Mirror images? Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat take up similar paths to the top

LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat controls the ball against Paul George #24 of the Indiana Pacers on March 10, 2013 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida.

The Western Conference has been nothing short of impressive this year- CP3 and the Clippers, Steph Curry and Golden State, the three-point, made-for-TV barrage that is Phoenix. Rather unfortunately, the East as a whole has looked tame, in comparison. Nobody however, is planning on ignoring the top two teams: the Indiana Pacers and the Miami Heat.

Racing for the top seed, it’s easy to see the fundamental differences between the two. Miami’s offense is explosive, while Indiana’s defensive is suffocating. Indiana has built its team through small acquisitions and player development, while Miami’s legendary summer of 2010, which brought Chris Bosh and LeBron James to South Beach, exemplifies their strategy. What is being overlooked, however, are the subtle similarities between the two, commonalities which will become clear in the coming weeks, in anticipation of what seems like an inevitable showdown in the Conference Finals. Let’s take a deeper look.

Star Small Forwards

This is probably the most obvious comparison of all. LeBron James and Paul George are two of the finest players in the game, regardless of position, and virtually every basketball fan awaits matchups between the two. George was a point guard coming from Fresno State, but his towering 6’10″ frame allows him to defend just about anyone. Combine that with a great rim game and streaky outside shooting and you have a dangerous young weapon. LBJ is in the running for greatest of all time; he combines height with freakish speed and refined technique. He can win in primetime too; he now has two Finals trophies which so eluded him during his run in Cleveland. Say what you want about their different styles; it’s clear that both are at the top of their game.

Blue-Collar Coaching

Frank Vogel and Erik Spoelstra are two of the best young minds in the NBA, and each has brought a hard-nosed style to his respective franchise. During his time as a student at Kentucky, Vogel persisted until Wildcats coaches appointed him as student manager. He then worked his way up the ranks of assistant coaching until landing a job in Indiana. He has since turned around a franchise which had not taken a trip to the Finals since the Reggie Miller era. Erik Spoelstra started as a video coordinator in Miami, and in a series of unanticipated in-house promotions, made his way to the top in unconventional fashion. Both Vogel and Spoelstra use their basketball roots – one a tenacious outsider as a student and the other a meticulous staffer as a video man – to inspire their teams.

Win-Now Attitude

The Pacers and Heat are inundated with talent, but nothing lasts forever. D-Wade, LeBron and Bosh can choose to exercise their one-year options, but if they don’t, they hit free agency. It’s unlikely that LeBron will pack his bags; he is the finest player in the game and can make South Beach his personal playground, recruiting whomever he chooses. On the other hand, Bosh and Wade may be tired of playing second fiddle and will certainly receive enticing offers elsewhere. Indiana has to re-sign impending free agent and absolute revelation Lance Stephenson while simultaneously keeping their eye on the contracts of Paul George and Roy Hibbert; the latter has played exceptionally well this season despite some rough spots. Both teams are certainly stacked as the playoffs come around, but both also need to focus on making the best of this opportunity, and the urgency is on.

There is no promise that the Eastern Conference Finals will feature the Heat and Pacers. Perhaps Carmelo and the Knicks outplay Miami and Indiana, or perhaps the winner of the eight-seed battle shocks everyone. However, nobody doubts the supremacy of Indy and the Heat. What should not be in doubt, though, is that these two rivals are really not so different.