INDIANAPOLIS — There is this growing perception the Pacers are a quiet team that’s dangerously lying in the weeds, ready to shock the world and ruin the Miami Heat’s second straight run at an NBA title.
One national writer, Indy born-and-raised Jason Whitlock, recently rolled out lots of Game of Thrones references[1] and referred to emerging star Paul George as a “baby dragon” while suggesting the Pacers have the Heat’s number.
A word about that: Nope.
As much as I like what the Pacers have built, what they’ve done since that 10-11 start and the way they’re playing right now — the exception being Thursday night’s 99-91 loss[2] to the Los Angeles Clippers — they’re not beating the Heat in a seven-game series.
TOUGH LOSS: Pacers miss Hibbert vs. Clippers[3]
FLOPPING: Is the new NBA rule really working?[4]
Don’t tell me the Heat are 0-5 against the Grizzlies, Pacers and Knicks and have lost by an average of 16.2 points per game. That’s regular season. Which means nothing to LeBron and D-Wade.
Here’s what locals conveniently forget when they recall last year’s playoff run:
Not only did the Pacers beat the Magic without Dwight Howard, but Chris Bosh missed most of the Miami series with an abdominal injury, playing just 16 minutes. The Heat still won in six games.
Everybody is talking already about a possible Miami-Indiana matchup like it’s predestined, but I’d be leery of teams the Pacers might have to play before they reach that series.
The Boston Celtics, a possible first-round opponent, have played better since Rajon Rondo was injured. The Atlanta Hawks always have given the Pacers trouble. The Brooklyn Nets are very dangerous, especially when Deron Williams is playing at or near the top of his game. And the Knicks are a brutal matchup — notwithstanding a recent Pacers blowout victory over New York — because the Knicks bring J.R. Smith and Amar’e Stoudemire off the bench.
STEVE NASH: No regrets about trade to the Lakers[5]
JUST WEIRD: Heat ham it up in ‘Harlem Shake’ video[6]
Are the Pacers better this year? Absolutely, they are. This year, George is playing at an All-Star level and Lance Stephenson has become a very solid complementary rotation guy. They’re also much better at the backup center spot with Ian Mahinmi.
Here’s what continues to scare me, though, in a series against the Heat: That Indiana bench.
For the record, the bench got outscored 43-16 Thursday night, but it wasn’t the only culprit. Think this team doesn’t miss Roy Hibbert on the defensive end[7]? The Clips finished with 50 points in the paint, and Blake Griffin had a dunk so heavenly, he still hasn’t come down and touched the ground.
I still don’t trust D.J. Augustin, scoreless Thursday, who spent the first part of the season in the tank.
I still don’t trust Tyler Hansbrough, also scoreless Thursday, who hasn’t grown his offensive game.
I still don’t know what they’re going to get from Stephenson if he’s asked to adjust to life as an alpha dog off the bench.
NOT SO FAST: Mayor reveals latest plan to keep Kings in Sacramento[8]
SETTING SUNS: Is it time for Phoenix to master the NBA art of tanking?[9]
And I know what I’m going to get from Gerald Green, which is absolutely nothing.
I would have made a deal at the deadline. I would have made a move to get J.J. Redick, even if it meant giving up a first-rounder for a three-month rental. He could have been a difference maker coming off the bench, and it would have sent a message to fans that the Pacers are absolutely, positively going for a title. This is a weak draft anyway; what are they going to add picking in the late 20s, anyway?
So how do they rectify the bench issue?
For the longest time, I’ve agreed with Pacers coach Frank Vogel: Start out using Danny Granger off the bench, then move him back into the starting lineup while sending Stephenson to the second unit.
Well, I’m changing my tune. And I’m glad to hear that Vogel is keeping an open mind.
“I’m inclined to get him (Granger) back into the starting lineup,” Vogel said recently. “But we’ll look at it on a daily and weekly basis and see what happens.”
He should.
Because early in the Pacers’ loss to the Clippers, Granger looked like he absolutely belonged on the court with the second-teamers, giving the Pacers a high-scoring option off the bench they would otherwise lack. After going 2-of-17 his first two games back from injury, Granger looked a little bit like Granger, scoring 12 points in 19 minutes.
“I’ll embrace any role they have for me,” he said Thursday night. “But right now, I’m a long way away. It’s going to be a couple of weeks, maybe a month. I hit some shots, but I’m only 65% at this point. My legs and my wind still aren’t there.”
If the Pacers keep winning with Stephenson starting and Granger coming off the bench, why mess with a good thing? Why not use Granger the way the Oklahoma City Thunder used James Harden, the way the Spurs use Manu Ginobili? Why not take advantage of the fact George has turned into a rising star in this league, and give that second unit the kind of dynamic scorer it so desperately needs?
Put it this way: It’s the only shot they have of beating the Heat.
The only shot.
Bob Kravitz is a columnist for The Indianapolis Star[10], a Gannett property. Follow Bob on Twitter @bkravitz[11].
References
- ^ http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/miami-heat-lebron-james-throne-indiana-pacers-paul-george-true-threat-021913 (msn.foxsports.com)
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/02/28/chris-paul-jamal-crawford-clippers-hold-off-pacers/1955451/ (www.usatoday.com)
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/02/28/chris-paul-jamal-crawford-clippers-hold-off-pacers/1955451/ (www.usatoday.com)
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/02/28/nba-flopping-violations-stu-jackson/1954959/ (www.usatoday.com)
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/lakers/2013/02/28/los-angeles-lakers-steve-nash-mike-dantoni-mitch-kupchak/1952959/ (www.usatoday.com)
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/02/28/miami-heat-lebron-james-chris-bosh-marion-chalmers-harlem-shake/1955297/ (www.usatoday.com)
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/02/28/chris-paul-jamal-crawford-clippers-hold-off-pacers/1955451/ (www.usatoday.com)
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/02/28/sacramento-kings-kevin-johnson-seattle/1955533/ (www.usatoday.com)
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2013/02/28/should-suns-master-art-of-tanking-games/1952433/ (www.usatoday.com)
- ^ http://www.indystar.com/section/sports?odyssey=nav|p|sports (www.indystar.com)
- ^ http://twitter.com/bkravitz (twitter.com)
