East Finals Game 3: Heat Devour Pacers in 3rd Quarter

What you need to know about Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals:

1. The Pacers lead 17-4 after the first 9 minutes of the 1st Quarter.
2. Roy Hibbert and David West went 7 of 9 from the field in the 1st Quarter.
3. They went 5 of 12 over the next three quarters.
4. Luis Scola scored 8 points in 9 2nd-Quarter minutes. He played only 4 minutes in the second half.
5. Lance Stephenson’s first half: 8 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals.
6. Lance Stephenson’s second half: 2 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal. (LeBron’s defense)
7. The Heat outscored the Pacers 95-70 over the final 39 minutes of game time.
8. Miami destroyed Indiana 33-22 in the 3rd Quarter, in which they dissected the Pacers defense with penetration and cutting.
9. James and Wade scored 22 of the 33 Heat points in the 3rd.
10. The Heat shot 11 of 15 from the field and 9 of 11 from the line in the 3rd.

What to look for in Game 4:

The Pacers need to find the sustained ball movement they showed in Game 1, before Miami’s defense had revved up. David West’s impact cannot be overstated. The Pacers win when West is facilitating from the top of the key, and when Stephenson can dissect the defense with penetration. George Hill’s shooting improves. Paul George gets some space to operate. Everything works better. Miami’s defense is excellent and the injury to George seemed to impact his aggressiveness in Game 3.

Also, never leave Ray Allen in the corner. (As if they didn’t already know that).

START OF 3RD QUARTERBack To Top
Hibbert Layup Shot: Made (12 PTS) Assist: West (3 AST)	11:37 [IND 44-38]
	11:15	Haslem Jump Shot: Missed
Stephenson Rebound (Off:2 Def:8)	11:14
G Hill 3pt Shot: Missed	10:50
	10:49	Bosh Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	10:25	Chalmers 3pt Shot: Missed
	10:24	Team Rebound
	10:15 [MIA 40-44]	Wade Jump Shot: Made (10 PTS)
Hibbert Hook Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: George (2 AST)	09:52 [IND 46-40]
	09:31 [MIA 42-46]	Bosh Step Back Jump shot: Made (5 PTS)
G Hill Driving Jump shot: Made (2 PTS)	09:23 [IND 48-42]
	09:23	Chalmers Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (1 FTA)
G Hill Free Throw 1 of 1 (3 PTS)	09:23 [IND 49-42]
	09:12 [MIA 44-49]	Wade Floating Jump shot: Made (12 PTS)
	09:00	Bosh Foul: Shooting (4 PF) (2 FTA)
G Hill Free Throw 1 of 2 (4 PTS)	09:00 [IND 50-44]
	09:00	Bosh Substitution replaced by Lewis
G Hill Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)	09:00 [IND 51-44]
	08:47 [MIA 46-51]	Wade Driving Jump shot: Made (14 PTS)
G Hill Foul: Offensive Charge (4 PF)	08:36
G Hill Turnover : Foul (4 TO)	08:36
G Hill Substitution replaced by Watson	08:36
	08:21 [MIA 48-51]	James Driving Hook Shot: Made (12 PTS)
West Turnaround Jump Shot: Missed	08:00
	07:59	Haslem Rebound (Off:0 Def:4)
	07:54 [MIA 50-51]	Chalmers Layup Shot: Made (4 PTS) Assist: Haslem (1 AST)
Stephenson Layup Shot: Missed	07:40
	07:39	Haslem Rebound (Off:0 Def:5)
	07:36 [MIA 52-51]	James Dunk Shot: Made (14 PTS) Assist: Wade (3 AST)
Team Timeout : Regular	07:36
Hibbert Hook Shot: Missed	07:13
	07:12	Wade Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)
	07:07	James Turnover : Bad Pass (5 TO)
	07:06	Chalmers Foul: Personal (2 PF)
George Driving Layup Shot: Missed	06:47
Stephenson Rebound (Off:3 Def:8)	06:46
Stephenson Jump Shot: Made (10 PTS)	06:45 [IND 53-52]
	06:22 [MIA 54-53]	Chalmers Layup Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: Wade (4 AST)
	06:11	Haslem Foul: Shooting Block (4 PF) (2 FTA)
George Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	06:11
Team Rebound	06:11
	06:11	Haslem Substitution replaced by Andersen
George Free Throw 2 of 2 (5 PTS)	06:11 [IND 54-54]
	05:59	Lewis Driving Layup Shot: Missed
Hibbert Rebound (Off:0 Def:2)	05:58
	05:55	James Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (2 FTA)
George Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	05:55
Team Rebound	05:55
George Free Throw 2 of 2 (6 PTS)	05:55 [IND 55-54]
	05:44	James Turnover : Bad Pass (6 TO) Steal:Stephenson (3 ST)
West Foul: Offensive (1 PF)	05:33
West Turnover : Foul (4 TO)	05:33
George Foul: Shooting (4 PF) (2 FTA)	05:16
	05:16 [MIA 55-55]	James Free Throw 1 of 2 (15 PTS)
George Substitution replaced by Butler	05:16
	05:16 [MIA 56-55]	James Free Throw 2 of 2 (16 PTS)
Watson 3pt Shot: Missed	05:01
West Rebound (Off:1 Def:1)	05:00
Watson Driving Jump shot: Missed	04:47
	04:46	Andersen Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
Stephenson Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (2 FTA)	04:37
	04:37	Wade Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	04:37	Team Rebound
	04:37	Chalmers Substitution replaced by Cole
	04:37 [MIA 57-55]	Wade Free Throw 2 of 2 (15 PTS)
Watson 3pt Shot: Made (3 PTS) Assist: Stephenson (5 AST)	04:19 [IND 58-57]
	04:10	Team Timeout : Regular
	04:10	Wade Substitution replaced by Allen
Watson Foul: Shooting (2 PF) (2 FTA)	03:58
	03:58 [MIA 58-58]	James Free Throw 1 of 2 (17 PTS)
	03:58 [MIA 59-58]	James Free Throw 2 of 2 (18 PTS)
Butler Jump Shot: Missed	03:34
Team Rebound	03:33
Team Turnover : Shot Clock Turnover	03:33
	03:12	Allen Turnover : Bad Pass (1 TO) Steal:Watson (1 ST)
Butler 3pt Shot: Made (6 PTS) Assist: West (4 AST)	02:52 [IND 61-59]
Butler Foul: Shooting (1 PF) (3 FTA)	02:40
	02:40 [MIA 60-61]	Allen Free Throw 1 of 3 (1 PTS)
	02:40 [MIA 61-61]	Allen Free Throw 2 of 3 (2 PTS)
	02:40 [MIA 62-61]	Allen Free Throw 3 of 3 (3 PTS)
Hibbert Hook Shot: Missed	02:19
	02:18	Andersen Rebound (Off:1 Def:3)
	02:14 [MIA 64-61]	Cole Reverse Layup Shot: Made (7 PTS) Assist: James (4 AST)
West Jump Shot: Made (11 PTS) Assist: Watson (1 AST)	01:50 [IND 63-64]
	01:21 [MIA 67-63]	James 3pt Shot: Made (21 PTS)
Hibbert Layup Shot: Missed Block: Lewis (1 BLK)	01:05
	01:04	Andersen Rebound (Off:1 Def:4)
	00:56.9	James 3pt Shot: Missed
West Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)	00:55.5
Watson Step Back Jump shot: Missed	00:42.9
	00:41.9	Andersen Rebound (Off:1 Def:5)
Stephenson Foul: Personal (3 PF) (2 FTA)	00:26.5
	00:26.5	James Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed
	00:26.5	Team Rebound
Hibbert Substitution replaced by Mahinmi	00:26.5
	00:26.5 [MIA 68-63]	James Free Throw 2 of 2 (22 PTS)
	00:05.7	Andersen Foul: Shooting (3 PF) (2 FTA)
Mahinmi Free Throw 1 of 2 Missed	00:05.7
Team Rebound	00:05.7
	00:05.7	James Substitution replaced by Wade
Mahinmi Free Throw 2 of 2 (1 PTS)	00:05.7 [IND 64-68]
	00:01.4 [MIA 71-64]	Wade 3pt Shot: Made (18 PTS)
Watson 3pt Shot: Missed	00:00.3
Team Rebound	00:00.0

Fictional Conversation between Frank Vogel and Lance Stephenson

This fictional conversation between Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel and Pacers guard Lance Stephenson took place between Game 2 and Game 3 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals. Let’s imagine we’re on the team bus, headed to catch the plane down to Miami.  

 

FV: (sitting down next to Lance) How you feeling, my man Lance?

LS: (removing headphones) All good, Voges. All good.

FV: What you listening to?

LS: Podcast. Some astronomy wisdom. Neil de Grasse Tyson is the best.

FV: Excellent. I love the stars. You know I studied biology at Kentucky? But I always loved the cosmos more than the animal world…You ever sleep under the stars?

LS: Summer hoops camp one year. Think I was 15. They took us out of the city, somewhere upstate. It was tight. Just staring up there. I don’t think I slept that night. No girls, but I was too in awe to sleep.

FV: I love it.

LS: Been thinking about this Game 3, Voges.

FV: Me, too. We gotta have it. Going to be a grind, but we got to take it to ’em.

LS: I know…I doubt PG is going to be right. Well…he’s gonna be foggy, you know?

FV: We’ll see.

LS: I can carve them up, Voges. I can handle it. I can keep the ball moving, just like Game 1. 

FV: I know you can. We need you to. We gotta zip that rock around the perimeter, make them over commit. Get to the line.

LS: Gotta get to the line. Slow the pace down on them. 

FV: Right! Gotta play at our pace.

LS: You know what, Voges? 

FV: What’s that?

LS: Larry called me last night. He told me to remember how hard we worked last summer. How many shots we put up. All those dribbling drills. He told me to think about the arc of my career like its a jump shot. To think about the fact that I’m still rising up. And to play free and easy, finding my teammates, sharing it. 

FV: Good advice, don’t you think?

LS: Of course. It was just good to hear him say it, you know? All the ups and downs. We all believe in each other. He believes in me. 

FV: I believe in you, too. LS. We all need you.

LS: I need y’all, too.

FV: Yep.

LS: We’re gonna do it, Voges.

FV: Yep.

LS: We’re gonna shut ’em all up.

FV: Yep.

LS: Gonna listen to Tyson talk about the stars some more (puts his headphones back on).

 

***

Game 3: Saturday night, 830pm EST (ESPN)

Game 4: Monday night, 830pm EST (ESPN)

Game 5: Wednesday night, 830pm EST (ESPN)

 

***

In case you missed it from last May:

Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski on the Bird-Stephenson mentorship: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba–larry-bird-s-faith-in-lance-stephenson-pays-off-for-pacers-in-vital-moments-against-knicks-080325704.html

Grantland’s Andrew Sharp – Guide to LS: http://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-ultimate-guide-to-lance-stephenson/

 

Eastern Conference Finals: Pacers Run Out of Steam in Game 2

There was a sequence near the end of the third quarter of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Pacers fans were engaged. They could sense that their team was within one quarter of taking that proverbial “commanding” 2-0 series lead, even if winning two games against the Miami Heat wouldn’t have fully felt “commanding,” based on the precariousness of the Pacers five-week playoff run. The Pacers were playing with wonderful confidence and energy in Game 1. Lance Stephenson was dissecting the swarming Heat defense. The Pacers kept Miami off-balance and lived at the free-throw line (37 attempts). Everything was clicking.

At halftime, the Heat held a 43-37 lead. Their defensive intensity noticeable. Paul George couldn’t find an opening. This was the game you wanted so badly for the Pacers. They HAD to win Game 1, but to take Game 2 meant you could fully believe they’d win two more, once Miami established that extra gear. I still think the Pacers have a 40-50% chance to win this series. They have to win 1 of 2 in Miami, and they’ll be in business, but that inevitable feeling that great teams have, that “just wait long enough, and……” it’s hard not to feel crushed by the ending of Game 2. So what happened?

The Pacers played a superb third quarter, with Stephenson (10 in the third) leading the charge offensively, and the defense locking down and forcing Mario Chalmers into four (4!) turnovers in the period. Chalmers wasn’t heard from for the rest of the night. The diminutive and feisty Norris Cole received those crunch-time minutes instead. Cole defends the pick-and-roll better than any other Heat guard besides Wade. Indiana erased the six-point lead early, and had built a 7-point cushion (63-56) after a George Hill triple with 2:07 remaining. Here’s where things went south for Indiana.

Chris Bosh had missed his first 7 three-point attempts of the series. Chris Bosh’s ability to stretch the floor is absolutely crucial to the effectiveness of James and Wade. Bosh’s 20-foot range saved the Heat repeatedly in the early years of their playoff success. As a Celtics fan, the image of Bosh receiving the kick-out pass and draining that one-step inside the arc top-of-the-key jumper is haunting. You knew Bosh would start knocking down shots at some point. You just hoped it started in Game 3 or Game 4. Instead, it started with 2:00 left in the third quarter of Game 2. James drives. Bosh in the corner. Splash. Lead cut to 4. David West turnover. James drives. Cole in the corner. Splash. Lead down to 1. End of third quarter.

Cole hit another corner three early in the 4th quarter. Perhaps the greatest damage Cole inflicted on Indiana was flailing wildly on a screen, connecting with David West’s eye, and leaving West squinting the rest of the game. West is a notoriously physical player, but didn’t look the same after the incident with Cole in the third quarter. Bosh didn’t take another shot until Miami had a firm 84-77 lead with less than a minute remaining in the game.

The Dwyane Wade collision with Paul George (seemingly accidental knee to the back of the head while George was diving for a loose ball) resulted in George playing with a concussion and blurred vision for the final four minutes.

The Heat emerged from Game 2 on the backs of LeBron and Wade, who scored their last fifteen points. They escaped with a win that most fans expected. We’ve seen so many Heat playoff wins over the last four years that it’s hard to expect anything else. Still, the Pacers have a few days to consider that they’ve won 5 of the 8 quarters the two teams have played. They have a few days to remember that Roy Hibbert can dominate the Heat inside. They have a few days for David West to get some eye treatment. And they have a few days for Paul George’s concussion symptoms to hopefully subside. He will have to pass the league’s concussion protocol to play in Game 3 on Saturday night. It might be wise for George to sit out Game 3 and give himself a better chance to succeed in Monday’s Game 4. The Pacers can win this series. They need two more wins in the next four games to get back to Indiana for a Game 7. The Spurs-Thunder won’t be going seven games. This won very well might.

Here are clips from Pacers coach Frank Vogel’s press conference following Game 2. The expressions tell you how brutal this loss was.

 

One thing (easier said than done) Vogel would be wise to tell his Pacers, “Let LeBron drive, just don’t let him kick.” Those corner threes are deadly.