Indiana Pacers Face Pressure Test Tonight

The Indiana Pacers can control their own fate as far as the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and what better way to do that than to take out the Miami Heat in Miami. Right now, the Pacers already control the tiebreaker over the Heat, but a win tonight firmly plants them in the top spot with only a couple of games left.

I also believe it will be just like the last meeting of these two teams where the pressure is on the Pacers since they control their own destiny. I know Frank Vogel has shied away from talk about the top seed since other issues have rose, but to me, that top spot is still the most important goal for the Pacers.

All season, it’s been talked about, talked about, talked about, and talked about. The Heat have heard it. The NBA has heard it. Local media has heard it, so you can’t just get away from your goal as far as the Pacers are concerned. You want that top spot, you need to go out and get it.

I think as well Roy Hibbert has pressure on him to deliver. We’ve seen how well he can play against the Heat, but with all the talk he’s been doing, it’s time for him to shut the mouth and start playing.

Remember, he was the one that took a huge seat on the bench in that loss against Atlanta, so I’m very interested to see how he can bounce back from that. He’s an important guy that the Pacers know they can use to their advantage. Only three games left to get his game and head right.

Mentally, I do believe the starting five of the Pacers needed that rest against the Milwaukee Bucks. This was a team that had the pressure of being all around favorites of a lot of people. As a fan, I was talking up this team starting last summer, so you know, guys on this team heard all that talk.

Now, that pressure is back on the shoulders of the Blue and Gold. Win tonight, and you get the goal you’ve been talking about all year. It’s a goal that I think would help alleviate the collapse that we’ve seen. This team is still going to be judged in the postseason, so you want to take care of business now and show you’re ready for that next part of the season.