The Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers will square off for the first time tonight in Indianapolis since the Heat defeated the Pacers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last spring.
And yes, Paul George may have give LeBron James and Co. a little bulletin board material earlier when he said:
“The only thing they’ve got up against us is the hardware,” Paul George said. “I don’t think that team is that much better than us. I don’t know if we’re that much better than that team. I think we’re quite even.”
Or maybe it was two days ago, when George said that Kevin Durant is the toughest cover in the league?
In case you’re wondering: LeBron is currently posting averages of 25.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 6.3 APG compared to George’s 2425.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.4 APG.
Either way, the Heat have somehow gone from defending champs to having something to prove tonight. Please note, for some reason, the only game that could possibly draw attention in the Eastern Conference, will be broadcast nationally on NBATV.
And you know what, that’s OK.
Because in the big picture, this game means very little. It’s still football season and it’s a Tuesday night, relatively off the radar. Even if this game were to be broadcast on TNT or ESPN, it would likely not draw so huge a rating that it would make a difference.
The Heat and Pacers will finish as the top two seeds in the East, and are destined for an epic ECF rematch in the spring. Due to the dire state of the East, which has deflated some of the momentum the NBA carried into this season, this is not a very bold statement. Which is why, despite this being one of the more entertaining regular season matchups, it is not the news of the day of of Indy.
Because if we’re talking big picture here, we should be talking about reports that surfaced today announcing that Danny Granger hopes to make his season debut this Friday against the Charlotte Bobcats:
Pacers forward Danny Granger says there is “a good chance” he makes his season debut on Friday.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) December 10, 2013
Pacers Danny Granger said tonight’s game vs Miami was too important for their team and he might have returned tonight if game wasn’t as big
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) December 10, 2013
It would be great if Danny Granger could return to full health and give the Pacers that instant offense off the bench. It would be a perfect role for him at this stage in his career. But to expect anything more, well that would be unfair.
Granger has battled injuries for the majority of the last two seasons, and would be happy to give the Pacers anything he can at this point. He is a career 18 ppg scorer and an excellent long-range shooter that would be able to play with George for spurts and spell him off the bench.
The possibilities are endless for this Pacers team if they can integrate a healthy Granger back into the lineup.
Regardless of what happens tonight.
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