ESPN.com presents Heat Index http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat 60 en-us Sat, 25 May 2013 21:50:07 webmaster@espn.go.com http://assets.espn.go.com/i/espn/teamlogos/lrg/trans/espn_dotcom_black.gif 110 110 MIAMI -- As LeBron James walked onto the makeshift stage late Friday to take his seat at the postgame news conference, he plucked the edge of the stat sheet he held. In reality, the summary of numbers on the page was of little to no use for the Miami Heat star. The important figures were already downloaded and analyzed in his head. The 36 points James scored in Game 2 of the Heat's playoff series against the Indiana Pacers marked the eighth time in his past nine conference finals games he's scored at least 30.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/17791/turnovers-doom-lebron-heat-down-stretch Sat, 25 May 2013 02:58:54 EDT 17791 ]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/17786/heat-reaction-game-2-vs-pacers Fri, 24 May 2013 23:44:33 EDT 17786 AP Photo, Getty Images Roy Hibbert explains why the Miami Heat are more difficult to guard than the New York Knicks. MIAMI -- It must be weird to be Roy Hibbert these days. On Friday morning at the Indiana Pacers' Game 2 shootaround at AmericanAirlines Arena, he sat at a plush courtside seat with cameras, microphones and tape recorders jammed into his face. For several minutes, he fielded a barrage of questions about another player kneeing him in the groin area.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/17778/hibbert-explains-the-heat-conundrum Fri, 24 May 2013 14:25:26 EDT 17778 NBAE/Getty ImagesLeBron James and Paul George both made big plays in Game 1.MIAMI -- Paul George will never forget that moment in 2009 when, as a skinny 19-year-old, he found himself guarding the reigning NBA Most Valuable Player in a pickup game. Every year, LeBron James hosts the top high school players in the country at a Nike-sponsored camp. Many top college players are also there as “counselors.” In reality, it’s a recruitment fest for college coaches and a chance for Nike to develop ties with talent they one day may try to hire as endorsers.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/17770/george-vs-lebron-nbas-next-great-rivalry Fri, 24 May 2013 08:14:33 EDT 17770 MIAMI -- Before the Miami Heat try to take a 2-0 series lead Friday in the Eastern Conference finals against the Indiana Pacers, Chris Bosh had a confession to make about the closing seconds of his team's overtime win in the opener. He was never an option. Not even close. At least not on the final play. When LeBron James caught the inbound pass with 2.2 seconds left and drove for the buzzer-beater layup that downed the Pacers 103-102 in Game 1 on Wednesday, Bosh wasn't the Heat's second, third or fourth go-to player.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/17756/boshs-versatility-causes-dilemma-for-indy Thu, 23 May 2013 23:31:07 EDT 17756 ]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/17751/heat-reaction-game-1-vs-pacers Thu, 23 May 2013 00:14:28 EDT 17751 NBAE/Getty ImagesHow much can the Heat expect from Dwyane Wade against the Pacers?MIAMI -- Making peace with the pain continues to be a precipitous work in progress for Dwyane Wade. But even as the Miami Heat star drags his troublesome right knee into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers, Wade no longer bothers with optimistic hopes and expectations. He acknowledges the multiple bruises that have been a nuisance the past two months will no doubt continue to slow him.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/17733/banged-up-d-wade-fights-on-for-miami Wed, 22 May 2013 11:14:12 EDT 17733 Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images Don't be surprised if LeBron James breaks out his floater against Roy Hibbert and the Indiana Pacers. MIAMI – For the past several weeks, LeBron James has finished up his daily routine at practice by shooting free throws with Ray Allen. Every practice, same thing. But on Tuesday, things were different. A day ahead of their Eastern Conference finals matchup against Roy Hibbert and the Indiana Pacers, James was at his normal basket at the Miami Heat’s practice court, but Allen was on another hoop, practicing his 3-point shot on his own.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/17709/the-imminent-return-of-the-lebron-floater Tue, 21 May 2013 18:56:16 EDT 17709 Mike McGinnis/Getty ImagesThe addition of Chris Andersen in February improved the Heat's ability to combat Indiana's size. MIAMI -- Erik Spoelstra is already in adjustment mode. The Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers don't play Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals until Wednesday, but the Heat's coach is tweaking at least the narrative entering the best-of-seven series to advance to the NBA Finals. At one point while facing a series of questions about the improvements the Pacers have made since they lost 4-2 to the Heat in last year's conference semifinals, the Miami coach countered with a progress report on his own team.]]> http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post/_/id/17699/heats-case-for-improvement-strong-too Tue, 21 May 2013 10:48:24 EDT 17699 In the 2011-12 playoffs, the Indiana Pacers were the team that forced the Heat to implement Erik Spoelstra’s title-winning vision. If Chris Bosh’s injury was the fuse, the size of the Pacers provided the gunpowder to make it all happen. Spoelstra’s big plan? Go small, space the floor and slay the opponent with speed. It was unconventional, but it worked. The Heat countered the Pacers’ enormous stature up front (David West and Roy Hibbert) by going in other direction -- align Shane Battier or LeBron James at the nominal 4 while playing only one traditional big man.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/miamiheat/post?id=17692 Mon, 20 May 2013 11:23:50 EDT 17692