Miami Heat hot enough to put Indiana Pacers in place

The Indiana Pacers flattered to deceive in Game 3. Gregory Shamus / Getty Images

Did those Indiana Pacers fool you? Get your hopes all up, make you believe they were the team that could take down the mighty Miami Heat?

Do not feel silly, there was a long line of those thinking with their hearts when looking at the Eastern Conference finals.

The Pacers played the Heat tough, very tough their first two games in Miami. They won the second game, and probably should have won the first, too.

Alas, all they really served to do was to wake up the Heat. Get them all serious and determined.

So Miami came out and just whipped the Pacers in Indiana in Game 3 on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-seven series. Scored 70 points in the first half.

Those wanting any team not named the Heat to capture the NBA title, please note: The Heat have not lost consecutive games in almost five months. That is a pretty staggering statistic.

"Losses have an amazing property for us," said Heat forward Shane Battier said. "It cleans the wax out of our ears."

Suppose that is a good thing.

Listen, the Heat are a great team. They know it, too. They have three superstars and have advanced to the past two NBA Finals. So maybe they need a little push to play their best. The Pacers provided it.

"Sometimes, you have to know that you can get beat," said Heat centre Chris Bosh. "We never want to lose in a series or lose home-court advantage, but sometimes, that's what we need."

And now they have left the Pacers in need.

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