Frustrating Game 1 Loss

            The 95-86 final score of Game 1 does not tell you how close the game really was. The Pacers were down by just one point with 4:50 left in the 4^th quarter. They had battled the Heat and had the lead for the majority of the game. Yet, it was in those closing minutes that the Pacers found a way to choke and lose another Game 1. We missed free-throws, three-pointers, and couldn’t find open shots when we needed to. The missed free-throws are really what I noticed. The Pacers combined to miss five of the final eight free throws. Those are shots that you cannot afford to miss, especially in a playoff series where you’re considered the underdog. Indiana also missed their last nine field goals of the game. Are you kidding me? It was so frustrating watching the Heat run away with the game as the Pacers struggled to do anything right. We couldn’t make any shot, whether it was easy pull-up jumpers or free throws.

          Game 1 collapses is not anything new for the Pacers.

2011: Pacers- Bulls in Game 1 of first-round playoff series. Pacers lead 98-89 with 3:28 left in the game. Bulls end up winning 104-99.

2012: Pacers-Magic in Game 1 of first-round playoff series. Pacers lead 77-70 with 4:05 left in the game. Magic end up winning 81-77.

2012: Sunday afternoon, Pacers-Heat in Game 1 of first-round playoff series. Heat lead 86-85 with 4:50 left in the game. Heat end up winning 95-86.

           
            Combine all that together and it comes out to that the Pacers scored two points in 13:23 minutes of playing time. Think about that, a team of professional basketball players scored just TWO points in 13 minutes! I played three on three with some friends last weekend and we scored about 40 points in 20 minutes, and believe me, none of us are going to be playing in the NBA.

           

This is still a series the Pacers can win and, I believe, should win. This is even truer since the Heat will be without their third best player, Chris Bosh. “Boshasaurus” got injured in the second half of Game 1 and is doubtful for the rest of the series. Even with Bosh at full health, the Heat were not that strong in the post. Without Bosh playing at all, they will struggle to find matchups for Roy Hibbert and David West. Hopefully Big Roy and West are licking their chops at the chance to make a huge impact for the Pacers. The two scored 17 points each in Game 1 and they should get at least the same amount in Game 2.

            The two that really need to make an impact is Danny Granger and Paul George. Granger and George combined for 13 points and shot 2/15 on field goals. Now, there are a few different excuses you could make for the two. Granger was being kept pretty busy trying to guard the NBA’s 2012 MVP, Lebron James. James was also the one guarding Granger and he is a great defender. As for George, it’s not like he’s an experienced playoff player. This is only his second year in the NBA and only third playoff series. After the game, both players complained they weren’t getting the ball in good positions to take open shots. Vogel said he and the coaching staff would try to improve that but I’m not sure how necessary that is. The offense does not need to move through those two since the Pacers will have a huge advantage in the post under the basket.

Game 2 will be played tonight at 7:00 on TNT. Games 3 and 4 will be in Indiana on May 17^th and 20^th. If the Pacers win tonight I don’t see the Heat coming here and winning. There is a huge amount of energy and pride in the Pacers and Bankers Life Fieldhouse is going to be rocking.