Profound, insincere apologies in advance for any tone of premature past tense here. The Heat and its loyalists who'll be howling in the home arena tonight surely don't concede that a 2-0 deficit in this best-of-7 NBA playoff series means Miami won't somehow rally to upset the Indiana Pacers.

It could happen. Absolutely. Likewise, Pamela Anderson could invite me out on a date, and my wife could say OK, no problem, and the date could go so well that a gift from Pam, a Lamborghini Murcielago (red, if possible), could appear in my driveway the next morning with a bow on it.

Sure, Miami would need to win all its home games in the series and then -- despite not having won a road game all season against a team with a winning record -- win at least one and possibly two road games against the team with the best record.

But stranger things have happened. Please let me know if you think of any.

While I'm waiting, I'm going to go ahead and speak as if the conclusion is foregone, if you don't mind. Or, even if you do mind.

I feel as if I am forging ahead with the eulogy despite constant interruptions from the deceased. But that's OK.

LOOKING AHEAD

This is a positive column with an upbeat message, actually.

Seriously, it is.

See, the Pacers, three years ago, were the Heat, right now.

Miami looks at its opponent in this series and sees itself.

Sees what it could become.

Indiana has won 67 of 88 games this season, including six straight by double figures in the playoffs -- a record. This is the best basketball team on Earth at the moment, until anybody else proves otherwise.

Three years ago, they were 42-40. Just like the Heat was this season.

Except that the Pacers were eliminated in the first round then, whereas Miami slugged past New Orleans to accelerate its basketball education.

Jermaine O'Neal was not Jermaine O'Neal three years ago. Lamar Odom, still ascending, could be Jermaine O'Neal.

Ron Artest was not Ron Artest three years ago. Caron Butler, same body, same game, could be Ron Artest.

Three years ago the Pacers were a .500-type team, and grew into this bona fide championship contender.

So can the Heat. But Miami must go through this first.

This learning.

This humbling.

This process of knowing what hunger feels like.

It is a natural, mandatory sequence, in this sport more than in others.

Nobody arrives in the NBA playoffs out of nowhere and sweeps through them. Dues are collected here. You don't grow without a measure of pain. Heck, even Michael Jordan had to lose first.

Veteran Memphis coach Hubie Brown, eliminated in four straight games by San Antonio in these playoffs, called it ''an invaluable experience'' for his team.

LEARNING FOR FUTURE

That is what this young, growing Heat bunch is getting -- earning -- through seven rugged games against the Hornets and now however many tests against the Pacers.

Miami's Stan Van Gundy -- who has proved how ready he was to be a head coach -- and coach-turned-president Pat Riley will learn from these playoffs as much as their players will.

Odom, Butler and brilliant rookie Dwyane Wade give the Heat such a strong, young nucleus around which to build. Guys like Rafer Alston and Udonis Haslem are valuable pieces of the overall effort and heart.

Miami will find a way to let go of fading Eddie Jones and limited Brian Grant to get what it needs more: a classic, big center for the low post, or a true point guard. Bear in mind that Indiana traded Dale Davis (!) to Portland to acquire O'Neal, because Portland thought it was a Brian Grant-type player from contending.

Strange things can happen.

And fast.

A year ago, the favored Pacers were humbled in a first-round playoff ouster, and now they are dreaming championship dreams.