3 Reasons Why the Pacers Could Beat the Heat

Could. That's the key word in that headline. Three reasons why the Pacers could beat the Heat. Let's face it: the Miami Heat are the best team in the NBA. They are the defending champions and they have marched right through the postseason, defeating the Bucks in four games and the Bulls in five. They won 27 games in a row and 45 of their last 48. Yet, Indiana went 2-1 against them in the the regular season and the Pacers did take them six games in the playoffs last season. So why not the Pacers? Indiana plays a style that the Heat don't like and they trot out an enormous lineup that Miami will find difficult to match up with. Although it may still be considered a David vs. Goliath matchup by nearly everyone outside of the state of Indiana, here's why the Pacers may move on to the Finals.

1. Physical style of play
The Pacers are a tough, grind-it-out team. They don't win flashy and they don't lose flashy. Sometimes it can be a grind just to watch them for 48 minutes, but that doesn't matter because it's translated over to wins. Indiana employs a physical style of play and that's not something that Miami enjoys. It's been well-documented that the Heat have raised complaints when teams like the Pacers and the Bulls get physical with them. However, the Bulls physicality didn't matter in the semi-finals as Miami brushed the battered and bruised Bulls aside.

Here's the difference between the Bulls and Pacers: the Pacers are healthy and the Bulls weren't. Chicago played physical, but they didn't have their best out on the floor. Indiana will play physical and they will have their best players out on the floor. Guys like Tyler Hansbrough, Lance Stephenson and David West don't mind banging and that will be something the Heat will have to adjust to. The two teams are polar opposites. Indiana is made up of big, tough players while Miami has built their team with knock down perimeter shooters.

2. Size
Miami has an interesting roster when it comes to size. They don't have a true center and, at times, have to play LeBron James at the power forward position. Chris Andersen has given the Heat a boost and Chris Bosh has rebounded well in the postseason, but the Pacers have size in four different positions. Indiana starts three players that are 6'8" or taller and Lance Stephenson is 6'5" at the shooting guard position. While some of the Heat's wings have the height, they don't bring the physical presence that the Pacers will.

Indiana also brings Ian Mahinmi off the bench and he has provided a great rebounding presence and also stands just shy of 7'0". All that said, size alone will not beat the Heat. The Pacers must use it to their advantage and that means winning the battle of the boards and making shot opportunities for Dwyane Wade and James difficult. The Pacers led the NBA with 45.9 rebounds per game while the Heat were 30th in the league at 38.6. It's a mismatch that Indiana must exploit.

Stephenson, George and West will also be matched up against James and Wade for much of the series. They must use their size to alter shots and make it difficult to get off clean looks. However, this doesn't mean bodying them up on the perimeter because James and Wade are both quick enough to drive around all three.

3. Roy Hibbert and George Hill
Hill suffered a concussion in during the semi-finals series, but he was able to start in the decisive Game 6 and had a nice game of 12 points, five rebounds, four assists and a block in 42 minutes. He will have time off to continue his recovery and the Pacers need him at full strength. Obviously it's difficult to beat the Heat, but the way to do it is by winning the point guard battle and winning in the post. You can't beat them on the wings because there is no one as good as James or Wade. Hill is better than Mario Chalmers or Norris Cole and he must play like it. If Indiana does not take advantage of the positional matchups that they are better at then they have no chance.

That is precisely why Hibbert could be a difference-maker. The 7'2" center is going to be the biggest player on the floor all series long, but will he play like a man or a mouse. There are times he is dominant and there are times where he disappears. Indiana can't afford to have him disappear, whether that be foul trouble or poor play. The Pacers need him active and aggressive and they should feed him the ball repeatedly. Miami lacks depth inside so why not let the big man go to work?

Again, beating the Heat four times is a tall task, but the Pacers have the set of tools to get the job done. They were close last season and the stage is even bigger in 2013. Miami has hardly been tested in the postseason and they have, once again, had plenty of rest heading into this series. If they are rusty at all then the Pacers must jump on them in Game 1 like the Bulls did in the semi-finals. If they steal a game in Miami then they have a legitimate shot to win the series, but if not then expect a re-run of last year.