What’s The Temp? Heat Sizzling Heading Into Game 4
By JCook
For the remainder of the postseason, after every game writer Jimmy Cook will give his thoughts on how hot or cold the Heat currently are. These stages range from White Hot (everything is legendary) to Ice Cold (we’ve got serious issues in South Beach). So, without further ado, Game 3 ECF edition of JCook’s “What’s the Temp?”
Current Temperature: Sizzling
After starting out ice cold in the 1st quarter, the Miami Heat achieved something for only the second time this year.
This is the 2nd time this season that the Heat overcame a deficit of at least 15 points to beat the Pacers (trailed by 15 on Dec. 18).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 25, 2014
In fact, that rally was really incredible when you look at it from a statistical stand point.
@MiamiHEAT shot 37.5% in 1st Q scoring 14pts, then 59.6% rest of the way scoring 85pts led by @KingJames 26 @DwyaneWade 23 Ray Allen 16
— MikeInglisHEAT (@MikeInglisHEAT) May 25, 2014
Along with all of this, despite being out scored in the first quarter, the Heat dominated from there on out and shut down Indiana on the defensive end.
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade & Ray Allen combined for 47 points in the 2nd half. The Pacers as a team combined for 45 2nd-half points.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 25, 2014
One prime example of the stellar defense, comes from a moment where Bleacher Report Heat beat writer Ethan Skolnick referred the defensive stance one of the best of the year:
This was one of the best defensive possessions I've seen from Heat this season: http://t.co/gC8IjcmbV3
— Ethan J. Skolnick, 5 Reasons Sports (@EthanJSkolnick) May 25, 2014
However, one could argue the most impressive and most ON FIRE moments of the night came from the one and only Ray Allen:
As Spo said in the press conference, the Heat had endured years of pain from Ray Allen, so it’s gotta be nice to finally have his talents on their side.
After the Game 3 victory, the Heat are sizzling heading into tonight’s Game 4 matchup.
May 24, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) celebrates Ray Allen (not pictured) three pointer against the Indiana Pacers in game three of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
That being said, it is imperative for them to go for the jugular against Indiana.
A win tonight would give Miami a 3-1 lead and almost ensure a 4th straight trip to the NBA Finals, but a loss ties this thing up at 2 games a piece, and sets us up for a LONG ECF going forward.
This team is capable of defending home court, (after all they are undefeated at AmericanAirlines in these playoffs), but they have to stay alert and continue to play on the dominate level they have shown the last two games.
If they can do that, the next time you ask “What’s The Temp?”, the answer may be White Hot.