Despite losing Game 1 of the Eastern conference finals in the most heartbreaking fashion possible, the Indiana Pacers remain unwavering in their belief that they can best the defending champion Miami Heat. Tip off for Game 2 tonight in American Airlines Arena, Miami, is 8:30 and the game will be broadcast on TNT. Game 2 can be live streamed here for free; Heat fans who want to listen to the action can do so by tuning in to 560 WQAM and Pacers fans can do the same by heading to 1070 The Fan.
Indiana pushed Miami to six games last postseason, and had the Heat on the very brink of a 1-0 series deficit Wednesday night. Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said, "Our belief has strengthened." When asked about how the play of his team made him feel, Vogel was even more upbeat.
"Very encouraged," Vogel said. "Our belief in our ability to beat this team has strengthened after Game 1. Our familiarity in the playoffs, in the playoff series grows with each day, grows with each game, and there's a lot of things we can definitely do better."
Chris Bosh, on the other hand was critical of his team's performance and expects more come Game 2. "We're going to play a lot better," Bosh said. "We've come to expect that of ourselves. We know that yesterday wasn't the championship effort that we need in order to win the series, let alone win the finals. We're going to have to do a much better job on defense and on offense to take care of the basketball, do a better job on the boards, do a better job of containing some of their actions."
Bosh had 17 points in the Game 1 win, but was only able to corral one rebound in 36 minutes.
If tonight's game once again comes down to the late possessions, expect Roy Hibbert to be on the floor to try and protect the rim. Hibbert told media members he should've been more adamant to Vogel about staying in the game.
Hibbert, though, when asked about LeBron James' fateful drive Wednesday night commented briefly before attempting to dismiss the thought from his mind. "I may have been able to get a hand on it," Hibbert said. "I may not have. He may have done something differently. Can't really think about that. You just have to move on."
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
