Post by Skip Bayless (Bball26 Analyst) on Jan 30, 2023 15:47:43 GMT -5
#2 Miami Heat (21-8) vs. #7 Indiana Pacers (17-12)
What a 2/7 matchup we have here in the East. Even without Zion, the Pacers have at least a puncher's chance in this matchup with a games advantage and 4 games from both CP3 and Harden. Miami beat everyone's expectations this season, but will need to overcome a 2 game Lauri week in round 1. Both teams had solid seasons, overcame injury issues throughout the year, but unfortunately one of them is hitting the showers after this week.
Let's start with Indiana. Harden has been everything and more that Indiana fans could've hoped for after bringing him over from the Hawks before the year. Then Jon went out and snagged CP3 on a huge deal to show that he was serious about competing. Zion was healthy for most of the year and looked great, but is going to be out for this week. And let's not overlook the recent surge of Sengun sans KPJ. Look, if this team was fully healthy, they might even be favored against the Heat this week, but without Zion this week Jon is going to need CP3 and Harden to come through. If CP3 can continue his torrid stretch of recent games of ~50 FPG with Harden dropping a 60 FP game here and there, the Pacers could be moving onto round 2 this time next week.
Coming into the year, expectations were tempered in Miami. A few weeks into the year, however, it was clear that Miami was going to be a problem. Lauri has no slowed down at all, Plumlee is top 20 in overall FP scoring, and Sanjul made a few mid-season trades to bolster the depth in the squad. The Heat had to battle through multiple injuries to Turner, Morant, and Ayton, but come into the playoffs completely healthy. As long as the squad plays up to their potential, the Heat should easily move into the next round. That being said, the Heat's room for error is smaller than you'd expect with only 33 games this week so he can't afford any slip ups.
Pacers X-factor: 4 game weeks from CP3 and Harden
Heat X-factor: No slip ups from studs with less games on the week
Caleb's pick: Heat
Tyler's pick: Heat
Sarge's pick: Heat
Skip's pick: Heat