With the way both the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers have dealt with injuries this season, it might be a good idea to have an EMT along the sidelines. Y’know, just in case.
Both teams are actually healthier now than they have been for most of the year, welcoming back key players as they continue to push for a postseason berth. Moreover, there’s a sense that the rivalry – once the best in the NBA – will be renewed when the game tips off at 3 p.m. from the Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Chris Bosh made a strong return on Monday, scoring 20 points in a 102-101 loss, after having missed the previous nine games due to a calf injury. Bosh started at power forward, allowing Chris Andersen to keep starting at center. It’s a new wrinkle in Miami’s ever-evolving lineup rotations but an indicator that the “small-ball” employed during the Big 3 era is probably gone for good. Tonight’s matchup provides an interesting early test for Bosh, as he matches up with the physical David West.
But beyond the key matchups of the game, there’s an intense dislike shared between the two clubs that is sure to manifest. While the Heat are different team this season, they’ve still been largely responsible for eliminating the Pacers from postseason contention in recent years, something the Indiana faithful surely remember.
And there might be a feeling of betrayal that a former Pacers star, Danny Granger, has found some success with the Heat. Granger has played exceptionally in recent games, a far cry from his performances early this season. He’s providing legitimate floor spacing, shooting 67 percent (11-of-17) from 3-point range over the last four games and giving Erik Spoelstra another frontcourt option off the bench.
Spoelstra might need to keep searching for answers against Roy Hibbert, who has always managed to have his best games against the Heat. While last year’s “solution” – Udonis Haslem – has been confined to the bench, perhaps the combination of Andersen and rookie Hassan Whiteside might limit Hibbert’s impact. Whiteside is still raw but has managed to look great and out-of-place at the same time. A solid rebounder with strong hands, his offensive game lacks polish but he manages to draw fouls due to his size. Unfortunately, hitting free throws is another area of weakness. Still, he went to the line 11 times against Orlando on Monday and it will be interesting to see how he matches up with Hibbert and backups Lavoy Allen and Luis Scola.
Ultimately, the Heat need to find a way to win the game. They’ve taken too much consolation from “moral victories” that have resulted in actual losses and they continue to slide further down the standings. Capitalizing on their health (just as they couldn’t take advantage of their recent seven-game homestand) will be crucial.
Besides, they’ll be in Indiana for New Year’s Eve. Other than winning, there’s not much else to keep them occupied before the team travels to Houston to take on the Rockets on Saturday night.
Check back with All U Can Heat for a full recap, post-game grades, analysis and more.