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Heat off Pacers as they await next team
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-20 09:46
Jermaine O'Neal didn't have to score a bunch of points to leave his mark on
the most important game of Indiana's season.
Indiana
Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal goes up to block a shot by Miami Heat's Lamar
Odom, right, during Game 6 of the teams' Eastern Conference semifinal
series Tuesday, May 18, 2004, in Miami. The Pacers eliminated the Heat
from the playoffs with a 73-70 win. [AP] | With the Miami Heat bearing down on him in the post all game long,
O'Neal scored just seven points and shot 2-for-10 in Game 6 on Tuesday night.
But he grabbed 13 rebounds and had three blocked shots, including a huge one
in the closing minutes to help the Pacers advance to the Eastern Conference
finals.
With the Heat surging and the Pacers clinging to a 71-67 lead, Miami forward
Caron Butler elevated along the baseline for a dunk. But O'Neal swooped down the
lane and emphatically blocked the would-be slam, and the Pacers held on for the
win.
O'Neal had to leave the game briefly after being poked in the eye by Butler
on the play, but returned in time to force Eddie Jones into an airball as the
shot clock wound down, setting up two crucial free throws from Anthony Johnson
with 14.7 seconds to play.
"I'll take a game like this all day, scoring seven points, blocking a couple
of shots, getting some rebounds and getting the win," O'Neal said after the
73-70 win. "That's what it's about. A championship team does that."
Game 1 of the conference finals is Saturday in Indianapolis. The Pacers will
face the winner of the New Jersey-Detroit series, which concludes with Game 7 on
Thursday night in Detroit.
Becoming the first team to win a game in Miami since Toronto way back on
March 2 seems to have galvanized the Pacers, who say they are more united than
ever heading into their first conference finals since 2000.
"Heading into this series, people predicted a sweep, but we knew it was going
to be much tougher than that," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "As the series
went, some people bailed out on us. Most people predicted Miami to win (Tuesday)
night's game and there was no reason not to. The challenge was to stare the
great challengers in the face — and that is this building, their team — and to
find a way."
Said O'Neal: "That's what it's going to take for us to get out of the Eastern
Conference and get to the NBA Finals (news - web sites)."
O'Neal's performance was a microcosm of the Pacers' season. While struggling
on offense, he did so many other things to contribute, and got help from his
teammates to produce a victory.
Ron Artest led the way with 27 points and Reggie Miller added 15 after
scoring a combined seven points in Games 3 and 4 in Miami.
"You have to put forth an above-and-beyond-type effort, especially on the
road," Miller said. "We are finding ways to win ballgames."
In doing so, the Pacers have gained two significant advantages over their
opponent in the next round.
First, by winning an NBA-best 61 games during the regular season, the Pacers
will have homecourt advantage in the next series and the NBA Finals, should they
advance. Indiana has won 13 straight at Conseco Fieldhouse, including all five
playoff games.
The Pacers also will have three days to rest and prepare for Game 1, while
the Pistons or Nets will have just one day.
Indiana did not practice on Wednesday, but O'Neal said before Game 6 against
Miami that having an extra day or two to prepare while the Pistons and Nets slug
it out would be ideal.
"Having a couple days to break a team down, seeing what their strengths and
weaknesses are, that's perfect for us," O'Neal said. "It's set up perfect for
us. We have to take full advantage of it."
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