Indiana Pacers lose Game-1 at the charity stripe; Looking to bounce back - NBA Update
The 1st game of Eastern Conference semi-finals between the Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat went right down to the wire. The thing that kept the Pacers at the arms length and consequently cost them the game was a poor
show from the charity stripe. They were only 71% for the game and were 3-for-8 in the final stanza.
In contrast Heat scored 9 more points from the foul line that resulted in the eventual 9 point lead, 95-86.
Pacers, one of the toughest defensive teams in the league, lived up to their reputation in the 1st quarter. Their physical defence kept them alive in the 1st quarter. But their toughness was put to test when
almost all of the first unit players got themselves into the foul trouble. Consequently Coach Frank Vogel had to rely upon the 2nd unit in the halftime.
Frank couldn’t get a handle at the situation and was infuriated. Paul George, Danny Granger and David West were given 2 fouls a piece in the 1st 24 minutes of the game.
“Our guys are fouling too much,” Vogel said after the game. “We are trying to be aggressive, but you can't be aggressive and foul unnecessarily. It hurts your rotation.”
For a brief moment the flagrant fouls did seem to work out for Pacers. They managed to maim Big Three, as Chris Bosh had to leave the game early in the 2nd frame due to abdominal strain. He was fouled by Roy Hibbert
while executing a dunk.
They ousted Chris but couldn’t stop LeBron James and Dwayne Wade. The duo took charge of the things and clawed off the 6 points 1st half deficit. They both combined for 20 points in the 3rd and James went
on to score 20 points in the 4th. They duo were also 10-for-10 from the free throw line in the 4th, outscoring Pacers 25-16 in the decisive frame.
This was a case that was clearly decided on the number of free throws. But Indiana maintained that Miami got the benefit of too many calls.
But nor did the coach and the team went on to protest about that. The reason was obvious Frank Vogel was fined with $15,000 just a day before for what was declared as manipulating the referees. By calling Heat NBA’s biggest flopping
team.
David Stern, NBA Commissioner personally took notice of the incident and said that he would have fined him more.
“I would have fined him a lot more than our office did.”
So the Pacers rightfully though to keep their mouth shut and save their money.
However guard George Hill protested in what can be said sugar coated way.
“It's unfortunate,” Hill said, making sure to avoid addressing the way the game was officiated. “No comment on that. We saw what everybody else saw. We know. Y'all know. The whole world knows. Sometimes, you just have to keep what
you're thinking to yourself.”
If this was their game plan to handle Heat by flagrant fouls then it has clearly failed. They will have to come up with a different strategy that doesn’t include fouls.
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