Heat vs. Pacers Links: Pacers just getting started with Game 1 win

The Pacers treated their Game 1 win over the Heat as the first step toward a goal but nothing worth celebrating.

By Tom Lewis@IndyCornrows May 19, 2014, 7:00am EDT

Aside from a much larger media contingent than usual in the Pacers post-game locker room, it would be hard to tell the Pacers had just beaten the Heat, 107-96 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The players were subdued and obliging the media without any additional excitement in their voice. After two years of early advantages against the Heat, winning three more games is the only thing the Pacers will consider celebrating.

"That's what we talked about right after the game,'' David West said. "We haven't accomplished anything except to get the first game on our home court. We know there's still a lot of basketball left to be played.''

Frank Vogel spoke similarly after praising his team's offense and admitting the defense could be better in what he called a "weird game" due to the Heat missing some good open looks while making some highly contested shots.

"It's a good start to the series, but it's just a good start," Frank Vogel said. "That's all it is. We gotta come back and expect a great fight in Game 2 and try to get Game 2."

Yes, Game 2 becomes the new biggest game of the season. Miami appeared to do a lot of experimenting with lineups, trying to find some odd matchups that might work. Miami started with Shane Battier on Paul George and LeBron James on West. They even went smaller but none of the different looks worked well for Miami, even when West unexpectedly had to chase Ray Allen around on defense.

Expect the Heat to settle into their comfort zone and if the Pacers falter at all trying to impose their will with the inside/out attack that was so strong in Game 1, then LeBron James will be ready to seize the opportunity. Twice in the LeBron era, the Heat have lost Game 1 on the road. First, in the 2011 ECF against Chicago in LeBron's first season and then again against Oklahoma City in the 2012 NBA Finals.

Both times, the Heat bounced back to win Game 2 and then the next three games to win both series in five games. Yep, Game 2 is now the most important game of the Pacers' season.

Check out the links:

Heat at Pacers, Game 1 - Box score

Game Rewind: Pacers 107, Heat 96, Game 1 | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE INDIANA PACERS

Pacers Take It In Stride | THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE INDIANA PACERS

Radio Highlights: Pacers 107, Heat 96 | Pacers Blogs

Kravitz: 'Virtually perfect' Pacers can't let up - Indy Star

Pacers stick to script, while Miami must rewrite - 1070 The Fan

Pacers ride offensive wave, beat Heat going away - Indy Star

Lance Stephenson lets his play do the talking (yes, really) - Indy Star

Pacers pull away, top Heat 107-96 for 1-0 lead - AP

Pacers' passion too much for Heat in opener 107-96 - Sun Sentinel

Greg Cote's Random Evidence of a Cluttered Blog - Pacers win wire-to-wire