The NBA playoffs Conference Finals matchups are set, and so are the schedules. Here are the official SWN predictions, complete with dates, times and TV channels where you can watch all the hardcourt action.
East Finals: No. 1 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 2 Miami Heat
Schedule: *if necessary
Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers
1 Sun., May 18 3:30 p.m. ABC
2 Tue., May 20 8:30 p.m. ESPN
3 Sat., May 24 8:30 p.m. ESPN
4 Mo., May 26 8:30 p.m. ESPN
5* Wed., 28 8:30 p.m. ESPN
6* Fri., May 30 8:30 p.m. ESPN
7* Sun., June 1 8:30 p.m. ESPN
Both the Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat entered the season with expectations that the regular season and first two playoff rounds were essentially filler before the eventual Eastern Conference Finals clash. As time wore on, both squads faced fair amounts of adversity, the Pacers moreso, but here they are as expected. Miami has looked far more dominant in the postseason, posting a 7-1 record vs. the Charlotte Bobcats and Brooklyn Nets, while the Pacers were pushed to the brink by the Atlanta Hawks and had major issues with Washington's backcourt.
Pacers Advantages:
Roy Hibbert- Hibbert has been maligned for almost two months now for not putting up the types of numbers expected of All-Star centers that stand over seven feet tall. He has scored 14 points a game on 52 percent shooting this season against the undersized Heat, however, and might be a destructive force that ruins Miami's small-ball approach.
Backcourt Defense- Paul George and Lance Stephenson are among the best perimeter defenders in the NBA which is paramount against two of the league's top slashers. George and LeBron James have had amazing battles already, and this series figures to be no different.
Home court- This advantage may seem minor after a few homecourt smackdowns earlier this postseason, but an engaged Pacers team at home is no joke. During the regular season Indiana was 35-6 at home, and just 21-20 on the road.
Heat Advantages:
LeBron James- King James is a four-time MVP, and the best player in the world no matter what Kevin Durant's MVP award says.
Chris Bosh 3-point shooting- As mentioned before on SWN, Bosh has transformed into a lights-out long-range bomber these days. If he can stay hot from beyond the arc, he will cripple Hibbert in ways that Atlanta's Pero Antic can only dream about. Should Bosh erode Hibbert's usefulness, it will be very difficult for Indiana to win this series as his size is their only clear advantage.
Rest- Indiana's been mired in dogfights since Game 1 of Round 1, while the creaky knees of Dwyane Wade have nearly played in the minimum amount of games necessary to reach Round 3. His health is essential to Miami having enough firepower to overcome the NBA's top defense this year, so the more rest the better.
Prediction- Heat in 6. LeBron overcomes Paul George again, Indiana's mental instability haunts them against the well-oiled, seasoned Heat.
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