The Miami Heat are ready to take a 3-2 advantage at home after losing Game 4 on the road and LeBron James is going to put the team on his back to win, just as he has done throughout the playoffs and the Indiana Pacers will be looking for another road victory to take advantage.
Both team are playing to face the Spurs and while San Antonio probably doesn't care who they will play, the Heat would have home court advantage in the series, while the Spurs would have it if the Pacers won the series. The two teams have played a tough series and Roy Hibbert has been MVP for the Pacers as the team tries to go up 3-2 in Game 5 on Thursday with Game 6 coming in Indiana on Saturday night.
James, the NBA's reigning most valuable player, was fined along with David West and Lance Stephenson of the Indiana Pacers for exaggerating contact during Tuesday's Game Four of the best-of-seven series, which is tied at two games apiece. James was among three players who were each fined $5,000 by the National Basketball Association (NBA) on Thursday for violating the league's anti-flopping policy during the Eastern Conference finals.
Stephenson earned his fine for exaggerating contact after a slight elbow push from Ray Allen following an Indiana basket. West, guarded by James, was backing in toward the basket in anticipation of receiving a pass when the nine-time Miami All Star spun and sprawled onto the floor as West stumbled awkwardly toward the baseline after minimal contact.
With the intense series set to resume on Thursday in Miami, the league decided to crack down on the theatrics displayed in Game Four, where the players involved tried to trick referees into calling fouls off limited contact.
James and West were cited for flopping on the same play during Indiana's 99-92 home victory. The NBA instituted an anti-flopping policy this season to cut down on the practice.
(Reuters Quotes)
