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 . 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…