3 reasons the Indiana Pacers will beat Miami Heat in playoffs

The Indiana Pacers will have their way if the NBA Playoffs carry on

The Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers had fierce playoff battles during the 2010s with Paul George, Roy Hibbert and company taking the Pacers to the cusp of the NBA finals in 2013 and 2014.

The 2020 Pacers could be in a position to enact revenge for those playoff losses to the Heat once the NBA reopens its season.

Although the regular season might be canceled because of COVID-19, the NBA could end the regular season and begin the playoffs this summer. These games might be played with no fans due to the bans on large crowds from local governments across the country.

The way the standings shake out now the Pacers and Heat would match up in the first round.

The teams have met twice thus far this season and the Pacers lost both games – with the Pacers playing without Victor Oladipo and Malcolm Brogdon for both games. Despite these two losses, the Pacers are in position to make some noise in the playoffs if the NBA season reopens.

Here are three reasons why the Pacers would defeat the Heat in a best of series.

Victor Oladipo would be present for Pacers

Without Victor Oladipo for the first two games against the Heat, the Pacers struggled against Miami’s backcourt.

Giving up 42 percent from beyond the arc in both games, Victor can help provide much-needed -perimeter defense on Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, and Tyler Herro.

Robinson’s 10-of-21 shooting on 3 pointers over both games is an area the Pacers have to address, and Oladipo can provide the answers.

With more time to heal from his injury, look for Oladipo to have a big series and provide some much-needed lockdown defense.

T.J. Warren will prove Jimmy Butler Wrong

It’s no secret that Jimmy Butler got the best of T.J. Warren the last time these teams faced off.

T.J. had an atrocious -24 and scored an abysmal 3 points.

Look for T.J. to have the offensive load taken off his shoulder with Brogdon and Oladipo returning.

T.J. has been the Pacers X-factor all season and the Pacers will need his reliable scoring and improved defense to beat the Heat.

Even if he doesn’t reach his average of almost 19 points per game, with one of the league’s best perimeter defenders in Jimmy Butler matching up with him, Warren will help tremendously if he reaches double figures for the Pacers.

Indiana Pacers frontcourt delivers

This series is the moment for Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis to prove that they can deliver in the big moments together.

Despite trade rumors, the Pacers have two young developing frontcourt stars in Turner and Sabonis that create matchup nightmares when clicking.

Sabonis can cap off his All-Star season with a statement matchup against one of the league’s best power forwards, Bam Adebayo.

The Pacers will need their big men to show up to have a chance at beating the talented Heat.

The Heat out-rebounded the Pacers by an astonishing 21 boards the first time the teams met.

Bam Abbayo grabbed 15 boards, totaling 2 more than what the Pacers got from Turner and Sabonis.

Controlling the paint and limiting offensive rebounds will be paramount for the Pacers. If Sabonis and Turner can provide some defense on Adebayo, who shot a combined 16-21 from both games the Pacers will have a great shot to win the series.