[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

The Indiana Pacers have been a tough team for Miami to beat the last two seasons but there is a huge difference between the last two seasons and this season.  The bench.

Not only has Lance Stephenson, Paul George, and Roy Hibbert improved dramatically compared to last season but their bench is one of the best in the league.

Andrew Bynum can be a terrific asset if he buys into the system.  Luis Scola is one of the most skilled backups in the entire NBA and is just 3 years removed from averaging 18-8 without any major injuries.  Evan Turner has been a pretty good player the last two seasons and he has shown that he has the length and strength to defend LeBron decently well.

Ian Mahinmi is one of the better defenders down-low off the bench and C.J. Watson is a veteran that knows how to score and can get hot in a hurry.

This team has a bench that could potentially beat some of the bottomfeeders in the NBA.

The Indiana Pacers are the deepest team in the Eastern Conference and could possibly be considered the best bench in the entire league.

Is Indiana now the team to beat in the Eastern Conference?

Bynum – Mahinmi
Scola
Butler
Turner
Watson

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

I’m counting on Bynum to help the Pacers as much as I’m counting on Oden to help the Heat, very little if none at all

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

I’m counting on Bynum to help the Pacers as much as I’m counting on Oden to help the Heat, very little if none at all

[thatdude44Participant]

The Pacers are built similar to the heat, decent guard play, versatile wings and bigs that actually can play. In my opinion, the only difference is they don’t have Lebron. I think if the Pacers can stay healthy, they can compete at an high level with the Heat. 

[thatdude44Participant]

The Pacers are built similar to the heat, decent guard play, versatile wings and bigs that actually can play. In my opinion, the only difference is they don’t have Lebron. I think if the Pacers can stay healthy, they can compete at an high level with the Heat. 

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

 …And the Heat don’t have an All-Star center or near-All-Star-caliber players at every position…

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

 …And the Heat don’t have an All-Star center or near-All-Star-caliber players at every position…

[Deems03Participant]

 Indian is not built like the heat in my opinion. They are far better and deeper at the Center position than Miami. Scola and Bynum arguably could be starters on Miami and they are bench players in Indiana. Miami has a bunch of Injury ridden/vets/misfits coming off their bench Beasly Oden Birdman Lewis. Indian has players that bring more stability and have shown to be more consistent in their careers. That’s not to say Miami doesn’t have potential to get contribution from their bench because Lebron and wade tend to make players they play with better. I also like Watson and hill better than chalmers and cole they are better at the point and at the forward Center positions. Miami has shown the ability to win games even when dominted on the boards and paint. I still give the slight edge Miami but the eastern conference finals assuming these two teams meet in it should be one of the most competitive and entertaining east finals ever. 

[Deems03Participant]

 Indian is not built like the heat in my opinion. They are far better and deeper at the Center position than Miami. Scola and Bynum arguably could be starters on Miami and they are bench players in Indiana. Miami has a bunch of Injury ridden/vets/misfits coming off their bench Beasly Oden Birdman Lewis. Indian has players that bring more stability and have shown to be more consistent in their careers. That’s not to say Miami doesn’t have potential to get contribution from their bench because Lebron and wade tend to make players they play with better. I also like Watson and hill better than chalmers and cole they are better at the point and at the forward Center positions. Miami has shown the ability to win games even when dominted on the boards and paint. I still give the slight edge Miami but the eastern conference finals assuming these two teams meet in it should be one of the most competitive and entertaining east finals ever. 

[3 No Biases 3Participant]

This team is loaded now and I think they ARE the favorites to win it all….

That being said, it still wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Miami knocked them out…Lebron’s still the best player and they still have more big game experience than the Pacers.  I like what the Pacers are doing though, if Bynum plays and can provide minutes to relieve Hibbert and West anything but a championship would be a major dissappointment for them I feel.

The addition of Turner is huge…He is a very versatile starter in this league and they got him while giving up a player who they knew wasn’t in their plans regardless…Good day for the Pacers.  Its going to be tough for anyone to beat them..

[3 No Biases 3Participant]

This team is loaded now and I think they ARE the favorites to win it all….

That being said, it still wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Miami knocked them out…Lebron’s still the best player and they still have more big game experience than the Pacers.  I like what the Pacers are doing though, if Bynum plays and can provide minutes to relieve Hibbert and West anything but a championship would be a major dissappointment for them I feel.

The addition of Turner is huge…He is a very versatile starter in this league and they got him while giving up a player who they knew wasn’t in their plans regardless…Good day for the Pacers.  Its going to be tough for anyone to beat them..

[frogmanParticipant]

If the Pacers win it all I don’t think too many people will be shocked.  But no they are not the team to beat.  The two time defending champions are the team to beat.

[frogmanParticipant]

If the Pacers win it all I don’t think too many people will be shocked.  But no they are not the team to beat.  The two time defending champions are the team to beat.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Last night we saw the Heat pretty much take it to OKC on the road. That game was a few bobbled passes by Birdman and one not broken nose by Lebron away from being a blowout all the way through.

So as good as the Pacers are, they are not the team to beat. The Heat can roll out 40 minutes of Lebron, Wade and Bosh a night during the playoffs because of no back to back games. Bench guys don’t make that big a difference unless they can hang with the Heat starters. 

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Last night we saw the Heat pretty much take it to OKC on the road. That game was a few bobbled passes by Birdman and one not broken nose by Lebron away from being a blowout all the way through.

So as good as the Pacers are, they are not the team to beat. The Heat can roll out 40 minutes of Lebron, Wade and Bosh a night during the playoffs because of no back to back games. Bench guys don’t make that big a difference unless they can hang with the Heat starters. 

[IknowitallJKParticipant]

The Pacers are a good, even a great team. I like the addition of Turner but Lebron and a healthy D Wade, and Bosh are the favorites until they lose a series.  In a series where the teams are really close, the team with the best player usually wins. That player is Mr. James( best player in the league). 

[IknowitallJKParticipant]

The Pacers are a good, even a great team. I like the addition of Turner but Lebron and a healthy D Wade, and Bosh are the favorites until they lose a series.  In a series where the teams are really close, the team with the best player usually wins. That player is Mr. James( best player in the league). 

[TyroberParticipant]

 If they have home court advantage against the HEAT I think it’s 50/50. Both teams are just so good each game is going to come down to a couple of possessions. The HEAT are waiting for the post season, but I personally would not bet either way on the series.

[TyroberParticipant]

 If they have home court advantage against the HEAT I think it’s 50/50. Both teams are just so good each game is going to come down to a couple of possessions. The HEAT are waiting for the post season, but I personally would not bet either way on the series.

[JoeWolf1]

 No way. When you’re in the same conference as the 2 time defending champs who have the kind of team Miami has, you’re don’t pass them up as favorites with a trade.

That being said, Indiana has a really good chance of taking them out with this trade. This was a fantastic move by the Pacers. 

[JoeWolf1]

 No way. When you’re in the same conference as the 2 time defending champs who have the kind of team Miami has, you’re don’t pass them up as favorites with a trade.

That being said, Indiana has a really good chance of taking them out with this trade. This was a fantastic move by the Pacers. 

[HitsterParticipant]

The Pacers have a very strong team and bench depth but so do the Heat and any team with LeBron in there always has some sort of advantage in my mind. The Pacers would want to try and keep things very tight against the Heat and use the possible extra front court size of Hibbert to best effect.

Miami also have a vastly experienced bench which can defend and score and a lot may come down to the line up changes that the respective teams make to try and get advantages for certain periods of play.

The ironic thing could be that the team that benefits could be the Western Conference Champions if they managed to make the finals earlier and Miami and Pacers were involved in a long 7 game series with OT’s etc. Although to be fairm, the top of the West is perhaps stronger in depth than the top 4 in the East.

I’ll throw in a fun wildcard – the 76ers waive Grainger and he goes to Miami or one of the Western powerhouses on a short term deal, does that negate the Pacers adding Turner?

[HitsterParticipant]

The Pacers have a very strong team and bench depth but so do the Heat and any team with LeBron in there always has some sort of advantage in my mind. The Pacers would want to try and keep things very tight against the Heat and use the possible extra front court size of Hibbert to best effect.

Miami also have a vastly experienced bench which can defend and score and a lot may come down to the line up changes that the respective teams make to try and get advantages for certain periods of play.

The ironic thing could be that the team that benefits could be the Western Conference Champions if they managed to make the finals earlier and Miami and Pacers were involved in a long 7 game series with OT’s etc. Although to be fairm, the top of the West is perhaps stronger in depth than the top 4 in the East.

I’ll throw in a fun wildcard – the 76ers waive Grainger and he goes to Miami or one of the Western powerhouses on a short term deal, does that negate the Pacers adding Turner?

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I won’t call the Pacers the favorites, but the Heat definitely have their hands full. They barely got by the Pacers last season and the Pacers are a *MUCH* better/deeper team this season, while the Heat didn’t really get better in my opinion. LeBron is LeBron, but the Heat got older. 

Allen – 38 and shooting a career low from three-point

Anderson – 35

Battier – 35

Haslem – 33 and looks like he’s close to being done

Jones – 33

Lewis – 34

Wade – 32 and a deteriorating knee

And while it’s still TBD, the Pacers could have homecourt advantage in that series. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I won’t call the Pacers the favorites, but the Heat definitely have their hands full. They barely got by the Pacers last season and the Pacers are a *MUCH* better/deeper team this season, while the Heat didn’t really get better in my opinion. LeBron is LeBron, but the Heat got older. 

Allen – 38 and shooting a career low from three-point

Anderson – 35

Battier – 35

Haslem – 33 and looks like he’s close to being done

Jones – 33

Lewis – 34

Wade – 32 and a deteriorating knee

And while it’s still TBD, the Pacers could have homecourt advantage in that series. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[r377Participant]

I had Indiana at the start of the season.  I just can’t see Miami winning three straight – they were lucky to beat the Spurs last year. I think they might get an injury.

Indiana are plenty deep, plus Stephenson has improved this season….

[r377Participant]

I had Indiana at the start of the season.  I just can’t see Miami winning three straight – they were lucky to beat the Spurs last year. I think they might get an injury.

Indiana are plenty deep, plus Stephenson has improved this season….

[Author]

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