If you’re not a Heat fan, don’t read this post. If you don’t like to clean, don’t read this post. Heck, if you don’t like brooms, don’t read this post. After Thursday’s win over the Pacers, the Heat are in prime position to close this series early. While it’s early to make this prediction, Miami has a few advantages over there conference rivals. Their success is summed up in three words: defense, passion, and Butler. Up until this point, both teams have displayed ugly stretches of missed shots and turnovers in both games and their share of injuries.
For Indiana, they are on the wrong end of the series. They also have been victims of unforeseen challenges like Victor Oladipo’s injury early in the series, Domantas Sabonis foot injury during the seeding games, and the emergence of T.J Warren. Battling with injuries to their key players, Indiana is going toe-to-toe with Miami despite the setbacks and found source of production deep in their bench. It’s clear that Indiana is not going down without a fight and won’t bend to the growing talks of a sweep.
Miami, on the other hand, plans on ending this series as quickly as possible. Being up two games in a best of 7 series only means the opponents will only be harder to beat. In many instances, the Heat has struggled offensively and defensively which worries me somewhat when I see how other teams like Boston and Toronto are performing. However, the Indiana team despite having a full team would give any other conference team a run for their money. Miami’s bread and butter of defense and spread the floor has been the deciding factor so far. Also, Jimmy Butler has been money for Miami in the clutch.
In my opinion, Miami will sweep the Pacers. Indiana isn’t terrible but Miami has slight advantages that Indiana doesn’t have right now. For one, the Heat have their key players healthy, whereas Indiana sorely needs Sabonis and their other star Oladipo isn’t 100 percent healthy. Miami also multiple shooters that can stretch the floor outside of Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson. Plus, Jimmy Butler has also given Miami the luxury of closing out games or shifting the momentum in their favor. Indiana will need to rely on their size and effort and production from Warren, Michael Brogdon, Myles Turner, and others to outmuscle the Heat on the boards and contain Miami.
Game 3 begins at 3:30 pm on TNT. A must-win for both teams, Indiana has another chance to extend the series and gain momentum. Miami needs to win this game to wrap up this series quickly so they can recover for the next round. This game will test both teams’ resiliency and concentration.
Blazing Talk News 