3 reasons the Miami Heat should sweep the Indiana Pacers
Could the Miami Heat sweep the Indiana Pacers? A look at three reasons they should handle this first-round series in four games or less.
The Miami Heat wrapped up their regular season on Friday in a loss to the Indiana Pacers, securing that the two teams would meet again in the first round of playoffs. Whoever wins this series will move on to face the victor of the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic matchup.
Lead by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, this Heat team has championship aspirations. They’re two All-Stars, with a supporting cast that almost perfectly complements their skillsets.
From Goran Dragic to Kelly Olynyk, all the way down to Chris Silva. Head coach Erik Spoelstra is walking into the postseason with a roster full of guys that are ready and hungry for competition.
Can this team sweep a lowly Indiana Pacers team? A look at three reasons why they should.
If nothing else, having the best player on the floor is Miami’s biggest advantage.
Due to a number of injuries, the Pacers aren’t boasting an All-Star in their playoff appearance. Even if they were, it’s hard to argue that Jimmy Butler will be the best player on the floor.
He’s top-15, and he’s not 15th. Butler’s ability to take control of games should hold Miami a head and a half above Indiana in terms of expectation and talent. The Heat alpha finished the regular season averaging 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.8 steals nightly.
No one on this Indiana roster is equipped to handle the duality of his game, and for those who immediately think of T.J. Warren, that narrative has long been put to rest. If Butler comes out and turns on his star motor, nothing should stop Miami from pulling this series out in four games.
The Miami Heat’s 3-point shooting will earn zero answers from the Pacers’ D.
A large part of Miami’s success this season has been credited to their elite three-point shooting. The Heat finished the regular season ranked 6th in shots made from deep, 9th in shots attempted from three and fell 2nd only to the Utah Jazz in three-point percentage.
Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, Jae Crowder, Meyers Leonard; the list goes on and on. This Miami team is stacked top-to-bottom with guys who can hold their own from behind-the-arc.
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On the Pacers end, however, three-point shooting has been one of their greatest weaknesses. Indiana finished at 14th in terms of percentage, but were 29th in shots made and last in the league in their numbers of shots attempted from deep.
If this Heat team comes out and shoots the three-ball as much and as efficient as we’ve seen them do so many times this season, the Pacers won’t be able to keep up offensively. Even if they hold their own defensively, Miami’s shooters will break through and find their shots.
Expect three-point shooting to prove a difference-maker in this matchup.
Above all, this Indiana Pacers team is shorthanded and unbalanced.
There are far more threatening first-round matchups for the Miami Heat than the Indiana Pacers. Mostly, because they’re injured and disorganized as a team, missing two key contributors in big man Domantas Sabonis and wing scorer Jeremy Lamb.
The two saw success against Miami’s defense in previous meetings. Lamb averaged 14.5 points against the Heat in his two appearances, while Sabonis (a first-time All-Star this year) went off for 27 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists when the two teams met in January.
Yes, Victor Oladipo is “healthy” and available. But he’s still nowhere close to the All-Star form that put the league on notice upon his arrival in Indiana. The shooting guard played in just six of the Pacers’ eight seeding games, albeit posting 16 points (and over three turnovers) per game.
It’s clear that this Indiana Pacers team isn’t ready to compete just yet, and that’s ok. But it doesn’t help that they publicly broadcasted it by signing their head coach to just a one-year extension, essentially letting the league know that the franchise isn’t where they want to be.
A team this shorthanded and disorganized is vulnerable to a series sweep. The question now is if this Miami Heat team has already smelt the blood in the water.
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The Miami Heat are 3-1 against the Indiana Pacers in the regular season, with their lone loss being the regular-season finale where they rested a number of players.
A sweeping victory in the first round of the playoffs isn’t off the table in the slightest.
Game One on Tuesday will be the ultimate decider, with tip-off slated for 4:30 pm est. Coverage will be provided by both TNT and TNT Overtime.