Superman came alive in Miami. Lebron James put on a show in Game 5 and will need to do it again tonight for the Heat to advance to the NBA Finals. The Heat will have to do it without their big man Chris “Birdman” Andersen. Birdman was suspended after the NBA took another look at this shove he gave to Tyler Hansbrough:
http://youtu.be/LVHPj5J-Jv4
The foul was upgraded to a Flagrant Foul 2 yesterday. The Heat will now be at a huge size disadvantage without him. They have had problems guarding Hibbert this entire series and it will really take a team effort tonight. However, if Udonis Haslem and Mario Chalmers have great nights again, it will be the Pacers who will be left to figure out how to keep up with Miami. The Pacers have always had problems with scoring and it has allowed Miami to keep every game this series very close. Pacers forward David West missed shoot around this morning due to an upper respiratory infection. He will play tonight, however.
The Pacers really need to take advantage of the size mismatch and drive to the basket. If they can find ways to constantly feed Hibbert the ball, the Pacers will push this series back to Miami. The Pacers will also need Lance Stephenson to show up and not get into foul trouble. Stephenson has been the x factor for the Pacers. When he is having a great night, they have won. The Pacers have proven they can bounce back from tough losses and I think they will again tonight. Pacer or Heat- who you takin?
Going with my gut and saying that the Pacers will force Game 7 at home tonight. I couldn’t agree more that the suspension of Birdman really puts the Heat at a disadvantage down low. Who are you takin?
I’m taking the Pacers as well. The Heat will really miss Birdman out there especially when Bosh has been nonexistent recently. They have no one to guard Hibbert and if the Pacers can make easy shots they should win.