What a roller coaster last night was!  I was sitting in Conseco Fieldhouse last night with my wife, and I looked around and said, "this is what it used to be like all the time!"  The crowd was awesome last night.  Sure there were the trendy "HEAT fans" with their LeBron James and Dwyane Wade jerseys, but for the most part people were there to see the new-look Pacers team.  My wife is from northern Ohio, so she wasn't around Indy when the Davis boys, Rik Smits, Mark Jackson or even when Reggie Miller was still around.  I felt like I was watching a past Miami HEAT v. Indiana Pacers playoff game.  Those games were very tough games back and forth and had a lot of shoving and brute force, which is exactly what the Pacers showed last night (after the first quarter).

Tyler Hansbrough came in, flexed his muscles and started a trend for the rest of the game.  His play really pushed the Pacers in a different direction through the course of the remainder of the game.  Of course, Wade, James, and Chris Bosh came up big in the fourth and were able to pull the game out.  However, this team had their 25 and under squad in during crunch time (except for when Dunleavy came in for a bit), so it will take them time to learn how to win these big games down the stretch.  After the jump, check out the links of the day and find out why I appreciate extending the game at the end...

Coach Vogel not only extended the game at the end, but he used timeouts for explanations to his players.  The game was still very close, but some coaches would have taken the loss a little quicker towards the end by simply fouling.  I really appreciate his persistence to foul and keep the clock alive, but what I really like was that he was calling timeouts and explaining ideas, concepts, thoughts to them while they were happening.  Vogel understands this group is young and you don't necessarily have knowledge of how to pull out a win if you haven't been taught.  He took time, drew out plays and helped them with teaching moments at each possible opportunity.  The Pacers, obviously, still have to pull out a W against these big-time teams for them to get some major recognition.  But, I am enjoying watching these guys learn and play together.  I felt like I was back in the 90's watching the brute force the Pacers possess.  I am very excited to see how they bounce back tonight against the Pistons.  A few weeks back, this game would make me nervous, but I expect them to come out and want to redeem themselves...

• Box Score
• PACERS: Game Rewind: Heat 110, Pacers 103
  Game Rewind has complete coverage, including interviews, analysis, notes, quotes and stats from the Pacers' big game with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat on Tuesday in Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
• Wade, James, Bosh combine for 90 points to repel Pacers | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
  Frank Vogel, a coach full of energy, lowered his head to the microphone and talked at almost a whisper. His Indiana Pacers had just made a spirited rally that dissipated in the fourth quarter Tuesday night of their 110-103 loss to the Miami Heat.

• NBA Scores And More: Dwyane Wade, Heat Too Much For Pacers - SBNation.com
  Monta Ellis scored 21 and Stephen Curry was perfect as the Warriors knocked off the Hornets.

• Miami Heat & NBA | MiamiHerald.com
  Your source for everything Miami Heat. Check out forums, blogs, scores, upcoming schedules, & the latest NBA news.

• Kravitz: Despite improvement, questions remain | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
  Please excuse me if I haven't yet called for the commissioning of a sculptor to chisel Frank Vogel's likeness outside Conseco Fieldhouse. Nor have I jumped just yet to compare him with young Red Auerbach, or done the math to figure out when he'll pass NBA record-holder Don Nelson for coaching victories.
• Wade takes his turn on Pacers | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
  LeBron James took mocking exception to the question. Asked how good teammate Dwyane Wade was Tuesday night in scoring 41 points in Miami's 110-103 victory over the Pacers, the Heat star picked a different adjective.

• Dwade to Lebron 90ft Touchdown Pass @Pacers- Feb 15, 2011 - Peninsula is Mightier
  Video of one incredible play last night.

• Game Preview

• Pacers-Pistons Preview - Feb. 15, 2011 - NBA - CBSSports.com
  After suffering only their second loss under interim coach Frank Vogel, the Indiana Pacers will look to bounce back against an opponent they've dominated recently.

• Pistons' Tayshaun Prince top NBA shooter in 'restricted area' | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
  On the last page of the Feb. 21 edition of ESPN the Magazine, there is a shot chart depicting the best shooters of the NBA through Jan. 30. The best shooter in the restricted area? The Pistons' Tayshaun Prince at 79.2%.

• Peninsula is Mightier
• Spurs ranked No. 1, Celtics claim No. 2 in NBA Power Rankings - Britt Robson - SI.com
• Daily Dime - ESPN