat rolled off 7 straight points, including a couple of dunks by Wade on some pretty passes from Lebron. Nate Robinson knocked down a three to cut the lead to 49-41, but his thrash talking led to a personal 6-0 run by Norris Cole to give the Heat a 55-41 lead going into the break.

The start of the second half began the same way as the first half ended for the Heat, as they expanded their 13-3 run to a 62-20 run. The Heat lead swelled to 46 points at one point, as James, Wade, and Bosh got extended rest due to the large lead. The Big 3 for Miami combined for just 47 points, 17 assists, and 13 rebounds. Lebron did not record a single point in the second half and did not enter the game at all in the fourth.

May 8, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat point guard Norris Cole (30) congratulates shooting guard Ray Allen (34) after his basket against the Chicago Bulls during the first half in game two of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

The duo of Ray Allen and Norris Cole played larger than life for the Heat in this one. Allen scored 21 points on 5-7 shooting and converted all 10 of his free throw shots. Cole scored 18 points on 7-9 shooting, including knocking down all four of his three pointers. Mario Chalmers also enjoyed a nice game, scoring 11 points, but he was constantly in foul trouble and picked up a stupid technical foul, as he grabbed Noah’s neck on a screen.

With the game out of hand in the fourth, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson proved to be poor sports, as they each were ejected after picking up two technical fouls. Noah picked up his second technical after yelling at the referees from the bench. Noah was arguing that a Birdman block was actually a goaltending.

Soon after his teammate was sent to the showers, Bulls reserve forward Gibson decided he wanted to vent his frustrations as well. Gibson screamed profanities directed at the Heat and the referees as he picked up two quick technical fouls. Even after being tossed, Gibson kept on going and had to be held back by his bench. He continued to scream profanities that could be easily lip-read by the camera and viewers.

The 37-point victory for the Heat was the largest in their team’s playoff history. The loss was worst in Chicago Bulls playoff history.

Even with the blowout victory, the Heat tied the series at one a piece and have lost home-court advantage. Realistically, the Bulls set out what they accomplished to do, split the series in Miami. The onus is now on the Heat to win one, if not both the games in Chicago to regain control of the series.

Here is a look at some key numbers for Game 2:

Shooting Percentage: Heat (60%) Bulls (36%)

Three Point Shooting: Heat (50%) Bulls (39%)

Rebounds: Heat (41) Bulls (28)

Assists: Heat (29) Bulls (17)

Turnovers: Heat (17) Bulls (17)

Free Throw Shooting: Heat (22-29, 76%) Bulls (15-21, 71%)

*Minutes Played: Lebron (32 mins), Bosh (30 mins), and Wade (28 mins)

*Key stat for the Heat heading into Game 3 and beyond.