For the first time in a series that could have overwhelmed them from the start, the Indiana Pacers looked lost in Game 7 against the Miami Heat on Monday night. The defending champions rolled to yet another NBA Finals with a 99-76 win at AmericanAirlines Arena.

The Pacers led 21-19 after the first quarter, but had nine turnovers in the opening frame as the Heat attempted 28 shots. Miami shot 28.6 percent in the first, but stepped up to hit 45.8 percent of their attempts over the remainder of the game.

Miami took over in the second quarter. They outscored the Pacers 33-16 while going 10-for-17 from the field, including 4-for-8 from deep, and a perfect 9-for-9 from the foul line. Indiana committed six turnovers, giving them 15 for the first half, and after dominating the boards in Game 6 they corralled just four rebounds in 12 minutes. They didn't rebound any of their nine missed shots in the period.

Indiana didn't immediately fold after the half, trading buckets with Miami for a stretch, but they couldn't get closer than 12 and the lead ballooned to 76-55 heading into the fourth. They simply couldn't score enough and the struggles were exacerbated by foul trouble for the first time in the series.

Paul George and Roy Hibbert were both limited by fouls in the second half, forcing Frank Vogel into some tough decisions. It's a little early to disrespect this season by looking at the offseason, but adding to the bench (in conjunction with the supposed return of Danny Granger) will do wonders for Indiana's ability to push to the next level and win more often coming from behind.

A majority of the talk heading into Game 7 centered on whether LeBron James would have to take over -- or if Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh would produce enough for the Heat to survive a significant scare from the Pacers.

Wade did enjoy his best game of the series -- 21 points on 7-for-16 shooting and nine rebounds -- but ultimately the LeBron didn't need any help. James had an effortless 32 points and eight rebounds on 17 shots. He went 15-for-16 from the line as Erik Spoelstra focused on blitzing the paint consistently for the first time in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Bosh struggled yet again, going 3-for-13 from the field, but he had eight rebounds and presented enough of a threat to help spread out Indiana's defense.

The Pacers were strong in terms of field goal defense, holding Miami to 39.1 percent shooting, but didn't work hard enough on the defensive glass (15 offensive rebounds for the Heat). Indiana was also crushed at the foul line as Miami was the aggressor from the opening tip. The Heat were a tremendous 29-for-32 from the line.

Paul George Shrinks

Just 48 minutes from what would have been just the second NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, Paul George needed to at least battle LeBron James on the game's biggest stage. Instead, the first-time All-Star had easily his worst performance of the playoffs when his team needed him most.

George, who fouled out, went 2-for-9 from the field (seven points) with seven rebounds and four assists. He had just two points and an assist in the second half.

He was dominated by LeBron, which happens to the best of this generation, and must once again look to a series loss to the Heat for ways to improve. If he is as hungry as he seems, George should watch Game 7 on repeat.

Moving to his natural position of shooting guard, if Danny Granger does play another game for the Pacers, and adding some strength to his upper body are relatively easy fixes that would work wonders. He is such a great defender and a few additional pounds will only help him try to contain the LeBrons of the league.

George should also continue to work on both his jump shot and ball-handling skills.

Turnovers

The Pacers are far from polished offensively, but 21 turnovers are obviously far too many. Miscues on that end of the floor only help the opposing team get high-percentage shots, especially when they are of the live-ball variety. Indiana has an elite half-court defense and they want to employ it as much as possible.

There has been some talk about the Pacers looking for an additional ball-handler after George Hill struggled under any sort of pressure in the postseason. That seems like a knee-jerk reaction, given Hill's size and the commitment they made to him last summer. He could have played better, especially in this series, but he's 27 and Indiana doesn't need him to be an elite point guard. Also, if he was used in a three-guard lineup alongside George and someone else, he'll be undersized and that would remove Indiana's vital size advantage in the shrinking NBA.

David West led the club with six turnovers on Monday night and while not all where his fault, the offense itself struggled with ball control because Miami did such a great job defensively. For a majority of the first half, and part of the third, the Pacers had a difficult time simply initiating the offense inside 30 feet.

Where They Won, They Lost

The recipe for success was simple for the Pacers through the first six games, dominant in the paint and on the glass and at the very least they'd have a chance to win in the final moments.

Miami hit Indiana where it hurt in the deciding game, drawing even in points in the paint. The Heat led 28-16 in that category through three quarters before the Pacers were able to scuff it up a bit with the game decided. The defending-champions also had a +7 rebounding edge, including a 15-8 advantage on the offensive glass. Miami outscored Indiana 17-4 in second-chance points.

Help For LeBron

LeBron didn't need much help, but did have more support with the season on the line. Wade had his first 20+ point performance since Game 2 of Miami's first round series against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Norris Cole and Ray Allen also provided a nice punch off the bench, allowing the Heat to increase their lead in the second quarter when LeBron got a short rest. The duo combined for 18 points on just 10 shots. Allen's 3-for-5 performance from deep was especially encouraging with the NBA Finals approaching. He shot 26.8 percent from three in his previous 11 playoff games.

The Indiana Pacers took the floor for Game 6 against the Miami Heat on Saturday night with a simple goal. Win and force a deciding seventh game. Lose and the season would be over.

In a role reversal of what took place two nights earlier, the Pacers dominated the third quarter to take control of the game and remain alive. They outscored the Heat 29-15 in the third period, taking a 68-55 edge in the fourth.

Searching for an answer, Erik Spoelstra put Mike Miller into the game and we nearly witnessed another out-of-nowhere Mike Miller Game. He forced a turnover and then hit back-to-back threes to bring Miami to within 70-64 with 8:11 left.

David West, slowed by an upper respiratory infection, hit a 17-foot jumper about a minute later and the Heat never again got as close. After Miami used a 13-2 run to trim Indiana's lead to six, the Pacers responded with a 9-0 spurt to seal the 90-77 victory.

This series has been one for the ages, with just a single blowout and more than a handful of big-time playoff moments. As good as the first six games have been -- the outcomes no longer matter. It will all be on the line in Miami on Monday night.

The Heat were without Chris Andersen, who was suspended for a hit on Tyler Hansbrough in Game 5, but received good production from Joel Anthony. He has trouble finishing offensively, but had eight rebounds and three blocks. The problem? He didn't have a single rebound in 15 second-half minutes.

Miami might have missed Andersen's energy though, as LeBron James and Norris Cole were the only players on the team with any sense of urgency. They were 24 minutes from the NBA Finals, but seemed to lean on the fact that they had a Game 7 coming at AmericanAirlines Arena.

West was a step slow as you might expect. He was 0-for-7 in the first half, but waved off Frank Vogel when the coach looked to pull him. He had eight rebounds despite his struggles in the first two quarters and finished with 11 points and 14 boards.

The common refrain is that the Heat have all the pressure on their shoulders in Game 7, but that is not the case. The Pacers are very aware that they are one game away from the NBA Finals and that's as big a burden as anything else.

Hill Responds, Stephenson Up-And-Down

The Pacers needed a good game from George Hill and he responded with 16 points and six assists. He was much more aggressive than in Game 5, after which he admitted he was sort of just watching his teammates make plays on the road.

Lance Stephenson made an impact on the game, but still isn't scoring. In the last two games, he has scored a total of eight points on 3-for-11 shooting. He did a lot of little things on Saturday night though, grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing four assists. I wrote after Game 5 that Indiana would need around 20 points and 10 rebounds from the duo to force a seventh game.

Hill and Stephenson combined for 20 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists and a steal (six turnovers). The stakes are now higher and Frank Vogel is going to need both players to score to win again down in South Beach.

Hibbert's Growth

He has been talked about a lot, but I haven't really dedicated much space to Roy Hibbert in my coverage of this series. He was phenomenal again in a must-win game, leading the way with 24 points, 11 rebounds and a blocked shot. Hibbert is such an intimidating presence in the paint that he isn't getting a chance to reject as many shots as he did during the regular season. His impact is much greater than his numbers in that respect, as it has been all season.

Hibbert grabbed five offensive rebounds, helping the Pacers outscore the Heat 14-5 in second-chance points. Another great night from the field (11-for-20) allowed the Pacers to win the paint battle 44-22 despite all missed layups and dunks they suffered in the first half.

It was obvious heading into the series that Hibbert was the key to Indiana's success, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone that was willing to predict he would be this consistently dominant. After signing a huge contract last summer, his numbers improved from poor to decent to good as the regular season progressed.

Hibbert took his game to another level in early rounds against the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks, but has shifted to an undiscovered gear against the defending champions. He is averaging 22.8 points and 10.8 rebounds on 55% shooting against Miami's smaller frontline.

He has always had this in him, but his affable personality seemed to prevent him from putting his talent on full display. He's almost unrecognizable from the player the Pacers acquired in 2008 and deserves credit and acclaim for all the hard work he has put in over the last five years.

Miami Cavaliers

Reggie Miller had some fun on the TNT broadcast when he referred to the Heat as the Miami Cavaliers, but in reality LeBron James may have to put the team on his back (like his days back with Cleveland) if they are going to face the San Antonio Spurs and for an opportunity to win their second consecutive NBA title.

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have floated in-and-out of this series and were historically bad in Game 6. They combined to shoot 4-for-19 from the field and had 15 points and six rebounds between them. Ernie Johnson reported during the TNT postgame show that it was the lowest scoring total for the pair since they became teammates prior to the 2010 season.

Overall, Miami struggled to score. They scored 77 points on 36.1 percent shooting (a season low, regular or playoffs) after putting up 70 points in the first half alone last Sunday. If you remove LeBron's shooting line (10-for-21), the Heat shot 31.4. Oddly enough they made six of their first seven three-point attempts and finished 10-for-18 (55.6 percent) from deep. That means they shot 29.6 percent on two-pointers.

Aside from the first quarter when Miami caught fire from long range, the Pacers did a good job of closing out on shooters and clogged the paint enough to prevent penetration until the fourth quarter when LeBron decided it was time to put his head down and try to at least earn a trip to the foul line. There will be more of that in Game 7 as both teams look to impose their will.

After a strong first half, the Indiana Pacers went cold in the third quarter and fell into a hole they would never climb out of against the Miami Heat. A 90-79 loss on Thursday night in Game 5 leaves the Pacers with the unenviable task of having to win back-to-back games against the defending champions to extend their season.

Indiana played well enough to win in the first half, leading 44-40 after 24 minutes. They led by seven at one point and shot 51.4 percent from the field. There were some telling signs though. They turned the ball over eight times in the first two quarters. The Pacers finished with 17 miscues, which the Heat turned into 22 points.

The battle on the glass was also too close for Indiana's liking. They were just +3 at the half and Miami had nearly twice as many second-chance points. That would become a theme in the loss.

The game was tied 53-53 with 5:15 left in the third when the Heat ripped off the type of run that championship clubs are known for -- a 17-4 spurt that gave them a 70-57 advantage going into the final period.

After Paul George made a jumper to give the Pacers a 53-51 lead, Miami made eight of their next nine shots. Udonis Haslem, the hero in Game 3, caught fire yet again. He hit shots on three consecutive possessions during the run and finished with 16 points on 8-for-9 shooting.

Over that same stretch, the Pacers missed all five shots they attempted and committed two turnovers. Their only points came at the foul line, where they went 4-for-6 in the final three-and-a-half minutes of what turned out to be the deciding quarter.

Frank Vogel's club just didn't step up to the task late at AmericanAirlines Arena. They were ultimately too careless with the basketball and just sluggish overall. With 17 minutes left, they played to an even draw with the Heat but they didn't have enough to put themselves in position to win.

They didn't go down without any sort of fight, scoring the first five points of the fourth. However, the deficit was too big against Miami's tough defense. George canned an 18-footer to cut the lead to eight with more than nine minutes left, but the teams traded buckets for the next several possessions. When they desperately needed stops, the Pacers couldn't contain the Heat.

More On The Third

The third quarter decided the game. The Heat outscored the Pacers 30-13 and thoroughly outplayed them in all facets. Miami went 13-for-18 (72.2 percent) from the floor, 3-for-6 from three, grabbed nine rebounds and committed just one turnover. They assisted on eight of their 13 made field goals.

Conversely, the Pacers shot 3-for-14 (21.4 percent), grabbed just one offensive rebound despite 11 misses, were outrebounded by three in total and their five miscues led to nine easy points for the Heat.

The most bizarre part of the discrepancy was that despite Miami's overwhelming advantage, they only dominated a little more than five minutes.

Absent Backcourt

You know David West and Roy Hibbert are going to produce in this series, but Frank Vogel still needs something from his guards. George Hill and Lance Stephenson, who played significant roles in the Game 4 win on Tuesday night, logged 65 empty minutes in the most important game of the season.

Hill was 0-for-4 from the field, scoring his only point at the foul line. He had four assists and three steals, but committed three turnovers. The ball is safer in his hands than anyone else on the court, but Hill has had major control issues against the duo of Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole.

Stephenson was Bad Lance again. He had just four points on 2-for-7 shooting, including a few more bricks to add to his foundation. His three rebounds aren't terrible for a guard, but he was averaging 7.7 boards in the postseason heading into Game 5. Stephenson also had three turnovers and fouled out in just 28 minutes.

The Pacers can win without Hill and Stephenson exploding, but they at least need steady production from the pair. If West/Hibbert produce at their expected rate and Paul George doesn't stink Bankers Life Fieldhouse up, Hill/Stephenson need a combined line of around 22 points,10 rebounds and a few steals for Indiana to force a Game 7.

Haslem Strikes Again

Ray Allen is stilling searching for a rhythm, Shane Battier's biggest contribution has been hitting the floor and Chris Andersen had just four rebounds, but the Heat won because of a familiar unsung hero.

Udonis Haslem made eight of the nine shots he attempted to give LeBron all the help he needed to push Miami to within a win of a date with the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.

The Heat shot 50.7 percent on Thursday night, but players not named LeBron or Udonis were just 17-for-40 (42.5 percent).

Dwyane Wade continues to look older than his 31 years (3-for-8, three turnovers), but this team can get by with him as their fourth-highest scorer. That's scary news for the Pacers (and Spurs).

Use The Advantage

The size advantage the Pacers have over the Heat has been well-documented. The frontline of George, West and Hibbert matches up extremely well against Miami's smaller roster. That's by design and they must hammer the glass much harder on Saturday night with their backs against the wall.

They outrebounded Miami by just one and had the same number of offensive rebounds (6). That is unacceptable, especially when West and Hibbert aren't hampered by fouls and Andersen, Haslem and Chris Bosh combine for just 12 rebounds.

After making it a point of emphasis following Game 4, the Heat did a great job of keeping Hibbert off the glass. He played 40 minutes, but had just six rebounds. He had six offensive rebounds the last time out. Hibbert was once again dominant offensively, scoring 22 points on 8-for-14 shooting, but Indiana needs him to clean up missed shots more than they need him to make his own.

George Snaps Out Of It

After two poor offensive performances, Paul George asserted himself to the tune of 27 points. He was efficient in doing so, making 11 of his 19 shots (including five threes) to go along with 11 rebounds and five assists. He did turn the ball over five times though. George is averaging four miscues per game in the playoffs.

It was a bit troublesome that George failed to attempt a free throw, but he did drive to the rim and his jumper was working. There were few fewer fouls called in Game 5 than we have become accustomed to in this series. Perhaps David Stern got on the horn with his officiating staff. There were 30 fouls whistled on Thursday night after Game 4 saw 55 fouls called.

The five threes were the most George has made in these playoffs and he nearly matched his shot attempts from the last two outings. He was a combined 7-for-20 in Games 3 and 4.