We are learning two things from the 2013 NBA Playoffs, specifically from the now epic Heat/Pacers ECF series that will now go to 7 games, and it’s that Miami is now vulnerable with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh reduced to being role players and Paul George and Roy Hibbert are really, really good.
Midway through the regular season, many had proclaimed that the Pacers were the team that has the pieces needed to give Miami a run for their money in the Eastern Conference, a sentiment that fell by the wayside as the Heat uncorked one of the best winning streaks in league history, winning 27 consecutive contests, second to only the Lakers all time.
Many even forgot about Indiana as the New York Knicks, led by this season’s scoring leader Carmelo Anthony, finished with the 2nd best record in the East. But it’s during the postseason when legacies are made, and as other so called elite teams like New York, Brooklyn, and a depleted Chicago squad fell to the wayside, the cream rose to the top in the form of the Heat and the Pacers in the Eastern Finals.
With first time All Star, and budding superstar Paul George exhausted from guarding 4 time MVP Lebron James all series, it has been the dominating inside play of Roy Hibbert, that has changed the series, as the 7’2 former Georgetown standout has made us summon up memories of Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, and David Robinson of playoff past, as a dominant, albeit non-flashy, rim protector and inside presence, having another great Game 6 consisting of 24 points and 11 boards.
But it was George, that made the biggest waves Saturday evening as he had perhaps the signature play of the night, finishing off a thunderous facial dunk on the underachieving Chris Bosh at the rim that had the flashbulbs popping, as he used a tremendous all around effort(28 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) to help force a Game 7 back in Miami on Monday.
Once again, it was Lebron James (29 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast) hoisting his team on his back as he got little help from the rest of the roster, with no other player having more than 10 points.
Paul George Facial On Chris Bosh ECF Game 6:
Top 5 Plays From Heat/Pacers Game 6:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.
