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INDIANAPOLIS -- Out of common sense and tradition, the Miami Heat must apply a moderate public face as they wait to see who their opponent will be in the Eastern Conference finals. But, to a man, there is no contest.

If the Boston Celtics are able to add another home Game 7 victory to their record books when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night, the Heat will likely welcome the challenge and talk about how this is how it should be. The past champion Celtics making (probably) one final run and going against the Heat again, the fourth time LeBron James would see them in his postseason career, and No. 3 for Dwyane Wade. That certainly is what the Heat are likely preparing themselves for and perhaps even expecting when Game 1 of the conference finals arrives Monday night in Miami.

But honestly, the Heat will not be rooting for the Celtics on Saturday. It may have less poetry and glamour, but the Heat most likely would much rather see the 76ers pull the upset.

It is true that the 76ers are younger, more athletic, deeper and healthier than the Celtics at this point. But the Heat have dominated Philadelphia like no other team in the East over the past two seasons; the two teams have played 12 times, including the first round of last year’s playoffs. Eleven times the Heat have won, including sweeping this season's series 4-0.

The Heat haven’t beaten Boston since the first week of the season back in late December in their home opener. The Celtics are 3-0 against Miami since, though the last meeting was in the final week of the season and neither team played its full lineup. Boston beat the Heat twice in a two-week span in April as Rajon Rondo exploited them in both games. Even with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce limping and Avery Bradley out for the season, it’s not a comfortable matchup for the Heat.

Meanwhile, Miami used the 76ers like an elixir, beating them coming off losses all four times. The Heat held what proved to be a pivotal early-season team meeting on Philly’s own practice court. The last time the teams played, also in April, the Heat gave Wade the night off to rest ahead of a big game with Oklahoma City and won anyway.

James averaged 29.2 points against the 76ers during the regular season, his second-highest average against East playoff teams, and shot a cool 60 percent in the four games. As a team, the Heat averaged 99 points and shot 50 percent against the 76ers, winning the four games by an average of nearly 14 points.

The 76ers, meanwhile, averaged just 85.5 points against Miami this season, the fewest they averaged against any East team, and shot just 41 percent. They like to play up-tempo when they can and prefer to play small, which the Heat like to do, as well. The 76ers do not have a classic back-to-the-basket center, which is perhaps the Heat’s biggest weakness, as demonstrated at times against Roy Hibbert in the last round.

In short, Philly is a great matchup for the Heat. And they’ll be pulling for it.

In another installment of the Heat Index's 3-on-3 series, our writers give their takes on the storylines before the Heat visit the Pacers in Game 4 of the East semifinals (ABC, 3:30 ET).

1. Fact or Fiction: LeBron is right, Game 4 is a must-win for the Heat.

Tom Haberstroh: Fiction. The "must-win" meme is the worst thing to happen in sports analysis since the basketball adaptation of the "closer" term. That may be a bit strong, but our casual acceptance that a non-elimination game is a "must-win" has gotten a bit out of control. If the Heat lose Sunday, they still have potentially two games remaining at home. This isn't do-or-die. Yet.

Michael Wallace: Fiction. I know the point LeBron was trying to make, but I think in a literal fashion, when it comes to this situation, it's not true. Elimination games are must-win games. Neither team's season would end based on the outcome of Game 4. I actually believe this game is bigger for the Pacers' psyche. The Heat can't go in thinking this series is over if they don't win Sunday. Even if they're down 3-1, there's still a game in Miami on Tuesday. Which means there's still a chance to start a rally.

Brian Windhorst: Fact. I think it is rather obvious that getting down 3-1 without Chris Bosh and with the Pacers getting more confident by the minute is not a recipe for victory. The difference between 3-1 and 2-2 obviously is vast, especially because it would give the Heat back the home-court advantage. The Heat players have a lot on the line here: reputations and futures and legacies. Way more than the Pacers.

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2. Fact or Fiction: D-Wade came off worse than Spoelstra in Game 3.

Haberstroh: Fact. And that's a remarkable achievement by Wade considering that Heat fans were calling for Spoelstra's pink slip after the Pacers went up 7-0 during the Dexter Pittman Experiment of Game 3. And then sprinkle in the fact that Spoelstra had a heated argument with the team's most beloved star. And still, there's no question that Wade came off worse in Game 3. That's how awful Wade was in Thursday's game.

Wallace: Fact. I asked Dwyane on Saturday if he felt he made a mistake by showing his frustrations in such a public fashion during that timeout blowup with Spoelstra. He said it was just the byproduct of a heated discussion during an intense time in the game. At the end of the day, I truly believe Dwyane was much madder with himself than anyone on that Heat bench. His body just wasn't cooperating. He lashed out. He looked bad doing it. Everyone insists it's behind them now.

Windhorst: Fact. Spoelstra's Dexter Pittman experience and revolving door of subs was not exactly awe-inspiring. But Wade came off as petulant because of the way he was playing, especially his hard-to-explain effort level. Combined with his inexcusable flagrant foul in Game 2, Wade's attitude so far in this series has been has been poor. Including snapping at his coach at a crucial part of the game.

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3. Fact or Fiction: The Heat should still be favored in this series.

Haberstroh: Fiction. In light of the Wade injury stuff, I've moved from toss-up to slight nod to the Pacers. I still think the Heat have a good chance of turning this around and beating the Pacers, but I don't find it to be a likely scenario anymore. Not with Bosh out. Not with Wade playing on one leg. I don't think this is an X's-and-O's problem as much as it is a physical one. Does Wade still have the burst in his step to be himself? I'm not sure. If he doesn't, it becomes a 1.5-on-8 ordeal.

Wallace: Fiction. Call me crazy, but I consider it a 50-50 series right now. Yes, the Pacers have a 2-1 series lead. But I've seen the Heat rally from a 2-0 deficit in the Finals to beat Dallas in 2006. And I've seen Miami hold a 2-1 series lead over the Mavs last season in the Finals and squander it. I've always said the Heat seem to respond to adversity far better than prosperity. But without Chris Bosh available and with Wade ailing a bit, nothing less than their A-game will beat Indy.

Windhorst: Fact. If they split in Indiana, which is still possible, then they will have done exactly what was expected of them and they will have control of the series. Because this is still within reach, they are not yet desperate. They lose Game 4, of course, then they become a heavy underdog. In short, it's a big game.

INDIANAPOLIS – Dwyane Wade can’t get his age-25 explosion back, he can’t magically heal Chris Bosh’s abdominal muscle and he can’t take back the angry words he said to his coach on national television. But there are things that Wade and Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra can do to attempt to change the tide in their series with the Indiana Pacers.

Spoelstra goes to extreme and sometimes paranoid lengths to conceal his true thoughts and strategy. The team’s various non-answers about Wade’s health are just a recent example. But one thing that did come through in their preparation for Sunday’s Game 4 is some planned changes for the struggling and perhaps hurting Wade.

Without Bosh as a pick-and-roll partner in addition to giving up 7 inches to primary defender Paul George, Wade’s had trouble getting to the basket in this series. It’s forced him to rely more on jumpers than his preferred attacks. And his jump shot, whether it’s a slump or because his lift is being affected by some leg issues, has been in a deep freeze.

Spoelstra, seeing these realities, apparently intends to make some adjustments to try to find Wade some relief.

“Big part of that is my responsibility to make sure he get to place where he’s comfortable and confident and where he can be aggressive,” Spoelstra said. “That’s where we’ve been focusing our energies the last couple of days. I anticipate we’ll do a better job of it this game.”

Just what wrinkles Spoelstra has in mind and whether it might make a difference is to be determined. But this bit of in-between-game coaching is some of the most vital coaching Spoelstra has had to execute all year.

His moves so far in the series have come off as erratic, including a bizarre first quarter in Game 3, when he started a player who hadn’t been seen for weeks, Dexter Pittman. Then he shuffled in no less than 11 different players in the game’s first 12 minutes like it was some sort of preseason scrimmage.

Already dealing with a fragile offense, the Heat’s rhythm has been obliterated over the last two games. After averaging 98 points a game in the regular season and 96 in the first round against the New York Knicks, the Heat haven’t cracked 75 points since Bosh’s injury. In an effort to find a mixture that works in light of Bosh's absence, Spoelstra's decisions have been all over the place.

Udonis Haslem, one of the steadiest players on the team, has seen his playing time slashed and his mood darken noticeably on the bench and in the locker room. Rookie Norris Cole has gone from in the rotation to deep on the bench to one of the first subs in. Shane Battier went from backup wing to starting power forward. And then there’s Pittman, whose three minutes in Game 3 could kindly be called unsuccessful. Spoelstra must’ve agreed because Pittman never saw the floor again.

The whole thing resembled an out-of-control garden hose. Not exactly the feeling you want in a pivotal playoff game.

“When you have injuries, especially to key guys, roles change,” Battier said. “You just have to roll with it.”

With all that going on, figuring out how to ease Wade’s struggles -- he shot 10-of-35 over the past two games and has just 12 free throw attempts after he got 14 in Game 1 alone -- is Spoelstra’s greatest challenge.

If Spoelstra can tweak his game plan and find a way to re-engage his second-leading scorer, it could help turn the series around. And perhaps restore some confidence after a coaching performance that so far could be termed as shaky.

It is possible the Heat could look to post Wade up more often, a mainstay of his game during the season that has disappeared over the past several games. Spoelstra may attempt to free up Wade away from the ball so he doesn’t have to beat his man plus a secondary defender, most often the free-roaming Roy Hibbert, to get to the rim. It’s possible Spoelstra could go to Wade pick-and-rolls with LeBron James, which might force the Pacers to change the passive style they’ve enjoyed without having to worry about Bosh setting those usually valuable screens.

What is known is that Spoelstra had a meeting with Wade on Friday at the team hotel before Wade drove to see his old college coach, Tom Crean, at Indiana University. Then the Heat had a long film session on Saturday before going over new strategy for Game 4.

When it was over, Wade was downplaying health concerns and making references to how a game plan change may be beneficial.

“A lot of [the struggles] is not your lift or your explosion, sometimes it’s the game plan,” Wade said. “I’m sure tomorrow will be a different game than any other game in the series from how and where my attacks come.”

Wade, Spoelstra and the rest of the Heat hope it’s sure. They have not had any answers to the Pacers’ defense since Game 1. It may not be as simple as changing the strategy, if Wade is limited by an injury, there is only so much than can be done against an Indiana team that has been thoroughly enjoying itself on defense.

But Spoelstra seems ready to try something new, again. He’s running out of chances to find something that works.

“We have to vary our menu,” Spoelstra said. “We have to use everything we have.”

In another installment of the Heat Index's 3-on-3 series, our writers give their takes on the storylines before the Heat visit the Pacers for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

1. Fact or Fiction: Dwyane Wade should have been suspended.

Tom Haberstroh: Fiction. Although, I've gone both ways on this one. Darren Collison decelerated slightly for the pass, so I'm not sure it was all Wade's fault for the sheer velocity of impact. But I can't shake the feeling that this wasn't a fully objective ruling. I keep asking myself the following three "What Ifs": What if Collison and Wade switched places? What if Chris Bosh wasn't out indefinitely? What if the Heat were up 2-0 instead of split in the series? We'll never know.

Michael Wallace: Fiction. I thought a Flagrant 1 was adequate punishment to fit the crime. As it turned out, that extra possession Indiana got as a result of Wade's message-sending cheap shot ended up costing the Heat in a 3-point loss. I will say this: Had Wade or LeBron been hit from behind like that, my guess is the call would have been more harsh under the same circumstances.

Brian Windhorst: Fiction. It was a cheap shot hit and was properly called a flagrant foul. It would've been interesting had it been called a flagrant-2 foul and they had to review it and decide whether Wade should've stayed in the game. Joey Crawford was all over the play, made the call and the league stood by him. It was proper.

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2. Fact or Fiction: Heat need Haslem to step up more than Miller

Haberstroh: Fact. Haslem has played worse than just about anybody left in the playoffs and the Heat don't have anyone who can score underneath. If they can just get Haslem to provide 10 points with some mid-range jumpers and put-backs, it would open up so much in LeBron James and Wade's games, especially in the pick-and-roll.

Wallace: Fact. Only because Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers or James Jones are capable of giving Miami the shooting Mike Miller is supposed to provide. With Chris Bosh out, Miami doesn't have any other bigs who as effective as Haslem could be in the pick-and-roll game with Wade and LeBron. Who else is going to grab 10 rebounds if needed? Haslem must first give Erik Spoelstra a reason to play him more than the 12 minutes he got in Game 2.

Windhorst: Fact. Well, the Heat need somebody to step up, anyone. But Haslem would be a bigger boost because if he was able to get his jumper going he would be a threat in the pick-and-roll game. With Bosh gone, the Heat's favorite play has been gutted because the Pacers do not respect whoever is in the play unless it is Wade and LeBron.

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3. Fact or Fiction: This series is a 50/50 toss-up at this point.

Haberstroh: Fact. I would say that a breakout game of the Heat's supporting cast is just around the corner, but I look at Haslem and Miller limping up and down the floor and I can't help but wonder if there's something more that's plaguing this team. The Pacers are healthy, hungry and home for the next two games. This is a toss-up, to me.

Wallace: Fiction. I'd go 55/45 still in favor of the Heat. Miami still has the league MVP in James and a top-5 player in Wade on the roster. Two more baskets from anyone else on the roster the other night would've put the Heat ahead 2-0 right now. You could also look at it another way and say that if the refs didn't hold back Indy in Game 1, the Pacers could also be up 2-0. So in essence, that does mean this thing is essentially anyone's series to win.

Windhorst: Fiction. The Heat have the two-best players and overall more experience. They still have the edge but it is much closer, there's a much smaller margin for error with Bosh out.

In another postseason installment of the Heat Index's 5-on-5 series, our writers give their takes on the storylines before the Heat host the Pacers in Game 2 Tuesday night.

1. Fact or Fiction: Roy Hibbert will get 20 and 10 in Game 2.

Tim Donahue, 8 points, 9 seconds: Fiction. It's possible, but unlikely. There are too many things that mitigate against Hibbert getting much more than 30 minutes - fouls, matchups, conditioning. In addition, Hibbert is too easy to take away, if he becomes the main focus of the offense. The 17 and 11 he put up Sunday feels awfully close to his peak to me.

Tom Haberstroh: Fact. Expecting big things from him in Game 2. I see Frank Vogel getting back to his roots, and studying the tape to find a better way to get Hibbert the ball in the post with Chris Bosh ailing. Secondly, the Heat know that locking down the perimeter and creating havoc in the passing lanes will lead them to fast-break opportunities. They'll "let" Hibbert get his.

Jared Wade, 8 points, 9 seconds: Fiction. He dropped a 20/10 only four times this regular season and couldn't manage to do so against the center-less Magic in the first round. Doubt he starts now against one of the league's premier defensive teams.

Michael Wallace: Fiction. I believe Hibbert will get the rebounding numbers. But he doesn't have to quite score 20 for the Pacers to be effective. In order for Indiana to fully exploit its size/strength advantage, Hibbert's production must be complemented by David West.

Brian Windhorst: Fact. He got only 27 minutes and 12 shots in Game 1 because of foul trouble. He also had to play a half against Bosh. And he still had 17 points and 11 rebounds. No excuse not to improve on that.

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2. Fact or Fiction: Danny Granger needs to step up more than Hibbert.

Donahue: Fact. Miami proved that it can live with the Pacers' bigs having their way, provided Indiana gets little or nothing from the perimeter. The Pacers have little or no chance of winning a game - let alone the series - if Granger doesn't play better at both ends.

Haberstroh: Fact. This is their leading scorer and he was invisible offensively. The Heat don't respect Granger quite on the same level as Carmelo Anthony, but he's clearly much less capable against James. If the Pacers have any hope of stealing a game in Miami, Granger needs to hit his shots. Otherwise, where else are those points going to come from?

Wade: Fact. The Pacers spread the scoring around pretty evenly but Granger usually finishes near 20 points when they're playing at their best. This means he gets a few open 3s, a few transition points and a few points he creates by getting to the rim or pulling up in the midrange. He needs to find a way to score or Indiana is toast.

Wallace: Fact. Granger claimed that Vogel apologized after the Game 1 loss for not getting him more involved offensively. Granger also has to be much better than 1-for-10 from the field. Bottom line is Granger must make James work much harder defensively at a time when he'll be carrying an even bigger load to make up for Bosh's absence.

Windhorst: Fiction. The Pacers' hopes are on Hibbert, he has to be a force. He has to compel the Heat to alter their defense and get out of their preferred style. Granger of course has to play better, he can't be going 1-of-10. But after watching Granger play against James about 25 times over the years, I do not expect greatness.

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3. Fact or Fiction: You expect the foul disparity to even out in Game 2.

Donahue: Fact. No good way to answer this, but 9 is a big gap, so it will likely go down. Miami (read: James and Wade) attacks the rim much more, and that will create more fouls. Unless Granger and Paul George become much more active, the Pacers will remain upside down when it comes to foul count.

Haberstroh: Fact. Call him soft or whatever, but Bosh is one of the top whistle-drawers in the game. He'll be missed in the free throw column and it's not like Ronny Turiaf, Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem need to be fouled underneath. James and Wade won't stop attacking Hibbert and West on the front line, but don't forget that that Pacers posted a higher free throw rate (percentage of shots coming from the free throw line) than the Heat this season. It'll balance out some.

Wade: Fiction. I expect it to be closer, but still favor Miami. The Heat are just so much more aggressive in terms of attacking the hoop with abandon. Sunday wasn't a single-game aberration as much as it was a continuation of a season-long trend for both squads.

Wallace: Fiction. James and Dwyane Wade will always get calls, many of which they deserve and some that are byproducts of superstar treatment. That won't change. The only thing the Pacers can do is attack the basket on the other end and make the refs occasionally call it both ways.

Windhorst: Fact. It'll tighten up. But how much disparity was there? The Heat took 10 more free throws than Indy. That's not exactly normal but it's not obscene. The Heat average eight more free throws than their opponents in the playoffs. The Pacers foul a lot. The Heat are going to take more free throws in this series most likely.

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4. Fact or Fiction: James should start at power forward.

Donahue: Fact, though I'm not entirely sure if it matters. It seems unlikely that experimenting with starting Turiaf or Anthony will hurt the Heat much. However, James should see significant time at power forward, because it puts the most pressure on the Pacers. It's also the most likely way to neutralize the one advantage West and Hibbert give Indiana.

Haberstroh: Fact. If it means more floor-spacers in Mike Miller and Shane Battier on the floor instead of Turiaf or Anthony, the Heat should seriously think about starting James at the 4 -- although the MVP clearly said he didn't expect (er, want) to start at the power forward slot at Monday's practice. Normally, I don't care who starts or finishes, but in this case, I think the upside is great enough that James should get the start. Playing Turiaf or Anthony means more 3-on-5 ball.

Wade: Fact. Getting Battier on the court for more minutes is better than extending the time given to any of Miami's bigs.

Wallace: Fiction. Keep James in his comfort zone for now. Besides, there's no need to risk the early foul trouble or the physical exertion banging with West and Hibbert down low from the start. Put Turiaf at center and keep Haslem at power forward for the time being.

Windhorst: Fiction. I don't care who starts, he'll likely finish playing power forward.

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5. Fact or Fiction: The Heat should still be favored in this series without Bosh.

Donahue: Fact. Bosh is a significant loss, but it remains to be seen how quickly Miami will feel it, or how quickly the Pacers can capitalize on it. Ultimately, the Pacers still have to overcome first James, then Wade before making Bosh's absence matter. The reward's richer if they can, but overcoming those two isn't all that much easier for Indiana.

Haberstroh: Fact. I originally had the Heat in five, but I'll push that back to seven games. Even without Bosh, the Pacers still don't have any answers for James and Wade's attack. If Granger doesn't show up, might have to keep this at Heat in five.

Wade: Fact. But barely. It is now a very even series if Bosh doesn't play again this round. In Game 1, Indiana showed that it can play with, and perhaps even better than Miami for long stretches. The Pacers will have to withstand great play by two great players, but they now have a clear advantage in roster spots 3 through 10.

Wallace: Fact. The Heat still have two of the top five players in the game, still have home-court advantage and still have a level of confidence and mental toughness the Pacers have yet to show on a postseason stage with this much intensity.

Windhorst: Fact. They still have the two best players including the MVP.

MIAMI -- Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert is in the middle of a group of players who will be free agents this summer who have a hard-to-determine value.

He’s in the same class as fellow big men like Ersan Ilyasova, Ryan Anderson, Brook Lopez and JaVale McGee. All have somewhat accomplished resumes but it’s hard to judge where each is in their development and just how much their rare size is worth in a market where no less than a dozen teams acould have $10 million or more in salay-cap space. Those are going to be some interesting negotiations.

Hibbert, though, has a chance none of his peers do. What he does over the next two weeks could put him at the head of that class and add millions to his next deal. He has a chance to elevate his team and do it against players that should not be in his league. It’s a green light to show that he can be a difference-maker in a playoff series.

With Miami Heat big man Chris Bosh likely sidelined for the rest of the series with an abdominal strain, Hibbert will not have a peer on the floor to battle him. The Heat will be probably deploying a mixture of Ronny Turiaf, Joel Anthony and/or Udonis Haslem. If Hibbert is truly an All-Star and a player worth an eight-figure per year salary, he should be become a force and perhaps tilt the series.

In Sunday’s Game 1, Hibbert fought foul trouble and only played 28 minutes, getting just 12 shots. He scored just seven points in the second half, when the Heat played without Bosh. He still had 17 points and 11 rebounds. With no Bosh, there’s little reason that shouldn’t be his low watermark in the series. There’s enormous room for more production.

Pacers’ coach Frank Vogel got some consideration for Coach of the Year after he had his team play a well-rounded style that led to the fifth-best record in the league. But you don’t have to be John Wooden to know that increasing Hibbert’s touches and attacking the Heat’s weakness at center would be at the top of the game plan starting Tuesday night.

Unless the Heat dust off Dexter Pittman, a little-used and under-experienced center, or Eddy Curry, a project the team seemed to abandon months ago, Hibbert is going to have a massive size advantage on his competition. Also, without Bosh to defend in pick-and-rolls, there’s no reason for Hibbert to respect the offensive game of Turiaf, Anthony or Haslem and it should keep him from getting out of position as much as when he had to be active in dealing with Bosh. That’s his biggest weakness and why he’s often in foul trouble.

The Heat did not double team Hibbert much in Game 1, doing so upsets their floor balance and leaves them vulnerable on the perimeter. Hibbert said Monday he doesn’t expect routine double teams anyway, the Heat usually just front him and try to deny entry passes.

But with the size advantage, none of this should really matter. Hibbert may never get another chance like this to prove his value. A guy who was a project when he came into the league who just hoped to hang on to a job, he’s put in a great deal of work to alter his body and become both stronger and more nimble. He’s worked on his post moves, he can now score with both hands around the rim. It’s been an impressive transformation, getting the All-Star nod this year was a vindication of his potential.

But it’s all been building to this, working and getting better and learning to use his 7-foot-2 inch body and figuring out how succeed in a game with players more talented than him. This is the biggest moment of his career thus far.

Marc Gasol's payday last offseason could demonstrate what could be at stake for Hibbert. Last year, Gasol had a breakout postseason for the Memphis Grizzlies, increasing his scoring average from the regular season and showing that he was no longer an overweight project but a bona fide franchise center in the Grizzlies’ surprising playoff run. Two months later, Gasol signed a four-year contract worth $58 million. A year before, it would’ve been hard to believe. When the deal was announced, though, most felt it was a smart move.

Gasol had a 24-point game and two 17-rebound games against the San Antonio Spurs to help pull the upset in the first round. Then he had two 20-point, 10-rebound games in a seven-game series with the Oklahoma City Thunder including a 20-point, 20-rebound night.

These are the kinds of performances the Pacers need from Hibbert to have a chance to pull their own upset in this series. He’s hinted before that he’s capable, his chance is now. And unlike Gasol, he won’t have to do it against a front line that includes a defender with size like Tim Duncan or Kendrick Perkins. Unless the Heat change their strategy and start bringing aggressive double teams, Hibbert is going to have the edge.

The Pacers are going to need help. They’ll need something more than 1-of-10 shooting from Danny Granger. They need more than two points in the fourth quarter from David West. They need Paul George to stay out of foul trouble, too.

But the key to this series from the Pacers’ standpoint is clear. Hibbert has a chance to shine or make suitors wonder if he’s got what it takes.

MIAMI -- The most telling communications the Miami Heat made Sunday afternoon were all nonverbal.

The look on Chris Bosh’s face as he was on his knees following a dunk in the first half. The undercurrent of concern about Bosh that permeated the Heat locker room, overshadowing what was supposed to be a lighthearted atmosphere after a 95-86 Game 1 win.

But the most powerful was the unspoken understanding between LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.

Bosh went down with an abdominal injury late in the first half and by the time the team gathered in the locker room they knew he wouldn’t be coming back. The Heat had suffered a blow in their most vulnerable area, losing their best big man against an Indiana Pacers team that is strong in the frontcourt.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra went over some new strategy and issued some reminders at halftime about how the team had to deal with it, talking about rebounding and the next man up and such.

Wade and James didn’t say anything to each other. They just went out and had one of the best halves they ever had as teammates.

When it was over, James and Wade had combined for 42 points in the second half and the Pacers went from getting the steal sign to picking themselves up after getting run over by the MVP and his running mate. James, who had 26 of his 32 points and never left the floor in the second half, and Wade, who had 16 of his 26 points after halftime, outscored the Pacers by themselves in the half.

During the 21 minutes they played side-by-side in the half, attacking the Pacers in transition and marching repeatedly to the foul line where they didn’t miss, the Heat outscored Indiana by 18 points. That made it the most efficient half of postseason basketball since they joined up last season.

“We knew when Chris went down we needed to flip a switch and become the one and two options,” Wade said.

James and Wade, of course, were the No. 1 and 2 options already. The difference was effort level. Without Bosh to function as the fulcrum of the offense -- he’s involved in nearly every set the Heat like to run because of his screen-setting and ability to score from midrange and around the rim -- Wade and James had to use strength and energy to get the Heat points.

So they didn’t rest and they barely stopped moving, relentlessly putting pressure on the Indiana defense. It took a toll on the Pacers. They got virtually nothing out of their own wing players -- starters Danny Granger and Paul George combined to shoot 2-of-15 -- as they were blitzed by the Heat’s greatest strength.

For all the debate about which of them is the leader or the closer or the decoy or the ball handler, this was truly Wade and James at their best. They were the more dangerous combo puncher and the Pacers couldn’t deal, few teams could. It wasn’t because of hot shooting -- James and Wade were a combined 20-of-49 -- but just because they didn’t stop.

“We took it upon ourselves to put the team on our back,” James said. “Of course.”

It was just a figure of speech, James didn’t mean to imply it was obvious what had to happen but it was just as truthful. The Pacers led throughout the first half, when James was a little disengaged and scored just six points as questions started about a possible MVP acceptance hangover, and had to feel they had a great chance to grab one with the Heat reeling from the loss of a vital player.

James and Wade just didn’t let that happen and it turned Sunday from an opportunity for Indiana to a frustration point.

“I give credit to the Heat for holding serve,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said.

“It seemed like we weren’t supposed to win this one,” said George, perhaps a vague reference to the foul disparity that put Wade and James on the line a combined 24 times. “Everybody in this room knew we had this game.”

But everyone in the room knew something else: they aren’t beating the Heat when the two superstars play like that. That’s not a conversation. A discussion on whether they can keep it up with an increased minute load and perhaps some tweaks to the Pacers' game plan to attack Bosh backups Joel Anthony and Ronny Turiaf, that’s another matter.

That’s what the rest of this series, and Bosh’s MRI, will determine.

“If Chris is going to be out, I expect for our minutes to go up of course and our scoring will have to go up as well,” James said. “We did have a good flow, we were both attacking and weren’t waiting on one another. We were making play calls, getting to the line and making some shots. It felt good.”

In another installment of the Heat Index's 3-on-3 series, our writers give their takes on the storylines before the Heat host the Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

1. Fact or Fiction: Frank Vogel should regret his flop comments.

Tom Haberstroh: Fiction. I applaud him sticking to his guns and reiterating his sentiment the following day. The Heat were going to attack Roy Hibbert a hundred different ways regardless of what Vogel said and I don't see a few words changing their mentality. Although I disagree with Vogel's opinion that the comments were harmless. The $15,000 fine did some harm to his bank account, I'm guessing.

Michael Wallace: Fiction. Frank's a grown man. He said what he meant, and meant what he said. Now, his only hope is that his team plays as tough as he talked. If so, it was well worth that $15,000 he was fined by the league for speaking his mind.

Brian Windhorst: Fiction. Why? Maybe because his wife was angry when he told her he got fined 15K for it. Otherwise, it's just gamesmanship. This is Vogel's style. He's been brash since he got the job. His players seem to respond to it.

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2. Fact or Fiction: Miami can successfully combat Indy's size advantage by going small.

Haberstroh: Fact. Hibbert is huge, don't get me wrong. But I wouldn't be surprised if he got in foul trouble early and often in this series, considering his inability to consistently stay with ball handlers in the pick-and-roll or control his body around the rim. Erik Spoelstra insists that the Pacers have to deal with the Heat's personnel and not the other way around. I think he's right on the money.

Wallace: Fact. Only because the Heat are the better and more experienced team. No matter what lineup they use, however, it will be small by comparison to Indiana's lineup with 7-foot-2 center Roy Hibbert. The Heat must rebound regardless.

Windhorst: Fact. I think so, at least. I think the Pacers will get their licks in and probably win the rebounding battle overall. But at this point in his career, Roy Hibbert has not proved he can dominate games regularly with his size. He's improved but he rarely just takes over, which is sorta what the Pacers need him to do here. What has been proved is that athleticism can give him and David West some problems.

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3. Fact or Fiction: the Heat will win in six games.

Haberstroh: Fiction. I have the Heat in five. I'm not convinced that Hibbert and David West will pose as many problems as some do. This will be a fascinating game of chess between two young coaches. I see the Heat calling checkmate in five games on their home floor.

Wallace: Fact. I really don't prefer to make playoff predictions, so I'll let the facts speak for themselves. No team in the East has won more than one playoff game against Miami in the Big 3 era. The Pacers are capable of bucking that trend and winning two.

Windhorst: Fiction. I'll say five. I have some history on my side: The Heat have done it four times in a row versus East teams in the playoffs.

MIAMI -- The Pacers and the Heat are spending an extraordinary amount of time studying each other this week. Here’s a look at what their scouting reports will look like, provided by league advance scouts’ notes on both teams:


PACERS STRENGTHS

• Getting to the line. One of the biggest changes Frank Vogel has implemented with the Pacers is turning them from a team that shoots a high volume of 3-pointers to a team that focuses on dribble penetration. As a result, they get a significant portion of their offense from getting to the foul line. They have several perimeter players who specialize in it, from Danny Granger, Darren Collison, Paul George and George Hill. They are also a disciplined 3-point-shooting team. They don’t take many of them but they make them, shooting at a good percentage.
• Zoom. The Pacers will go to “zoom” several times a half. This is where they quickly turn from their preferred tempered approach to playing up-tempo. This is often triggered by dribble handoffs. They use the element of surprise.
• Bigs. The Pacers have four quality big men and two energy bigs off the bench in Tyler Hansbrough and Lou Amundson. They also have good general length. As a result they are a good rebounding team, top-10 in the league, and an elite team when it comes to second-chance points. They are not a dynamic offensive team, but with second-chance points and free throws, they get by.
• Wing versatility. The Pacers can play with excellent size on the perimeter. They can switch on pick-and-rolls because players like Granger and George can defend point guards. Most of the time they are solid in rotations.

PACERS WEAKNESSES

• Low assist team. The Pacers have a handful of players who can create their own shots but they do not execute plays very well. They were one of the lowest assist teams in the league. They try to set up a lot their offense out of the post, but overall their ball movement is not strong. Their guards also are prone to turnovers, though they have improved from last year when they ran former coach Jim O’Brien’s “quick” system.
• Average in transition. The Pacers won 90 percent of their games when they outscored their opponents in transition, but they only did that about a third of the time. They don’t look to run often and aren’t very proficient at it.
• Hibbert in the pick-and-roll. He has excellent size but Roy Hibbert has poor lateral quickness on defense. Teams should involve him in as much pick-and-roll action as possible.
• Foul-prone. The Pacers have a gritty team that works hard on defense but they often get over-aggressive. They committed the third-most fouls in the league. Getting big men in foul trouble can be accomplished and should be a priority.

WHAT THE PACERS NEED TO DO TO WIN

• Keep LeBron James and Dwyane Wade off the foul line. They are great scorers anyway; they will make baskets against good defense. But they are at their best when they are able to earn trips to the line.
• Dominate the boards and get second-chance points. The Heat have one of the better defensive teams in the league but have some of the worst size. Getting extra possessions is the best way to balance out the talent differential.
• Manage turnovers. The Heat can win without getting in transition, but that's usually how they blow you out. If you can limit letting them get free baskets with live-ball turnovers, you will have a better chance of managing the score.

HEAT STRENGTHS

• Transition. The Heat are one of the best teams in transition in the last two decades. James and Wade look to run and work well together in transition. They are so quick and can change directions so effectively that even fouling doesn’t always help, because they can usually shake the contact and turn it into a three-point play.
• Defensive speed. The Heat have excellent defensive versatility because James, Wade, Shane Battier and Mike Miller can guard multiple positions. It is hard to predict what lineups/matchups they will create because they have numerous wing options. They will attack pick-and-rolls, even with their big men, to reduce dribble penetration and have the athleticism to get out to shooters and challenge shots. They are able to create steals with their length, which is a major goal of their system.
• Drivers. James and Wade are two of the most effective drivers in the league. Also, Chris Bosh will look to put the ball on the floor after pump-faking. As a result, it is not unusual for these three to rack up 30-plus free throw attempts a game combined.

HEAT WEAKNESSES

• Size. The Heat often do not play a true center and their big men are all generally undersized. Bosh, Udonis Haslem and Joel Anthony all regularly guard players bigger than them. Their fourth big man is often James, who plays parts of most games at power forward. They have problems with teams that have good post scorers and weakside rebounders. These are just about the only area of the game they can be dominated in. They have some bigger bodies on the bench but Erik Spoelstra prefers not to use them.
• Defensive over-aggression. The Heat try to get in transition as much as possible and they apply a lot of pressure on defense, often trapping ballhandlers when they come off screens. As a result they gamble and will often give up position. They believe so much in their rotations that they will sometimes lose their floor balance. Also, their general defensive principles call for them to collapse on the ball when it goes to the middle. So you can often pass through their rotations to find an open man, and they will give up open 3-pointers if you can work inside out. You just have to be careful with those passes.
• Turnovers. The Heat will give the ball away in part because they look to push the ball in transition a great deal and in part because they are not always an effective half-court offensive team. James will often attempt passes that are high-risk, and Wade is susceptible to steals when he’s driving the ball. Both handle the ball a great deal and both have periods when they are loose with it, allowing vital transition chances for the opposition.

WHAT THE HEAT NEED TO DO TO WIN

• Control Indy’s bigs. The Heat will have a hard time winning the rebound battle; just playing even would be a victory. The Pacers rely on second-chance points as a significant portion of their offense. Hibbert is not a dominant player but has the ability to take over games at times with interior scoring. The Heat will have to attempt to limit his and David West’s effectiveness.
• Contain dribble penetration. Weakside defense is important when playing Indiana; you have to have help defenders ready because the Pacers prefer to attempt to drive from the perimeter. This is how they are able to get to the line, forcing fouls off the dribble. They need free throws and second-chance points because they don’t have great individual scorers. Staying out of the bonus is important.
• Apply pressure. The Pacers have a tendency to lose their focus and their patience. They can give up big runs and have their spirit broken. They are not a veteran team and most of their players have not played deep into the playoffs. The Heat have the ability to throw haymakers because of their talent and their athleticism. The Pacers have shown they can be shaky under pressure.

SCOUTS' PICK: Heat in five.

In another postseason installment of the Heat Index's 5-on-5 series, our writers give their takes on the storylines before the Heat host the Knicks in Game 5 Wednesday night.

1. Fact or Fiction: The Knicks were smart to hold Jeremy Lin out.

Jim Cavan, KnickerBlogger: Fact. Look, we get the whole Willis Reed resurrection narrative thing. But Lin ain’t no Reed, and these ain’t no 1970 Knicks. Besides, I’m not totally convinced that a 60 percent Lin is any better than whatever 100 percent point platoon the Knicks end up going with. Better to wait until next year. We Knicks faithful are used to that anyway.

Tom Haberstroh: Fact. This was fascinating to watch because the organization needed to weigh the short-term payoff versus the long-term risks. Play him now and try to fight your way back into the series at the risk of another knee injury? Sit him and ensure that you have a healthy point guard on the roster for next season? They chose the latter, and that was the smart decision; the realistic upside in playing him just isn't there.

Michael Wallace: Fact. If Lin isn't ready to return from that knee injury, then he simply isn't ready. No need to rush it, especially after seeing two of his backcourt teammates blow out their knees already in this series. It just doesn't make sense to risk setting yourself back for the start of next season in order to play in a series that seems all but over at this point.

Brian Windhorst: Fact. This is a complete no-brainer, to be honest. Let's assume you're Lin. Your knee doesn't feel right, probably more than you're even letting on to the media. Then you see Iman Shumpert and Baron Davis have to be carried off the court in the same week. Are you going to rush it?

Jared Zwerling, ESPN New York: Fact. First of all, Lin hasn’t had ample court time to prepare for the Heat’s swarming pick-and-roll defense, which forced him into eight turnovers on Feb. 23. In addition, playoff games, in general, are a different beast. In recent scrimmages, Lin has moved a bit gingerly and hasn't played with full intensity, so there's no way he'd ready for that level of physicality. After a season with so many injuries, the Knicks would look stupid if Lin suffered a setback for a vain cause. They should invest in his health to make sure he's their long-term solution at point guard.

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2. Fact or Fiction: Stoudemire's 20-and-10 was a bigger deal than Anthony's 41.

Cavan: Fact. Carmelo Anthony has been on a rampage for a while now, but Amare Stoudemire's one-handed -- and level-headed -- performance proved how important his high-caliber play is to the success and effectiveness of the orange-and-blue. The optimist in me hopes his run-in with a fire squelcher proves to be a turning point. The realist in me thinks he just recovered really well from punching glass. Either way, the Knicks need a similarly sizzling Stoudemire on Wednesday night.

Haberstroh: Fact. No one saw this coming. The Heat knew he had no jumper and no ability to comfortably drive left, but still he managed to register his first 20-and-10 game in weeks. You have to, well, hand it to the guy.

Wallace: Fact. Considering the Knicks' shortage of players who can actually create their own shot, rebound and get to the free throw line, it baffles me that some thought New York was better off in this series without Stoudemire and no adequate replacement. Miami was able to absorb high-scoring games from Melo before and still won. But there's no excuse for allowing Stoudemire to go off for 20-and-10 with one good hand.

Windhorst: Fact. Anthony won the game for the Knicks, but does everyone appreciate what Stoudemire did? His hand was being kept together by staples and stitches. The palm. The area that touches the ball. You cannot numb this area because you can't play with numb hands. You can't wear too large of a pad because it has the same effect. So you play one-handed. And you go for 20 and 10. Pretty remarkable, no?

Zwerling: Fact. Just hear it from Anthony: "It was big-time. I was surprised at what he was able to do, due to his hand. But for him to just come back and just prove to us and to prove to everybody that what he did was a mistake ... it was a minor setback, he came back, he bounced back and we respect that out of him." The Knicks had been struggling to find a significant second scorer in Games 1 through 3 to complement Anthony, and Stoudemire provided that "punch," as Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after the game.

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3. Fact or Fiction: LeBron should be primary defender on Anthony.

Cavan: Fiction: The one glimmer of hope the Stoudemire-less Knicks had for stealing Game 3 -- namely playing Anthony at the 4 and forcing the Heat to throw Bosh on him in stretches -- might've flickered out. If I were Erik Spoelstra, I'd start a hot-shooting Shane Battier at the 3 and put James on Anthony as much as possible. Derp.

Haberstroh: Fact. Call me crazy, but I'd want James, the best isolation defender in the league, to guard the guy who lives on isolations. Battier isn't a poor defender against Anthony, far from it. He's just not the best option for the Heat. Udonis Haslem should take care of Tyson Chandler in normal circumstances; Sunday was the first time Haslem fouled out since Ricky Davis started for the Heat four years ago. Fluke situation.

Wallace: Fiction. For three games, I gave credit to Battier for doing his job and making Anthony work extremely hard to make difficult shots. Battier didn't stop doing his job in Game 4. Anthony just proved why he's an elite scorer in this league. Besides, James has been in foul trouble the past two games -- and Anthony has had calls go his way recently. Asking James to carry such a burden on both ends for extended periods in the playoffs is a bit much to ask.

Windhorst: Fact. At least in the clutch. The numbers speak for themselves. These teams have played five times over the past three weeks. It has been rather obvious with the eye test that Anthony doesn't drive on James as much and isn't able to create as much space against him.



Zwerling: Fact. While Mike Woodson and Spoelstra have given Battier credit for his defense on Anthony, the numbers don't lie. Anthony has been shooting 52.6 percent against Battier in the series, but only 29.3 percent against James. There aren't many players in the NBA who can match up physically and athletically with the Knicks' star, but James can, and he has made Anthony's catches and drives difficult. In Game 5, Anthony better hope his jump shot is on, like in Game 2. The emphasis on closing out the series should be enough motivation for James to guard Anthony down the stretch.

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4. Fact or Fiction: James should be ball handler on next do-or-die play.

Cavan: Faction. As with most crunch-time calls, it’s purely situational. If James is riding a Game 3-like fourth quarter, then sure, let him bring his boys home. He’s been getting to the rim pretty much at will, after all. But if Spoelstra sees an exploitable matchup or scheme better suited for Wade or even Bosh, there’s no reason the coach shouldn’t roll those dice.

Haberstroh: Fact. Not only is James the better option to run a pick-and-roll, but Wade is the better option as the basket cutter. Also, not enough people have mentioned this, but Bosh? He was open on the roll to the rim. Regardless, the most important thing is that all three of the Heat's stars are involved. That didn't happen in Game 4.

Wallace: Fiction. Perhaps he should. But I wouldn't define it as a flat-out fact. It depends on what kind of game James is having to that point. It depends on potential matchup issues. There's no one-answer-fits-all equation to this scenario. The luxury Miami has that few other teams (if any) have is that either Wade or James can make game-winning plays in that situation. Both have had failures in those moments, as well.

Windhorst: Fiction. Or Fact. Either way is fine from my point of view. There was nothing wrong with the idea of that play; it just wasn't executed. It would be interesting if James demanded the ball in that situation. But that hasn't been his position all season. Wade has three game winners this year.

Zwerling: Fiction. During the series, James and Wade have both been effective in the all-important fourth quarter. James has been getting to the line (7-for-8), averaging 8.7 points in the period on 44.4 percent shooting, while Wade has been doing it from midrange, shooting 10-for-18 (55.6 percent). They're equally dangerous in a do-or-die situation because they demand double-teams and can get into the lane. And that's where they pose a big threat as passers because of their ability to find one of the Heat's potent 3-point shooters.

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5. Fact or Fiction: Mike Bibby should be primary PG over Smith/Anthony.

Cavan: Fiction. Bibby has been somewhat effective off the ball, where he is better capable of hitting the glass (something he’s done well of late) and the occasional open J. If I’m Woodson, making Wade and James work as hard as possible in blanketing the ball-handling J.R. Smith or Anthony might be worth the price of the latter two getting gassed. Which sounds insane, and probably is.

Haberstroh: Fiction. Big dilemma for the Knicks. Don't know how they can hide Bibby defensively; he won't be able to guard Mike Miller. But I also don't know how the Knicks can get the shots they want with Smith and Anthony initiating from the top of the key. If Smith didn't turn into Toney Douglas all of a sudden, this wouldn't be a huge problem. The Knicks might have to just rely on Anthony at point. Gulp.

Wallace: Fact. Bibby isn't the player he was 10 minutes ago, let alone 10 years ago. But by process of elimination due to knee injuries, he's the only true hope the Knicks have at point guard. He still knows how to run a team and push the pace in stretches, even though his shot is inconsistent to nonexistent. Smith and Anthony will need to spell Bibby at times, but they shouldn't handle the bulk of the point guard duties. It takes away from their strengths.

Windhorst: Fact. No one would ever mistake Smith or Anthony for a point guard. They're pretty much the exact opposite.

Zwerling: Fiction. But it doesn’t really matter. Smith and Anthony are going to be handling the ball the majority of the time. What Bibby needs to be able to do is knock down the open 3-point shot off of Smith's and Anthony’s penetration, which he did in Game 4. Bibby hit two clutch long bombs at the end of the third quarter and the fourth to keep the Knicks ahead. At this point in his 14-year career, Bibby is really more of a glorified shooting guard because he’s not quick enough as a playmaker to put pressure on the Heat’s defense.

NEW YORK -- Out of all the interviews and speeches Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban gave on his championship tour last year, the sharpest blow came when he said his Mavericks knew they were going to win the NBA Finals when his coaching staff noticed the Miami Heat weren’t making adjustments.

Maybe it was needling, maybe it was simple piling on, perhaps it was retribution after there was a belief that Pat Riley had outdueled the Mavs’ Avery Johnson back in the 2006. But it was a direct shot at Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and his performance under pressure.

Spoelstra’s overall record is strong and league executives see him as having a long career as a head coach whether it’s in Miami or elsewhere. But Cuban’s comments were also a sign that Spoelstra hasn’t earned complete respect yet. Some of his decisions on Sunday in the Heat’s Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks that extended the series will not help.

In an odd maneuver he declined to fully explain, Spoelstra went away from the strategy that had been working and given his team the overwhelming advantage. And it very likely cost the Heat a chance to win the series in the minimum.

It wasn’t the decision everyone wanted to talk about. The Spoelstra choice that drew the most eyes was what he did on the final play when the Heat trailed by two points. This is always a delicious subject, and with a playoff game in the balance, it was certainly a rather large choice.

There Spoelstra selected Dwyane Wade as the first option, Chris Bosh as the second and LeBron James as the third. It’s easy to attack that strategy, because it didn’t work. You could state and defend any number of opinions and present a strong case.

Being fair, though, Spoelstra called a considered, even if not well-designed, play. It just didn’t work. Selecting Wade, who has made three game-winners this season, wasn’t wrong. He had scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and was brilliant in going to the basket when Tyson Chandler (who had fouled out by then) wasn’t there to stop him. He properly guessed how the Knicks were going to defend the play and got exactly what he wanted: Wade going at defensive liability Amare Stoudemire.

You can bicker about whether James should’ve been the first or at the least the second option -- Bosh set a screen for Wade and appeared to be the backup choice in a classic pick-and-pop set -- when he had just made two big offensive plays. But ultimately, going with Wade certainly can’t be called an indefensible mistake.

The Knicks’ defended the play decently, Stoudemire moved as quickly as he could, and Wade fumbled the ball and the play fell apart.

“I actually had a good shot,” Wade said. “I lost the ball and didn’t get the chance.”

We’ll never know for sure.

For his part, James said: “For me, personally, I would love to have the ball. As a team, we all win games together and we all lose games together. That is all that matters.”

So James wanted it, which is easy to say when he didn’t have to deal with missing it, and Wade bobbled the ball instead. If you want to point fingers, go ahead and debate, but there will never be a definitive answer.

That play, however, was not at the root of why the Heat lost the game.

The Heat lost because they allowed Carmelo Anthony to score 41 points on just 29 shots. Instead of making him the volume scorer they did for the rest of the series, Anthony was able to get the ball where he wanted it, let him get to the line 14 times, and let him get on an offensive roll.

In other words, the only thing that could beat the Heat happened.

Anthony did the bulk of it against Shane Battier, including for the entire fourth quarter. For the first three games of the series, and even for the last game of the regular season between the teams on April 15 that served as a playoff warmup, Spoelstra went with James on Anthony for the stretch run.

Yet this time Battier was left on him as Anthony took the green light to attack him and shoot over him while James guarded Chandler. Anthony scored 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting in the fourth, picking apart the Heat’s sudden change of heart.

Anthony is one of the best scorers in the league. Perhaps he would’ve made tough shots over James. Perhaps he was due to break out of a slump; he was shooting just 34 percent over the first three games. Perhaps this is just second-guessing.

But the last three fourth quarters Anthony has played where James has taken over -- not including Game 1 when the starters were benched with the game out of hand -- Anthony averaged seven points on 42 percent shooting. Had that happened again Sunday, the Heat would be celebrating a sweep.

At one point, the Heat called for a double team on Anthony, something that usually isn’t required when James was on him, and it created a rotation that led to an open Mike Bibby hitting a 3-pointer.

“LeBron was guarding Chandler to create some other things to do defensively but we still had enough opportunities to win this game regardless of who was guarding Anthony,” Spoelstra said. “You have to give them credit and move on.”

The numbers, which Spoelstra is a devotee of, crush him here. In the series, Anthony has shot 12-of-41 (29 percent) with James guarding him and scored 31 points including free throws. With Battier on Anthony, the Knicks star is 20-of-38 (53 percent) and has scored 56 points.

Heading into Game 4, by the way, Anthony was shooting 14-of-26 on Battier (54 percent). These numbers were compiled by ESPN Stats & Info but Spoelstra no doubt had them, too. But it makes the choice all the harder to defend.

Not every game is the same and coaches change up game plans all the time. Some of Spoelstra’s constant changing is because his bench has shown him little consistency. Not using his best defender on the Knicks’ best scorer when it had a flawless record is hard to justify.

But it does seem like Spoelstra might have outsmarted himself on Sunday by making changes that were hard to understand or defend. And there’s a chance that it cost the Heat a winnable game.

In another installment of the Heat Index's 3-on-3 series, our writers give their takes on the storylines before the Heat try to sweep the Knicks in Game 4.

1. Fact or Fiction: LeBron is right; there shouldn't be a champ asterisk.

Tom Haberstroh: Fact. When every other season has an unusual disruption, then it's no longer unusual. It's the status quo.

Michael Wallace: Fact. And beyond that, the NBA champ this season should get even more credit for surviving and winning in one of the most difficult and demanding seasons we've ever seen in any sport.

Brian Windhorst: Fact. There's a reason why championships are so valued, it takes so much to win one. You need luck, you need to avoid injuries, you need your opponents to have troubles. Injuries, bad luck and general insanity happens in every season, the team standing at the end is the champ not matter how it got there. If anything, winning this season should carry a little extra significance because it is so hard and abnormal.

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2. Fact or Fiction: The Heat have the three best players in the series.

Haberstroh: Fiction. As admirable as Chris Bosh has been as a third option for the Heat, I can't peg him ahead of Mike Bibby. Wait, did I say Mike Bibby? I meant Carmelo Anthony. Honestly, Bosh and Carmelo are probably neck-and-neck in value. Bosh plays both ends of the floor and doesn't mind making sacrifices for the good of the team. Carmelo's shot-creation ability is immensely valuable, even if he lacks in the efficiency department. Still, Carmelo's reputation far outpaces his actual on-court contributions.

Wallace: Fiction. Let's be real here for a second. Carmelo Anthony is a tad better and a more elite player than Chris Bosh. But there's no shame in the Heat claiming three of the best four players in this series.

Windhorst: Fiction. Carmelo Anthony is the third-best player in the series and from the 2003 draft. Been the case for years. Even if he's not really playing like it.

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3. Fact or Fiction: If Heat sweep, Knicks should break up the core.

Haberstroh: Fact. Should happen regardless. Sure, Stoudemire's contract isn't easily moved, but there's no such thing as an unmovable contract in the NBA (see: Rashard Lewis and Gilbert Arenas). Trading Carmelo and building around Jeremy Lin, Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler would be the move that makes the most out of they're fragmented pieces. But alas, I can't imagine the Knicks front office trading their biggest star even if it means they don't compromise Lin and Stoudemire.

Wallace: Fiction. If New York can get a taker for Amare Stoudemire's contract, then by all means move him. But good luck with that. More than anything, these Knicks need stability and good health - elements this team has lacked for most of two seasons now.

Windhorst: Fact. Even if the Heat don't sweep. Seeing this Knicks team play vastly different when they are all together and when one or two pieces are missing obviously has been telling. The problem is they are not very flexible. They have used their cap space, used their amnesty and traded away young assets and draft picks. They have a chronically injured former All-Star with an uninsured contract that has three years left on it as the guy they want to trade the most. They can try, but it's not going to be easy.

NEW YORK – Chris Bosh slept peacefully for nearly the entire Miami Heat flight last Wednesday afternoon. Little did he know that when he woke up and the plane landed he was going to be in for three of the busiest and most emotional days of his life.

Bosh’s three-day itinerary was as preposterous as it was stressful but he came through it with a wide smile. He has a healthy newborn son, Jackson, and has been able to spend some time with him and wife, Adrienne. He was able to make the Heat’s Game 3 victory over the New York Knicks, which put them ahead 3-0 in the series. He was even able to make the team’s practice Saturday and presumably will be able to get some rest before Sunday’s Game 4 when the Heat will try to close the Knicks out.

“My family is healthy, so I did my job; now I can do my other job,” Bosh said. “It's a blessing what I have going on back home so I appreciate it both ways. I'm glad to be in the playoffs and I'm glad to have a son.”

Here’s a look at what Bosh’s last few days looked like:

-Wednesday he landed at Newark Airport with the Heat at around 6:30 p.m. While the team was in the air his wife had gone into labor. There were a barrage of messages waiting for him. When he left he didn’t think it was close, the baby was not due for two weeks. But the team had already arranged for a private jet to take him back to Miami. To get to the jet, though, Bosh had to take a car to another airport in New Jersey.

“I'm lucky with the schedule but I'm lucky to have such a great organization behind me,” Bosh said. “At no time were they stressful. They were understanding and they encouraged me to do everything possible.”

-Bosh got to Miami and then went immediately to the hospital, where he donned scrubs and went to the delivery room. His son was born about 3 a.m. on Thursday morning.

-After spending the rest of Thursday morning with friends and family sharing in the joy of the new arrival, Bosh went back to the airport to get another private jet back to the airport in New Jersey.

-Bosh arrived around 4:30 p.m. thinking he’d somehow been able to pull off this hurried trip to Florida with time to spare. The game was two and a half hours away and coach Erik Spoelstra, on word that he’d landed, put him in the starting lineup.

-Then Bosh got in a car to head to Madison Square Garden and ran into the teeth of rush hour. There was trouble on the surface streets. Then snarl on the New Jersey Turnpike. Then he got to the Lincoln Tunnel and it was at a standstill.

“Oh my gosh, it was terrible,” Bosh said.

When he finally got into Manhattan he could see the Garden but was still stalled and it was just 45 minutes to gametime, almost two hours after he’d landed.

He considered just getting out and running to the arena.

“I thought about it, I’m not going to lie,” he said.

Bosh got the locker room about 32 minutes before tip off and was mobbed by teammates. He later scored the Heat’s first point when his teammates pushed him to the line after a technical foul. He finished with nine points and 10 rebounds in the 87-70 win.

-Friday morning Bosh left the team hotel, went back to the New Jersey private field and took another private jet for three hours back to Miami. He was able to spend the entire afternoon and evening with family and Jackson.

-Saturday morning Bosh was back at the airport in Miami boarding a jet for yet another flight up the coast. He missed Friday’s practice but this time the traffic wasn’t bad and he was at the Garden for the Heat’s workout when it started around 1 p.m.

“It's nice to be able to know that they're healthy and that I can just concentrate on the game,” Bosh said. “They want me to do that, we have a huge opportunity.”

NEW YORK – Wednesday evening, Chris Bosh was trying to arrange for a private jet to Miami for the birth of his son. Most of the Heat players were settling into their Manhattan hotel and thinking about dinner plans. Pat Riley and few other team staff were headed to Newark for a Bruce Springsteen concert.

LeBron James and Udonis Haslem, meanwhile, were on the street hailing a taxi. The directions to the driver were simple: “The Garden.”

Every player has routines and personal ways to prepare for big games. James’ has gotten more attention over the years. It’s because of who he is and they often seem to be grand in nature, even if he’s not looking for attention. Last year, his first in Miami, James kept wanting to spend extra time in AmericanAirlines Arena before playoff games.

During the series with the Celtics he called friends and went to the gym in the middle of the night to take some shots. On the eve of the Finals, he joined Dwyane Wade and Bosh in the middle of the empty arena just to take in the scene and share some bonding.

James had these thoughts again Wednesday following the flight in from Florida. After he came with teammates across the river from the airport, he re-boarded the team bus headed for Madison Square Garden. He’d never played a playoff game in the arena and he wanted to get the feel of the place. His people had made the calls and the lights were on and it waiting for him and Haslem, one of the Heat's team captains.

“You always get excited playing at the Mecca,” James had said. “I knew it was going to be emotional.”

Only the team bus broke down shortly after it left hotel, sending James and Haslem to the street in their workout clothes looking for another mode of transport. By the time they got over to Four Pennsylvania Plaza it was 9 p.m.

For an hour or so James, Haslem and a couple Heat staffers were on the floor. The players put shots up, broke a sweat and tried to find a comfort level. It was quiet, people working in the building huddled around televisions keeping an eye on the Rangers-Capitals playoff game down in Washington.

About 24 hours later, there were more than 19,700 fans all calling James a curse word.

“It’s not the first time but it’s the first time it was in unison like that,” James said. “Fans are going to be fans, I understand. I didn’t have much of a reaction to it.”

James reaction to the taunts was to shrug off turnovers and foul trouble to put together a brilliant fourth quarter that buried the Knicks and put the Heat up 3-0 in the series. Could any of that calm be attributed to his private commune with the Garden the night before?

“I was just happy we won the game,” James said.

James isn’t into talking much about his emotions these days. Other than a few outbursts at officials or Mario Chalmers, the teammate James calls his “little brother” that he seems to take out all his frustration on, James has been even-keeled so far during this first-round series. One of his friends described him as being Zen-like over the last two weeks.

Using his influence to get access to opposing arenas on off nights for extra work isn’t going to make James a champion this year. He’s got to do it when the place is packed and the pressure is on. But there’s little doubt about James’ focus at the start of this playoff run, perhaps his best chance yet to shed the burden he’s been playing under for as long as he can remember of getting that first title.

A few nights at the Garden, with the crowds and without, are the first steps.

In another postseason installment of the Heat Index's 5-on-5 series, our writers give their takes on the storylines before the Heat host the Knicks in Game 3.

1. Fact or Fiction: The Knicks are better off without Amare this series.

Jim Cavan, Knickerblogger: Fact. Melo was playing some of the best ball of his career at the 4 in Amare’s back-hobbled stead, so if ever smashing a glass encasing was a blessing in disguise, maybe it’s now. At this point, limiting how often LeBron is checking Melo is -- along with the added spacing Amare’s absence provides -- the Knicks’ last best hope of extending the series a game or two.

Tom Haberstroh: Fact. Consult the scouts or the stats, and both will say the same thing: the Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire partnership just isn't working. With Stoudemire sitting, Carmelo's Knicks improve by 8.7 points per 48 minutes, which is an enormous turnaround. This isn't #WithoutWade, either; the Heat have performed better with Dwyane Wade on the floor despite the misleading record against soft opponents. Not the case with Stoudemire. He isn't the player he once was, his defense has been irrecoverably poor, and the Knicks have flourished without him. If you think Stoudemire is still a superstar, you must think David Lee is one as well.

Michael Wallace: Fiction. Do the Knicks have any other big on the roster who can rebound, score and get to the free throw line better than Amare when he's healthy and committed? Align the "without Amare" stats and metrics all you want. No playoff team is better sans its second-best player unless there's an adequate replacement. If that's the case, why not sit Wade the rest of the way, considering Miami's .928 winning percentage without him this season?

Brian Windhorst: Fiction. I know that the Knicks played their best ball of the season when Amare was out earlier. I know that playing Steve Novak more might benefit what the Knicks do with Carmelo. But this is a battle of talent, and the Knicks are already at a talent disadvantage in this series. Amare is a player around whom the Heat have to build their game plan. To win four of the next five games, which the Knicks must do, they need a lot of help.

Jared Zwerling, ESPN New York: Fiction. The bottom line is: Going up against the Heat's Big Three, the Knicks need to counter that with scoring, and Amare can provide 15 to 20 points per game. Two things have plagued him from getting going: sharing the court with Melo and not having a solid and healthy point guard to make plays for him off the pick-and-roll. Baron Davis and Mike Bibby are not cutting it. Amare is out for Game 3 and likely Game 4, but when he does return, Knicks coach Mike Woodson should consider playing STAT more with the second unit and have J.R. Smith, who's been a pleasant surprise running some point, setting up the power forward.

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2. Fact or Fiction: You expect loud boos for Amare at MSG.

Cavan: Fact. It won’t be incessant, but it’ll certainly be loud -- the Garden boobirds just can’t help themselves, and rightly so in this case. Amare’s near-untradable contract means he’ll likely be around for a few more years, so he’ll have ample time to put himself back in Gotham’s good graces. But it won’t happen Thursday night.

Haberstroh: Fact. As a New York City area native, I've seen firsthand how passionate New York fans can be -- in good times and bad. Just ask former Yankees pitchers A.J. Burnett and Kevin Brown whether New Yorkers showed any sympathy after the starters injured themselves by punching walls. Don't expect Stoudemire to be spared from the boobirds.

Wallace: Fiction. But nothing would surprise me, considering the Garden is capable of having one of the most creatively cruel fan bases. What Amare did was a selfish, childish, boneheaded act that only made it harder for his team at a time when the Knicks are already reeling. If I'm the Knicks' front office, I'd fine him for conduct detrimental to the team. But the crowd should focus on trying to disrupt the Heat, not its own guy.

Windhorst: Fiction. I expect him to be booed if he's showed on the video board, but I'll bet the Knicks won't let that happen. He's not going to be introduced, and if I were Amare, I'd slip into the arena when the lights are out to avoid direct attention.

Zwerling: Fiction. Isolated boos, yes, but I don't expect them to be loud at all. Amare has clarified what happened, saying he didn't mean to hit any fire extinguisher, and he's apologized to the fans and to his own teammates. The Knicks are ready to move on. Amare will be vocal and energetic on the bench, matching his on-the-court style. Knicks fans should be excited about this game and not let any displeasure get in the way. Their focus should be not on the past but on their team winning and not going down 0-3, a hole from which no NBA team has ever come back to win a playoff series. What's done is done.

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3. Fact or Fiction: If Chris Bosh is out, Knicks should be favored with home court.

Cavan: Fiction: The one glimmer of hope the Amare-less Knicks had for stealing Game 3 -- namely playing Melo at the 4 and forcing the Heat to throw Bosh on him in stretches -- might've flickered out. If I were Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, I'd start a hot-shooting Shane Battier at the 3 and put LeBron on Melo as much as possible. Derp.

Haberstroh: Fiction. Even if Bosh is out, the Heat should be the favorites. The Knicks have a lot going for them. Tyson Chandler is close to 100 percent; the Steve Novak experience will finally be unleashed; they're playing at Madison Square Garden. Still, I expect the Heat to win by a small margin. Playing LeBron at the 4 is only a small downgrade; that's how devastating he can be positioned on the block.

Wallace: Fiction. Favored? No. But perhaps it should be a pick 'em from that perspective. For different reasons, neither Bosh nor Stoudemire has played quite up to expectations in this series despite improved numbers in Game 2. If both are out, which looks likely, it's a wash.

Windhorst: Fiction. The Heat are 5-0 against the Knicks this season. For various reasons, the Knicks' best chance to win a game is Thursday night, but they will not be favored. Losing Bosh hurts the Heat and increases the chance of an upset win. But that's what it would be, an upset. If the Knicks had a better interior, I'd say it would help. I think the biggest advantage is it removes the Heat's best countermeasure when the Knicks double-team LeBron.

Zwerling: Fiction. Even if Bosh doesn't play, the Heat will be favored because of two main reasons: LeBron and Wade are healthy and playing very well in the series. Bosh obviously adds another dimension down low, but the Knicks' biggest worries are James and Wade attacking and Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller, Battier and James Jones spotting up from downtown. The Knicks' perimeter rotations were off in Game 2. With Bosh in the lineup, the Heat have another player, in addition to Udonis Haslem, who can hit the 10-to-15-foot jump shot and score inside.

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4. Fact or Fiction: Game 3 is when the series really starts.

Cavan: Fiction. Not when 94 percent of teams up 2-0 go on to win the series. Melo & Co.’s confident mantras that the series “doesn’t really begin until the home team loses," although technically true, ring just as hollow now as they did one year ago when the Knicks were saying the same thing after falling behind 0-2 to the Celtics after another self-inflicted wound from Amare.

Haberstroh: Fiction. This is Spoelstra's favorite line these days, but the Knicks have to win four games, and the Heat have to win only two. I don't know about you, but that tells me the series has really started.

Wallace: Fiction. I nominate that for the most overused playoff cliché award. The tone has been set in this series, and there's no reason to act as though Games 1 and 2 didn't matter. Can the Knicks turn it around with a win Thursday night? It would be a huge start. But try convincing them that their 0-2 deficit doesn't exist.

Windhorst: Fact. But only if the Knicks win. If they lose, the series is effectively over.

Zwerling, ESPNNewYork: Fiction. Even if the Knicks steal Game 3, the Heat's big two and the Heat's coaching staff, led by Pat Riley disciple Spoelstra, are just too good to lose two in a row to a banged-up Knicks team that relies heavily on Melo. The Heat make not only great in-game adjustments but also great game-to-game adjustments. They know how to maintain their identity while tailoring to the specific schemes that their opponents run. When the Heat lose, they beat themselves, and that can happen in a hostile environment like the Garden. The Knicks tend to not change too much, and that's Woodson's style. Creativity is not his forte; traditional basketball is.

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5. Fact or Fiction: Miami has been more impressive than New York has been disappointing.

Cavan: Fact. Sure, excuses are like so many body parts, but that doesn’t stop us from using them! It’s hard to label the Knicks disappointing when their roster has been through more changes and makeovers than Madonna. It’s relatively easy, on the other hand, to marvel at the switch currently being flipped by a Miami team on an all-out vengeance quest.

Haberstroh: Fact. It seems as though every Heat player has raised his game in the playoffs. The Knicks? The only thing they've raised is their fan base's collective blood pressure.

Wallace: Fiction. The Heat were the better team from the start. They have been impressive in doing what they were expected to do in the first two games. But the Knicks have transitioned from disappointing to devastated to depressing by the day in this series when you consider the combination of injuries, sporadic play and knuckleheadedness of Stoudemire's actions.

Windhorst: Fact. I thought the Knicks played reasonably well in Game 2. They ran some good offense, rebounded well and limited their turnovers. They followed their game plan as best as they could. They still got beat by 10. This is the best the Heat have looked since the All-Star break.

Zwerling: Fiction. The Knicks have been disappointing by virtue of how they've played and what's happened with the team. The Heat, don't get me wrong, have been impressive, but the Knicks picked the worst time for injuries, from Iman Shumpert to Stoudemire to Chandler, who wasn't 100 percent in Games 1 and 2. He said he's feeling much better today. With Chandler and Shumpert unable to anchor the Knicks' defense from the perimeter to the interior, that opened up holes for the Heat to expose even more. The Heat will continue to play well in Game 3, so the Knicks need to play their best game of the season to win Thursday night.