Who Holds The Upper Hand, the Miami Heat or the Indiana Pacers?

This year, we might just see a rematch of the 2013 NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers. Although the two powerhouses haven’t yet got the ticket to the Eastern Finals, they are the two favorites in their respective matchups. Assuming that both of them advance to the next round, which team holds the upper hand?

Can the defending champs make it to the NBA Finals for their fifth time in a row or will the Indiana Pacers take revenge from LeBron James and Co. after last year’s devastating elimination?

First of all, we have to examine the two teams in their current state. The truth is that Miami Heat is not as powerful as it was last year. The Heat has lost some of their strength, aging made its appearance and is obvious in some of the veterans and Dwyane Wade battled through health issues all season long.

On the other hand, though, the Indiana Pacers failed to exploit the decrease of the Heat’s dynamics this season. Although Paul George and his company began the 2013 – 2014 season really strong, achieving one victory after another and leaving no doubt about their potential, during the last couple of months they have shown signs of struggle. Frank Vogel’s group just doesn’t seem to find a way to get things going on the offensive end.

Roy Hibbert, who was a big factor in last year’s Conference Finals series, is not the same player he was back then, or at least, he is playing way below his true potential. There are some games that the Pacers can’t find easy ways to score and whilst they are playing good overall defense, unless they get some production on the other end of the floor, they have no chance of topping the Miami Heat.

The margin between the Heat and the Pacers is really small this year. The two teams seem to have almost the same potential to make it to the top. Nonetheless, the Heat is much more relaxed, confident about their game and they know their strengths and vulnerabilities better than their opponent.

We shouldn’t rush to criticize the Pacers and judge them for their up to now performance in the playoffs. Every series is different. The Atlanta Hawks manage to upset Frank Vogel and his team due to the fact that they shot an excessive amount of threes. If Indiana gets to play the Heat, things will be much different.

What the Pacers will need to do is to simply exploit their advantage inside. In order to do so, however, Roy Hibbert will have to be at his best. David West and Luis Scola are playing well and even Ian Mahinmi could be a factor. However, without some solid contributions from Roy Hibbert, the Pacers won’t get the ticket to the NBA Finals.

At present, the Heat seems to be the favorites in a potential matchup but things could turn the other way around sooner than later.

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