But if there was any hope at all, LeBron James ended it with his ridiculous block on Tiago Splitter. LeBron met Spliter at the rim to deny what looked to be a sure dunk for the Brazilian big man.

Yet another amazing highlight from the best player on the planet.

Mar 31, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) passes the ball as Miami Heat forward Chris Andersen (11) and Shane Battier (31) defend during the first half at the AT

On Thursday night, another edition of the NBA Finals will tip off. Here’s a little primer to get you ready for the action.

The Opponents:

Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs.

The Heat, representing the Eastern Conference are making their 3rd straight Finals appearance. They finished the season 66-16, good for the best record in both the Conference and the league.

The Spurs, making their first trip to the Finals since 2007, were the number two seed in the West, finishing with a 58-24 record.

The Path To Get Here:

Miami Heat:

1st Round: 4-0 series victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.

2nd Round: 4-1 series victory over the Chicago Bulls.

3rd Round: 4-3 series victory over the Indiana Pacers.

San Antonio Spurs:

1st Round: 4-0 series victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

2nd Round: 4-2 series victory over the Golden State Warriors.

3rd Round: 4-0 series victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Starting Lineups:

Miami Heat:

PG: Mario Chalmers

SG: Dwyane Wade

SF: LeBron James

PF: Udonis Haslem

C: Chris Bosh

San Antonio Spurs:

PG: Tony Parker

SG: Danny Green

SF: Kawhi Leonard

PF: Tim Duncan

C: Tiago Splitter

The Schedule:

Game 1: At Miami – Thursday, June 6 at 9:00 PM ET on ABC.

Game 2: At Miami – Sunday, June 9 at 8:00 PM ET on ABC.

Game 3: At San Antonio – Tuesday, June 11 at 9:00 PM ET on ABC.

Game 4: At San Antonio – Thursday, June 13 at 9:00 PM ET on ABC.

Game 5: At San Antonio – Sunday, June 16 at 8:00 PM ET on ABC. (If necessary.)

Game  6: At Miami – Tuesday, June 18 at 9:00 PM ET on ABC. (If necessary.)

Game 7: At Miami – Thursday, June 20 at 9:00 PM ET on ABC. (If necessary.)

Just a few minutes ago, the NBA announced that Hibbert has been fined $75,000 for “inappropriate and vulgar language.”

Roy Hibbert has been fined $75,000 for use of “inappropriate and vulgar language” in postgame press conference last night.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) June 2, 2013

This fine is right in line with previous fine’s the NBA has handed out. Two years ago, Kobe Bryant was fined $100,000 for using a gay slur towards a referee.

George has provided some memorable moments in his first Eastern Conference Finals, including a game tying three pointer late in Game 1 and a huge dunk on Chris “Birdman” Andersen.

Last night in Game 6, he added to his highlight real with another big dunk – this time on Chris Bosh. Check out the play below in slow motion, thanks to the NBA’s “Phantom Cam.”

May 27, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins reacts in the second half of game four of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

After four years in charge as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, it seems that Lionel Hollins may be on his way out.

Since he took over in 2009, Hollins has turned the Grizzlies into a legitimate contender in the Western Conference. They missed the playoffs in his first hear at the helm, but made the postseason each of the previous three  years. This year they finished 56-26 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, before being knocked out by the Spurs.

Despite the success, it seems like the Lionel Hollins era in Memphis is over, according to reports from Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski.

Memphis has given permission to coach Lionel Hollins to speak to other teams, league source tells Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 2, 2013

Talks between Memphis and Lionel Hollins have been ongoing for several days, but stalled on Saturday night, sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 2, 2013

Memphis and Hollins never seriously discussed financial terms and year, sources tell Y! “Major philosophical differences,” one source says.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 2, 2013

Asked two sources with direct knowledge of Grizzlies-Hollins talks if they believe he’s coached his final game there. Both answered: “Yes.”

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 2, 2013

Hollins contract isn’t officially up until the end of the month, but based on the report from Wojnarowski, he may as well be a free agent. With multiple teams looking for new coaches, including the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets, it’s likely that Hollins won’t be out of a job for long.

Jun 1, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) is defended by Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem (40) during the first half in game six of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Last night, the Indiana Pacers staved off elimination in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals by defeating the Miami Heat 91-77 behind sublime performances from Paul George and Roy Hibbert. George finished with 28 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, while Hibbert put up 24 points and 11 rebounds while playing impressive defense down low.

Unfortunately, due to a few comments from Hibbert, the post-game press conference is being talked about more than the actual game. Most of the time, post-game pressers are a waste of time, filled with “coach and player speak” and cliches. But last night, Hibbert was rather candid.

There are two separate comments from the Pacers’ big man that have people talking.

First, was this comment.

“The momentum could have shifted right there if [James] got an easy dunk,” Hibbert said. “There was what — was it Game 3 here? I really felt that I let Paul down in terms of having his back when LeBron was scoring in the post or getting to the paint, because they stretched me out so much. No homo.”

Later on, Hibbert said,

“You know what, because y’all (expletive) don’t watch us play throughout the year, to tell you the truth. That’s fine. I’m going to be real with you. And I don’t care if I get fined. You know what, we play, we’re not on TV all the time. Reporters are the ones that are voting. And it is what it is. If I don’t make it, that’s fine. I’m still going to do what I have to do.”

While the colorful name Hibbert called the media may have been inappropriate for national television, that comment isn’t the issue. He swore at press conference – he shouldn’t have said it, but it isn’t that big of a deal.

The second comment, the “no homo” he dropped, is the problem. For those unfamiliar with the term, it is basically a way of making sure people don’t think you’re gay if you say something that could be construed that way. It’s an unnecessary and offensive joke.

For his part, Hibbert issued a statement apologizing for the comment and also reached out to Jason Collins on Twitter.

“I am apologizing for insensitive remarks made during the postgame press conference after our victory over Miami Saturday night. They were disrespectful and offensive and not a reflection of my personal views. I used a slang term that is not appropriate in any setting, private or public, and the language I used definitely has no place in a public forum, especially over live television. I apologize to those who I have offended, to our fans and to the Pacers’ organization. I sincerely have deep regret over my choice of words last night.”

@jasoncollins34 hey can I get a follow. Would like to discuss something’s with you.

— Roy Hibbert (@Hoya2aPacer) June 2, 2013

Hibbert’s comment was a sophomoric attempt at humor and offended many people. Was it the worst thing someone has ever said? No. But it wasn’t appropriate, and he shouldn’t have said it. I don’t think he was trying to be offensive, I just think it was ignorant. He seems genuinely remorseful however, and hopefully this can be a learning point for the future.

After a missed shot by the Heat, Andersen makes a run at Hansbrough, delivering a pretty solid shoulder check that sent Hansbrough flying. The Pacers forward, upset with the cheap shot, got up and had words with Andersen.

As the two continued talking, they chest bumped each other, at which point, Andersen delivers another shove to Hansbrough’s chest.

As a result of the play, Andersen was hit with a Flagrant 1 foul and each player was given a technical.

The initial contact was a blatant cheap shot from Andersen, and I believe he should have been ejected from the game for his actions. I still don’t understand how Hansbrough deserved a technical, but the refs often hand out double technicals in an effort to somehow calm things down.

Game 6 is on Saturday, back in Indiana, and when it takes place, I don’t believe Andersen should be on the court. Not once, but twice, Andersen took unnecessary shots at Hansbrough.

What do you think. Should the Birdman be suspended for Game 6? Let us know by casting your vote below.

The conversation has reached a peak point following Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers.

Following a few incidents in Game 4, LeBron James, David West and Lance Stephenson have all been fined $5,000 for violating the league’s flopping policy, according to a report from NBA.com.

The first incident, involving Stephenson and Ray Allen came at the end of the 1st quarter. Stephenson and Allen bumped into each other, and as Allen spun around, his elbow came up, near Stephenson’s head. Stephenson flailed backwards as if he had been hit, trying to draw a foul on Allen – a move not bought by the referee.

The second incident, which both West and James were fined for, took place in the 4th quarter. As the two looked for position in the post, they bumped into each other – each one falling back in a dramatic manner, looking for a foul on the other. Instead, the refs let the play go, not calling anything.

This is her story:

She didn’t believe it when her friend called earlier in the day.

Tickets to Game 4? And they were courtside?!?

Of course she was interested in going. It’s not every day your team is in the Conference Finals and you have the ability to go. Plus, courtside seats? It doesn’t get any better than that.

Work dragged on seemingly forever. The last few minutes were excruciating as she watched the clock tick towards 5 o’clock. As soon as the second hand finished its last loop, she bolted from her desk and left for home.

May 28, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Fans cheer as Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson (1) makes a three pointer as the the third quarter ends against the Miami Heat in game four of the Eastern Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

She would only have a few hours to get ready. Her friend was picking her up at 7. It would take a little while to drive to the Fieldhouse – plus they needed time to park and make their way to the seats. And when you have great seats, you want to get there early.

When she got home, she changed out of her work clothes and into her favorite Pacers shirt right away. It was an old, navy blue shirt with the Pacers logo in the middle. It was her lucky shirt; of course she had to wear it to the game. She then got a quick bite to eat and waited anxiously for her friend to arrive. Finally, her friend’s car rolled into the driveway. They were ready to go.

Arriving downtown at the Fieldhouse, the two friends stopped to take in the atmosphere. They strolled about the concourse, stopping to check out the TNT pre-game show. Eventually they made their way to their courtside seats, which were across from the Miami Heat’s bench. On their seats were the night’s giveaway for all fans – gold t-shirts that said “GOLD SWAGGER” in big blue letters across the chest.

She couldn’t believe it. Sure, she had been to Pacers games before, but never a playoff game, and certainly never sitting courtside. It was a first for her friend too, who had won the tickets in a contest on WNDE 1260, the local sports radio station.

It was an amazing atmosphere to take in. After losing Game 3 in a blowout, the fans were ready to cheer their team to a win against the floppers from Miami.

Before the game was even a few minutes old, she was already losing her voice – cheering louder and louder with each basket as the Pacers jumped out to an 11-0 lead. But soon, the Heat would make a run to close the gap. But the Pacers would push it out again, yet only for the Heat to make another run. And so it went like this for the rest of the half – back and forth until the buzzer sounded. When it did, the Pacers found themselves up 48-47.

She was having the time of her life – watching her Pacers battle the Heat, courtside, with her best friend at her side. Her nerves began to kick in as halftime dragged along. She just wanted the game start up again.

And as the 3^rd quarter went along, the game was as close as ever. Nothing was going to be resolved early this night. Of course, by this point her voice was long gone. Even a bottle of water (which was brought to her by a waiter – courtside seats remember) couldn’t help. But a little hoarse voice couldn’t stop her from cheering as loud as she could.

Late in the 3^rd quarter, the Pacers built themselves a little bit of a cushion, taking a 74-70 lead. After a late miss, it looked as though that would be the score when the game entered the 4^th and final quarter. But an offensive foul on LeBron James gave the Pacers the ball and one last shot to score.

The closely contested game wasn’t doing anything to help her nerves. She anxiously looked on as the Pacers continued to hold their own against the mighty Heat. The whole experience had been amazing so far – even better than she could have expected. As the 3^rd quarter winded down, she was happy with the score.

With just 2 seconds on the clock, George Hill looked to inbound the ball across the court from her. She didn’t think there was enough time left. As much as she wanted the Pacers to get an extra bucket here, she wasn’t expecting anything. Just a few feet in front of her and to the right, however, stood the energetic Lance Stephenson. He had something else on his mind.

She screamed for Hill to get the ball in as he drew closer and closer to a 5 second violation. Soon he threw the ball across the court to Stephenson, just a few feet from her. He caught it and let a wild shot fly right away. It went so high in the air and she pictured how amazing it would be if the shot went in. Suddenly, her dream came true. It swished through the net as the buzzer sounded. She went crazy. Her friend went crazy. Heck, the whole arena was wild with excitement.

But all of it was too much too handle. She put her hands on her head in disbelief. And then, without warning her legs gave out. Her knees buckled and she fell to the court, hands still grasping her head. A steward lunged to grab her, saving her from injury. It was all a bit embarrassing – the excitement and nervousness had gotten the best of her.

But after taking a seat and a drink of water, everything was fine. And with her best friend at her side, she watched her Pacers the rest of the way. She was right there standing and screaming as the buzzer sounded, marking a Pacers victory.

Despite her little stumble, it was the best night of her life. A Pacers playoff win in the Conference Finals, all seen from just a few feet away. It was an experience she will never forget – not the seats, not her stumble, and certainly not the shot.

His reputation for making those plays has even affected other players play. Knowing LeBron is behind them, chasing them down, changes their thought processes. Instead of going up strong, other players will sometimes adjust to a lower percentage shot so they don’t get blocked.

In the 3rd quarter of tonight’s Game 4, George Hill decided to test LeBron, and went right at him on a fast break. LeBron wasn’t chasing him down, rather coming at him from the side.

As Hill elevated for the layup, LeBron simply rose higher than the Pacers’ point guard and swatted the shot away. It was a magnificent display of athleticism by the game’s best player.

LeBron finished the night with 24 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, but the Heat fell to the Pacers, 99-92. And in a rare occurrence, LeBron fouled out of the game late in the 4th quarter on an offensive foul.

Their mainstay off the bench, Manu Ginobili got involved in the action late in the first quarter, providing the highlight of the night.

After a steal (one of Memphis’ 13 turnovers) Ginobili was running the floor and caught an outlet pass on the right wing. Upon catching the ball, he spotted Cory Joseph making a hard cut to the basket and hit him with a bounce pass that he threw between Tayshaun Prince’s legs. From there, it was an easy catch and finish for Joseph.

It was a classic Ginobili – playing the game with flair. The Argentine finished with just 6 points on 1-6 shooting, but chipped in 6 rebounds and 6 assists on the night.

Ginobili has been on and off this post season, averaging just about 11 points a game on 38% shooting from the field. At the same time however, he has hit some big shots (including an overtime game winner against Golden State) and managed to make an impact in other areas – chipping in 5.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds a night.

It was certainly a frustrating series for the Grizzlies. They showed they were able to compete, bouncing back from a blowout loss in Game 1, but ultimately losing Games 2 and 3 in overtime. Game 4 was close, but the Spurs had control the whole way. In the end, Memphis was just beaten by the better team.

The frustration showed late in the 4th quarter, when head coach Lionel Hollins got into it with backup point guard Jerryd Bayless. As Bayless came to the bench with just a a a few minutes remaining, Hollins gave him a little shove. Hollins was clearly upset with something Bayless had done, and was letting him know it. An assistant coach stepped in, although it didn’t look like the situation was going to escalate.

Whatever Hollins was upset about must not have been that serious however, as Bayless would re-enter the game a few minutes later.

Bayless finished the game with 8 points on 3-10 shooting. For the series, Bayless averaged a little over 10 points a game on just 35% shooting from the field. Like the rest of the team, Bayless struggled to hit his jumper all series, in large part due to the great defense of San Antonio.

May 27, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; San Antonio Spurs chairman Peter Holt hoists the Western Conference championship trophy in the locker room after game four of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. The Spurs won 93-86. Mandatory Credit: Rogelio V. Solis/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

It was a hard fought fourth game and series as a whole, but the better team won. After winning Game 4 93-86, to complete a four game sweep, the San Antonio Spurs have advanced to the NBA Finals.

The Spurs took control from the tip, and though the Grizzlies kept it within reach, they were never able to get over the hump. Every time they made a little run, the Spurs pushed the lead out again.

Tony Parker was magnificent, finishing with 37 points and 6 assists. He took command of the Spurs offense, leading the way to victory, despite taking a nasty, inadvertent poke in the eye from Marc Gasol in the process.

Tim Duncan was his usual, steady self, providing 15 points and 8 rebounds. And as they always seem to do, the Spurs got solid, though not spectacular contributions from a number of players.

While the Grizzlies certainly didn’t play their best basketball in this series, they have nothing to be ashamed of. It was a closely contested series – the Spurs were just a little bit better.

San Antonio will now sit and wait for the winner of the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers Eastern Conference Finals series. The Heat currently have a 2-1 series lead, with Game 4 set for tomorrow night.

May 21, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) looks on in game two of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at AT

In a sport and league predicated largely on athleticism, Zach Randolph has managed to succeed despite a lack thereof. While there are nightly highlights showing off the quickness and leaping ability of players across the league, Randolph, who was blessed with neither, is busy toughing it out in the post. He makes his living largely because of his footwork and ability to create space down low.

At just 6’9”, and with little leaping ability, the man affectionately known as “Z-Bo” has found a way to both score on the post, and become a rebounding force. He has been in the top 5 in rebounding 3 of the last 4 years. (He only played 28 games last year.) This year, Randolph put up a little over 15 points and 11 rebounds a night for the Grizzlies, and has averaged 17.2 points and 9.3 rebounds a game in his 11-year career.

To see Randolph at work, let’s go to the tape, featuring plays from Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. (The Grizzlies lost 104-93 in overtime, despite 14 points and 15 rebounds from Randolph.)

First, let’s look at this possession from late in the 2^nd quarter. Keep your eyes on only Randolph this possession. (He’s wearing number 50 in white and starts off near the right block being guarded by Matt Bonner, who wears number 15 in black.)

He starts off the possession by setting multiple screens. He then moves down to the paint, where he posts up Bonner. He doesn’t get the ball from Marc Gasol, but he keeps moving and looking for position. Then, a shot goes up that misses, but the Grizzlies grab the rebound. As Conley drives the lane, Randolph slides away from the defense, looking for the pass – but Conley shoots instead, and Randolph, who has moved into great position, outduels three Spurs (while hardly jumping) for the offensive rebound. He ends up missing the put-back and a second tip attempt, but that isn’t the point.

Look how much work Randolph did this possession. None of it took exceptional athletic ability. It was just hard work and smart positioning. While it didn’t pay off this time, this sequence exemplifies Z-Bo’s game.

Now, we’ll check out a couple plays in the 4^th quarter. Three consecutive trips down the floor, Randolph fights his way to offensive rebounds.

For the first possession, Randolph is along the baseline as the shot goes up. It looks like Bonner should have the position to box him out, but Randolph gives him a little bump and gets Bonner on his hip. From there, he uses his strength and outworks three Spurs for the rebound.

Randolph begins the second possession by setting a screen for Conley. Following this, he makes his way into the paint. He gets his body into his defender, and seals him on his backside. At this point, Randolph has the control. Gasol doesn’t give him the ball on his first post-up attempt, instead choosing to skip the ball to the corner. Once again, Randolph gets himself good position, but doesn’t get the ball. As Bayless shoots the three from the corner, Bonner, who is guarding Randolph has the inside position for the rebound since Randolph sealed him to get post position. But once again, Randolph uses his footwork (and a hip bump) to move Bonner out of the way, drawing a foul from Bonner in the process and gaining the Grizzlies an extra possession.

In the third possession, Randolph once again finds himself on the baseline, presumably out of position for a rebound. But once again, as the shot goes up, he forces his way to the right spot. Bayless shoots the three from the right wing, and Randolph battles his way to the left block. This is the best spot for an offensive rebound because, as Kirk Goldsberry showed in this excellent piece, rebounds go to “the other side” – when a field goal is attempted from the baseline or wing areas and it misses, chances are the rebound will occur on the opposite side of the rim.

The Grizzlies never got Randolph the ball on three separate trips down the court, even though he had excellent position on a few occasions. Despite this, Randolph kept working, and got himself to the right spot and in the right position to grab crucial offensive rebounds for his team.

Finally, let’s take a quick look at a few instances in which Randolph actually did get the ball on offense, and put it to good use.

In the first clip, Randolph gets the ball on near the three-point line. Tiago Splitter tries to shade him to the right, but Randolph, smartly goes left, making Splitter drop his right foot before being able to slide with Randolph as he drives to the basket. It gives Randolph space to start his move. Splitter is able to recover however, due to Randolph’s lack of quickness. To counter, Randolph fakes a spin to the middle and comes back to his favorite left hand for a jump hook that he hits after creating space with the fake.

In the second possession, Z-Bo gets the ball near the elbow with his back to the basket, near the elbow. After a few dribbles, he starts to spin for a jump hook, but pump fakes and turns it into an up-and-under. His defender falls for it for a split second, giving Randolph the time to step through and shoot a little leaner.

In these two examples, Randolph uses his array of fakes and moves to give himself space when he has the ball. He doesn’t have the quickness to dribble past guys or the leaping ability to shoot over them, but he makes up for it with footwork with the ball in his hands.

Though often overlooked, just like Randolph himself, this is an impressive ability. Great footwork and knowing how to give yourself space is vital, especially when you aren’t blessed with all the athletic gifts other players have. Without it, Randolph might not even be in the league, never mind an important piece on a Conference Finals team.

April 17, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Michael Beasley (0) during the second half against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 118-98. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

In what is becoming a common occurrence, the Phoenix Suns once again failed to make the playoffs. Unlike the last few seasons however, when they just missed out, this year was abysmal. They finished 25-57; the worst record in the Western Conference.

For the third straight year, they found themselves looking to the lottery for hope. After the ping pong balls settled, they found themselves with the 5th overall pick in this summer’s draft.

By the time the draft rolls around, the team is hoping to have a new head coach to be part of the selection process. Alvin Gentry, who was in his fifth year at the helm, left the team following a mutual agreement in January. At the time, the team was 13-28.

Assistant coach Lindsey Hunter was named the interim coach for the remainder of the season. Under Hunter, the team finished out the season 12-29. Hunter was not offered the position following the conclusion of the season.

Now, after looking for a new leader, the organization hopes to have found their new head coach. According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Suns have offered the job to Jeff Hornacek, who was drafted by Phoenix back in 1986. Hornacek played the first 6 seasons of his 14 year NBA career with the Suns.

If Hornacek does indeed accept the job, he will have a tough road ahead of him. The team is in a rebuilding phase, with no end in sight.

A big reason for the win was the play of their rising star Paul George. He finished with 22 points and 6 assists, including a monster dunk over Chris “Birdman” Andersen.

The dunk was super impressive, but looks even cooler in slow motion. Check out the video below, courtesy of the NBA’s Phantom Camera.

The two teams met last year in the Conference Semifinals, in a series that saw a lot of physical play. The physicality continued right from the get go last night.

In the first quarter, Shane Battier drove to the basket where he found Roy Hibbert waiting. The Pacers’ big man jumped to defend the shot, and in the process took a knee straight to the groin from Battier.

Battier was called for an offensive foul on the play as Hibbert rolled around on the ground in pain.

Earlier today, Hibbert took offense at the play, claiming that Battier “knew what he was doing.”

U can knee or kick me every time u drive 2the rim. Ill be there 2protect the rim. That wasn’t inadvertent. Battier knew what he was doing

— Roy Hibbert (@Hoya2aPacer) May 23, 2013

While I don’t necessarily think Battier tried to hit Hibbert in the groin, he certainly had his knee extended in an unnecessary way. An offensive foul was the correct call, and that should be the end of the matter.

After a back and forth overtime period, the Pacers had the ball, down 101-99. After a scramble for a loose ball, Paul George once again found himself facing a last second shot. He let fly a desperate three, and was fouled by Dwyane Wade.

George calmly hit the three free throws to give the Pacers a 102-101 lead with 2.2 seconds remaining. But, the glory wasn’t meant for Paul George.

It was LeBron time. The whole arena, and everyone watching on TV knew who was getting the ball in the final possession, and LeBron didn’t disappoint. He grabbed the inbounds pass and spun on George, who overplayed too high. LeBron drove to the basket and finished with his left hand as the buzzer sounded, to give the Heat a thrilling 103-102 win in Game 1.

LeBron finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, giving him his ninth career triple-double.

With the Heat leading 92-89 and just under 12 seconds remaining, the Pacers took the ball out of bounds. They gave the ball to Paul George, but after a few seconds, the play was broken. He had to give the ball up, and almost turned the ball over.

He then got the ball back from David West and hit a ridiculous three to tie the game with just 0.7 seconds left.

Miami Heat:

Most Important Player:

Jack Maloney (@jmaloney9) – LeBron James. He’s the best player in the world. He’s the Heat’s best offensive player, best passer and best rebounder.

Reece Hooker (@ReeceJHooker) – If Chris Bosh can find a way to have an inside presence even against Indiana’s big man line-up, the Heat would be in great shape to win this series. LeBron will get his, Wade is likely to get his, but there’s a huge question mark over how Bosh will go complementing his peers in this one.

Vijay Shravah (@nbafanstake) – Dwyane Wade.  It seems as though we’re going through a deja vu from last postseason, where Wade didn’t come alive until Indiana took a 2-1 series lead against the Heat.  Up to that point, there were ongoing echoes that Wade was past his prime, too hurt to be effective, and that he is no longer the elite player we saw earlier in his career.  He finally broke out of his slump after an infamous confrontation with coach Erik Spoelstra after struggling in Game 3 of that series.  Well here we are again this postseason, where there is a growing sentiment that Wade has lost a step as he has struggled to find his rhythm all postseason long.  However, if he has a similar turnaround and breakout game during this series like he did last year, Miami will be unbeatable.

Quentin Haynes (@Haynesenburg) – I’m going to go with Norris Cole. I know that #6 is the best player on the planet, but this Miami will need some outside shooting, and while they beat Chicago in five games, the offense looked lackluster in the majority of those games. Now, they go up against a better defense. Norris Cole was the worst player in the regular season this past year, and now he’s the best PG on the Heat. He needs to keep it up.

Biggest Strength:

JM – Well, LeBron James. But beside that, their offense as a whole. With LeBron, Wade, Bosh and Allen off the bench, the Heat have one of the best offensive units in the league. They were the most efficient offense in the league in the regular season, scoring 110.3 points per 100 posessions.

May 15, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) dribbles the ball in the second half in game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Chicago Bulls at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

RH – The Heat have the benefit of employing the best basketball player on the planet. Last time the Heat were in a Conference Finals, they played a team that on the whole played more consistent and superior team basketball, but still rolled over them thanks to a historic playoffs performance from LeBron. While personally I don’t think this series will reach seven games, the Heat are at their most dangerous when James is most inspired.

VS – Besides having the best player on the planet?  Offense.  Their offensive cohesion is nearly flawless; with a balanced attack, two of the greatest playmakers in the game, and plenty of outside shooters to space the floor, Miami is the most difficult team to guard in the NBA.  It seems like every game, they go on one or two huge 15-20 point spurts that seals the deal for them.

QH – LeBron, Wade, and Bosh. More importantly, their ability to draw fouls. If they could knock Hibbert out early and often, Miami might sweep.

Biggest Weakness:

JM – Rebounding and inside play, if anything. Chris Andersen has helped their rebounding woes, but they still don’t have a presence inside. Bosh is their tallest player, but he likes to play more of a perimeter game. If Roy Hibbert is on his game, he could cause some issues for the Heat.

RH – Miami’s rebounding has plagued them all year long, although alleviated since snaring Chris Andersen. However, while their rebounding prowess went from non-existent to mediocre with Anderson’s signing, they’re still vulnerable against a hungry, savvy and big Indiana squad.

VS – Rebounding.  Miami’s rebounding woes has been well documented throughout the season, as they finished dead last in rebounds per game.  ”Birdman” Chris Andersen was brought in late in the season to give Miami some size, and he has filled that role admirably.  And while their rebounding hasn’t been too terrible in the playoffs (currently 3rd in the league in rebounding differential per game), one has to believe their small-ball play along with Indiana’s size will lead to a big disadvantage on the glass.

QH – Dwyane Wade’s health issues. The Heat could drop a game or two if Wade can’t turn it up like he did in Game 6.

Indiana Pacers:

Most Important Player:

May 18, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert (55) dunks against the New York Knicks in game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats New York 106-99. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

JM – Roy Hibbert. He’s the Pacers’ one big advantage, as the Heat lack a big man to match him. He dominated Tyson Chandler in the series vs. the Knicks, and the Pacers will need him to keep up this high level of play.

RH – Paul George has performed a lot of magic tricks this season, such as making Danny Granger disappear, but he has one more rabbit to pull from a hat this year – escaping Miami’s strait jacket. The Most Improved title holder will have a tough time against the Heat, who will likely try to blanket him with LeBron James, widely regarded as the league’s best perimeter defender. But if George is able to break from LBJ and have a big one, Miami will have a series on their hands.

VS – Roy Hibbert.  Critics have been hammering Hibbert’s lack of consistent production on the offensive end all season long.  Going against a Heat team that plays small, he MUST dominate the paint.  Miami has notoriously struggled against teams with bigs that can score and rebound, and Hibbert can easily fit that bill.  Miami will try to play up-tempo and negate Hibbert’s ability to impact the game.  So, it will be paramount for him to impose his will in order for the Pacers to pull off the upset.

QH – Roy Hibbert. Can’t make it any more clearer than that.

Biggest Strength:

JM – Defense. Just as the Heat were the league’s most efficient offensive team, the Pacers were the league’s most efficient defensive team, allowing just 96.6 points per 100 possessions in the regular season. They’ve played solid defense all postseason, but the Heat will be by far their toughest test.

RH – Indiana’s inside presence will be their key to winning the series. Roy Hibbert and David West have been terrorising opposing teams all year long and have found form at just the right time. The Heat’s job will be made infinitely harder if the Pacers can successfully run their offense through these guys.

VS – Interior Presence.  If the Pacers can somehow control the pace, Roy Hibbert and David West should dominate the paint.  Chris Bosh tends to struggle against bigger and stronger post players, and so the 4-5 tandem of Indiana should capitalize.

QH – Defense. Indiana can turn it up defensively, even better than Chicago.

Biggest Weakness:

JM – Consistency. For as well as the Pacers have played this year, they have games where they just seem to disappear, especially on the offensive end. If they want any chance of knocking off the Heat, they can’t afford to take any nights off.

RH – Points in the paint. While the inside game presents their strongest advantage on paper for the series, getting it to actually come together will be the biggest ask for the Pacers. They’ve rarely lit up the scoreboard all year and now must find a way to match it offensively with the high octane South Beach Show.

VS – Closing.  Indiana’s lack of crunch-time superstars may come to haunt them in this series.  Although the offense primarily has gone through Paul George and Roy Hibbert, I am skeptical as to whether the two of them can consistently produce down the stretch of what will likely be closely contested games.  With Miami having two of the best closers in the game, who’s going to match that on Indiana’s end?  They may have been alternating that role by committee, but someone is going to need to step up consistently against the loaded Heat.

QH – The bench. Let me throw this out to you:

Gerald Green.

D.J. Augustin.

Tyler Hansbrough.

Jeff Pendergraph.

Ian Mahinmi.

Those five combined for 213 points this postseason. That’s not good at all.

Series Prediction:

JM – Heat in 6.

RH – Miami takes it in 6, with Indiana stealing one on the road but ultimately coming up short in a physical series.

VS – Miami in 7.  I think the Pacers are tremendously confident against Miami and will be a tough out, but I just can’t see LeBron and D-Wade letting this Heat team lose.  Period

QH – Heat in……..5. I think Indiana wins one at home.