and 
game 5
Kickoff : 8:00pm Eastern Time
Join Desipio’s vastly over-staffed weekend crew for yet another Eastern Conference-centred Game Cast, this time featuring Dwyane Wade and his upstart Heat against the homesick Indiana Pacers. This Conference semi-final is currently locked 2-2, and as we have seen in the past 2 days, game 5’s have a habit of being astonishing contests.
Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Derek Fisher all hit what they believed were game winning shots at the SBC Center on Thursday night, the Lakers ultimately ending up victorious as they took what amounts to control of that series.
And then today, Detroit and New Jersey’s 4-hour, triple-OT thriller took everybody’s breath away, except for Latrell Sprewell who poured in 34 big points for Minnesota as they held serve in a physical encounter at home to go up 3-2 themselves.
So what does game 5 have in store for Indiana and Miami? Drop by tomorrow evening to find out.
Indy needs to watch JTinsley’s minutes, especially if he’s going up against Kidd in the next round.
With kickoff around 10 minutes away at the Conseco Fieldhouse, we take a look at tonight’s critical game 5.
Yesterday, and again today, talk has been about the wisdom of Miami running an ultra physical practice session in the leadup to this one. It’s certainly going to be an intense contest tonight, with Indiana desperate to show the Heat who’s boss, but beneath the importance of preparation for such an encounter is the media criticism of Stan Van Gundy jeopardising the health of his players.
According to AP:
"Wade was elbowed in the face by Wang Zhi-Zhi and Butler left with a sore hip after colliding with Brian Grant, who is nursing a dislocated finger on his right hand and a sore back."
Sure, you want to go in 100% fit, but you also want to be ready. Miami have refused to be intimidated in this series – and they’re sending a message. They’re tough, and they just may be tough enough to win game 5.
Miami have given Indiana’s usually potent defense fits in games 3 and 4, as they don’t use a traditionaly play-making PG formula, and they have 4 players who can legitimately score in double figures. If Rick Carlisle puts Ron Artest on Caron Butler, that leaves Reggie Miller on Eddie Jones.
Even so, the Heat haven’t won a road game this postseason. Indiana should be a class above them. Whether they play like it will be found out, tonight.
We’re off. Indy with the rock. Miami in red tonight.
Oh, Ron Artest blocked at the rim by Lamar Odom. The Heat, blocking shots.
Odom walks.
thanks JT.
Great pass by Tinsley, Foster open for a split second under the rim.
Foster needs to be more of a factor here. Indy playing very aggressive, attacking the rim in the opening minutes.
3-0 Indy.
Hello!
It’s 3-1 after the T.
Foster, nice play in the low block – guarded by Odom on the play.
Artest walked, but got away with it. Shooting foul, Wade to the line.
O’Neal makes the shot jumper, Brian Grant answers. Grant has been a real factor in this series.
It’s 7-5 Pacers.
the officials are all over this game tonight.
Caron Butler hits from the baseline, they give him a 2.
Miami take the lead – 9-7.
Ball out of bounds Indiana – 5 seconds left on the shot clock. Whoa, Foster hits the jumper now.
It’s 9-9.
Nice offensive sequence by Indy, but Tinsley bricks the open 3.
Goaltending, Reggier Miller attacking the rim now. It’s 11-9, Tinsley has 3 assists already.
I’ve made 2 baskets in the last 71+ minutes. Remember when I used to be clutch.
there’s some BS calls here. O’Neal had 2 offensive fouls.
and now we have a T.
On Reggie Miller’s syncopated bottom teeth.
Indy have a right to be agrieved by some of these very marginal calls, but they were the guys handing out flagrants in game 4 – they’ve set the tone, they must be able to play to it.
I’m in. How many points will I score tonight?
2, or 22, or anywhere in between.
Played all 6 minutes so far. 3 assists, 2 steals, 0 points.
Harrington buries the J after Eddie Jones converts the T. Again.
13-10 Indiana up.
Is Tinsley playing? I went right around him like he wasn’t there…
Harrington to the line. Gets his own miss, Indy re-set.
Artest draws the foul as he loses the ball out of bounds on the double-team. There’s one bail-out call they get back.
16-10.
Malik Allen, a factor. Bender’s in also. There’s 4 minutes to go.
Indy force-feeding Harrington, he misses this one.
Miami with the ball, down 4.
Wow, terrific move by Dwyane Wade off the drive.
Turnover Indiana.
nice adjustment by Carlisle, Foster guarding Odom tonight and Lamar yet to score.
Ind 16
Mia 14
2:57
How does Riles get a seat? Who’s sitting next to him – Mr Miyagi Snr?
Allen makes the open jumper, tied at 16.
with the jam.
Miami’s offense is what’s keeping them in this game. And series.
They can seemingly score whenever they need to.
In saying that; Odom 0-3 from the field.
I’m playing Center.
3-3, baby!
Miami lead 21-18, another defensive 3-second called.
Both teams with their bench as the quarter winds down.
21-19, after Croshere hits the T.
Jermaine O’Neal, 6 minutes, is going to be fresh later.
Odom loses the balls, but he called time and got away with it. Nice work, but that’s another 50-50 call.
I should play more.
We’re swarming.
End of the 1st quarter, Miami lead Indiana 21-19.
The Heat are doing a great job of cutting down Artest’s thinbking time with the ball. They rush him, they hassle him, they don’t let him stand there with it and tell his teammates where to move, like he was doing in the Boston series.
Miami are a nice, well balanced team. They look good here.
indy will win this though – they’ve got too much petrol.
Brian Grant hits to start the 2nd quarter. 23-19.
Rafer Alston in, Wade playing the 2 now.
Artest gets away with an elbow to Butler on the jump ball.
I’m back in.
Change of calls by the officials. Ball out of bounds to Miami – then Indy.
Need to score here.
Anthony Johnson, that’s his best play of the game so far. 23-22.
O’Neal from Bender.
Hit the Lead.
Indy playing with effort to start the 2nd, that’s a good sign.
Malik Allen scores again. Odom starts the quarter sitting down.
Miami 25-24, but Harrington with 2 from the line.
1st FT.
2nd FT.
Miami turn it over, Odom’s back in.
We have an Official’s Time Out.
Flyers 3
Lightning 2
final
Arsenal 2
Leicester 1
final
Miami missing some shots now.
It’s still 25-24, but the Heat have to be careful, momentum is all with Indy.
Jermaine scores at the rim. 4 Miami defenders in the paint as he puts it in.
by Miami.
Not working.
Both teams working hard on the offensive glass. Harrington to the line again.
Ind 28, Mia 25.
Tinsley back in, lots of energy.
Artest blows the lay-up, great pass by Jermaine. Odom misses again.
28-25.
Jermaine O’Neal : You called?
Rest of the Pacers : Yes!
White Socks down 3-1 to Minny, bottom 7th.
L Odom, 15 mins, 0-5 FGs, 0 points.
R Artest, 13 mins, 0-5 FGs, 2 points.
Miami’s offense bogged down right now. O’Neal makes such a difference, on both ends.
30-25, Indy up. Miami’s ball.
Wade, wow, through traffic, banks it home and the foul.
He did it.
Baldwin stunk out the joint early, the Mutts are playing cath-up against the left side of Clettitte.
Top 6
Ass-Trolls 5
Mutts 3
Harrington fades away and misses, then commits the foul fighting for the lose ball. That’s 2 on Harrington.
Miami down 2, Indy with it off the Malik Allen miss. Butler with the quick hands.
And Eddie Jones, wow, makes the 3. Miami back in the lead.
pizza on 2nd.
How are Miami doing this?
They just seem to get so much confidence with the ball in their hands.
They lead the Pacers 31-30, 4:10 to go in the 2nd.
Indy with it, Miller playing the point. Foster with the layup, he has 10 points.
Wade finds Jones to answer it back.
Screw you Dwayde, or whatever your damn name is, I can play this freakin game.
How do you spell your own name, chump!
Miller playing well here, but Foster on the glass is having an amazing night.
Indy up 2, 2:33 to play.
Now Tinsley gets the TO paid when he loses control of it.
Didn’t I go out like, in 1999?
Miller hits for 3.
38-33.
Crowd back into it.
Tinsley attacks on the not-a-fast-break break after the Eddie Jones miss.
And Tinsley penetrates and makes the floater. 40-33, Miami in trouble if they don’t score soon.
whoston 5
mutts 4
bot 6
Brian Grant’s Dreads answer with another J.
Miller runs right into Caron Butler and Butler gets called for the foul. That’s another one back for Indiana.
Miller to the line, 42-35.
That was ugly.
Miami shooting just 35% tonight.
Wade drives and goes to the line. makes 1, it’s 36-42.
23.3 seconds left, Indy will have the last posession.
Artest with the left-hand.
But Caron Butler heaves it at the buzzer, and it goes in.
This is unbelievable.
Indiana Pacers 44
Miami Heat 39
Ind 16-38 FGs, 10-14 FTs, 28 rebounds, 0 blocks, 7 turnovers.
Mia 15-36 FGs, 6-7 FTs, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks, 6 turnovers.
1. Get yaself a beer/red bull.
2. have a shave.
3. think about Lakers/Spurs game 6 later on.
LOdom, 0-6 fg, 9 reb, 1 ast, 2 to, 0 pts.
BGrant, 3-6 fg, 1 reb, 2 pf, 6 pts.
DWade, 3-6 fg, 4-5 ft, 5 ast, 10 pts.
EJones, 3-6 fg, 2-3 3s, 0 reb, 0 to, 10 pts.
MAllen, 4-6 fg, 2 reb, 2 pf, 8 pts.
JO’Neal, 4-9 fg, 3 reb, 0 blk, 2 pf, 9 pts.
JFoster, 5-5 fg, 9 reb, 0 blk, 1 pf, 10 pts.
RMiller, 2-3 fg, 1-1 3s, 2-2 ft, 2 ast, 0 to, 7 pts.
JTinsley, 2-4 fg, 6 reb, 5 ast, 2 stl, 2 to, 5 pts.
RArtest, 1-6 fg, 1 reb, 0 stl, 1 to, 1pf, 4 pts.
This game finely balanced, but it still looks as if this game is Indiana’s to lose.
The Pacers have so many weapons, and their starting backcourt has played well so far. Miami are showing a lot of guts, but they must play with a sustained intensity throughout this final 24 minutes. Otherwise, they could lose by double-digits.
Brian Grant makes another J.
Tinsley didn’t shave at halftime, obviously. Makes a tough layup, keeps the lead at 5.
Odom still being guarded by Jeff Foster who did a great job on him early.
46-41.
Welcome.
Foster from Tinsley. It’s 48-41.
Nice play by Odom, did well not to step on the baseline.
Now Miller with the runner, Indy looking confident. 50-43.
Eddie Jones with his 3rd foul.
And Foster with the jam from the Miller pass, he’s come alive tonight.
Timeout Miami.
I scored just 11 points through the first 4 games of this series.
I have 14 tonight.
Van Gundy ordering his players around out there, he has a rather squeaky voice.
45-52. Pacers with the lead, turn it over.
Whoo, another 3 second violation. This time on Lamar Odom, not having an enjoyable game.
f^%^&^ing personal *&3%ing foul.
O’Neal scores inside, and the lead is up to 9.
Wade trying to carry them here, Miami need to stay close.
Caron Butler, you can’t guard me.
Miller hits the first FT. And the 2nd.
Lead is 11.
Tough shot by Eddie Jones, being guarded by Tinsley – should have backed him down.
Wade crosses over, but misses at the rim.
Foster tips it in, he has 16 points and 11 boards. It’s a 13 point game, no timeout.
But Odom scores, and the foul.
you called?
Odom misses the foul, Heat down 58-47.
Very tough shot by O’Neal, these Pacers are strong.
They won’t lose this.
and now Artest with the fastbreak layup and the foul.
Tinsley has played terrific basketball tonight. He can’t guard Wade – but who can? – and he’s been a factor himself down the other end.
Ind 62
Mia 47
5:24 3rd
Minnesota 4
White Sox 1
final
Houston 7
NY Mets 4
Bot 8th
The lead is 15. Indiana far too strong and they have so many weapons. Miami, they’ve done a great job to have this series levelled at 2, but it looks like that’s as far as it goes.
Artest misses the FT.
Hey Skip, ever seen a jump-shooter fake a FG and draw a foul before?
When he makes these 2, the lead will be 17. Miller has 13.
Foster sits down, Harrington in.
Great defensive play by O’Neal, ever since he came back at the start of the 2nd this game has had a different feel.
Wade calls a 20-sec timeout after he gathers in the loose ball.
Indy.
Turn this game off.
Miller with the steal, and gets hit by Odom, very lucky that wasn’t a foul.
Another 3-sec violation. The refs have had a good game tonight.
Margin is still 17.
Now we have a Defensive 3-Second. Alston hits the FT, Miami finally make a score.
21 T’s this series.
Tinsley will sit down, that’s his 3rd.
Anthony Johnson in – not Kenny Anderson. You know the game’s over when Kenny A is a realistic option.
Odom scores, lead is 14.
Putback.
And the Foul.
Odom’s been scoring since Foster left the game, but it shouldn’t matter.
O’Neal makes the FT, has 16 points. Lead is 17.
Brian Grant the only Heat player even trying to rebound on the offensive end.
I’m playing shite.
It don’t matter Ron Ron.
2 mins left in the 3rd, might as well be the 4th.
Ind 67
Mia 50
Road Teams win 25% of Game 5’s.
Road Teams win 18% of Game 7’s.
O’Neal faces up on Grant, and drains it. 69-52.
Odom padding his stats now – he’ll end up with a double-double but don’t believe it.
…Thanks for that, TNT.
O’Neal missed them both, Miami in the penalty.
Alston with a dynamic but selfish play, Harrington with the score off the Anthony Johnson look. 71-54.
Last Indiana posession of the quarter, find Foster on the baseline, and he makes another field goal. That’s 9-9!
Miami can’t get a shot off, it’s 73-55 at the end of 3.
only question is, what will the margin be?
or, will Indy score 100 points?
Or perhaps _when_ will Indy hit 100.
I’d say the 2:12 mark.
Indy start the 4th with Bender, Croshere, Foster, Artest and I think it’s Anthony Johnson.
OH wow, Artest makes the 3 off the steal by Jeff Foster from Odom.
The lead is 23.
Indy won the first 2 games of this series by a combined 22 points. Then Miami won the next 2 by a combined 19.
This game looks like it will be a 20-point margin just in itself.
55 points on 38% shooting.
With 11 minutes left.
Miami, they’re a scoring team. When they can’t – or don’t – score, their game suffers dramatically.
Grant at the line off the Artest foul, 78-57 now. Grant’s played well tonight, but it hasn’t made a difference.
Bender should be subbed out shortly, he’s not even trying defensively.
Hey, I’ve scored again.
It’s 80-60, 10 minutes left.
Foster finally makes a mistake, he turns it over and Eddie Jones hits for 3.
Carlisle calls time.
What are my numbers now?
It’s 80-63, for the players and coaches, preparation for game 6 starts from now on.
Lakers and Spurs – that’s what the rest of us will be thinking about.
Lamar, you’re at 12 and 10 on 5 of 12 shooting and 3 turnovers.
All Miami starters have scored in double-figures except for Butler, 7 points on 2 of 7.
Bender didn’t sit, makes the 3 out of the timeout. Lead is back to 20.
Brian Grant still battling.
my crossover man, I’m T-Bug plus 3 inches
The officials still on top of this game. Butler contianed at the rim, but they give him the foul – don’t want anything to escalate.
Makes both, it’s 85-67 for the record.
KD, Anthony Johnson’s giving Tinsley lots of rest tonight. Jamaal just 24 minutes – 7 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 steals.
After Wade, defending Kidd might actually be relief.
Indy 44
Miami 24
That’s a 20-point margin in points and rebounds.
Odom, does anyone realise the guy is left-handed.
Foster finally misses.
u doing the lakers game?
0-0 after 1 in San Diego
OK, so now Tinsley’s back out there. Trying for a triple-double, obviously.
89-71.
Artest calling his own number here, like Odom, his numbers don’t count tonight.
Artest hits for 3, the crowd know it’s officially over.
Margin is 19, 3:22 to play.
Alou on 2nd.
Hollandsworth up.
No, we’re not doing Lakers/Spurs.
Kickoff there’s just moments away. They always have delayed starts in the Staples Center though, don’t they?
Miami’s FG% is up to 40%, but don’t be fooled by looking at the box-score – been worse than that tonight.
Miami will hope their luck at home doesn’t run out in game 6, but it doesn’t look good here.
They’re a fine team, but they shouldn’t have been able to defeat Indy in 2 games this series, let alone the 3 they’ll be aiming for.
bases loaded.
When was the last time the fans chanted my name?
2:12 coming up, Indy have just scored their 94th point… I’m 6 short.
Why hasn’t this Rasaul Butler guy been given prime playing time?
still playing, boyz. and the foul. 94-82.
Barrett sacrifice fly, it’s 1-0.
Hollandsworth on 3rd, Korey on 1st.
30 seconds left, Artest still shooting. Margin is down to 13. Carlisle still coaching. The announcers still talking it up.
Big Win Indy
94-83.
Indiana lead 3-2.
Emphatic win by Indiana, they were held for half the game by this gutsy Miami team that’s winning respect with every victory, but as well balanced as they are offensively they were out-classed tonight.
Jeff Foster epitomised the superior effort from the Pacers tonight, and that’s what got them over the line. It wasn’t a game of high physicality, but it was a game where enthusiasm and relentness on the boards and with the ball told the story.
Jermnaine O’Neal controls this team, but he doesn’t do it by himself. Foster, Miller and Tinsley all played substantial roles in this win, and Indiana still have some improviong to do.
Miami, their season might be over thanks to this display which gave Indy their confidence back.
Lakers Spurs next on TNT, I’m out.
Man, did I have a shitty night.