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For starters: Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat

By Ira Winderman — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:33:00 GMT

A look at the starting lineups, inactives, referees and a pregame note of note for Friday's 8:30 p.m. playoff game between the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers at AmericanAirlines Arena (TNT):

ASK IRA: Is Ray Allen offering enough?

By Ira Winderman — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:24:00 GMT

Q: Ira, if Ray Allen is not making his shots, what purpose does he really serve on the floor other than spacing? It's so frustrating watching him on the defensive end. -- J.P., St. Petersburg.

TNT's Kenny Smith: 'All they do is win-win-win, no matter what'

By Ira Winderman — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:27:00 GMT

With TNT handling the entire Eastern Conference finals, that means plenty of Charles & Co. If you were at AmericanAirlines Arena or missed the telecast, here's some of what you missed:

ASK IRA: Did Spoelstra get best of Vogel in Game 1?

By Ira Winderman — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:00:55 GMT

Q: Ira, there was a national columnist (not a fan) who said that Frank Vogel would outcoach Erik Spoelstra in this series. I wonder what he's saying now, with Vogel keeping Roy Hibbert out on LeBron James' winning drive. Vogel said Hibbert is the best vertical defender, or something like that, and then he doesn't have him in for his team's biggest defensive sequence of the season? We're lucky they have Vogel. -- Sam, Miramar.

Winderman's view: Heat 103, Pacers 102 (OT)

By Ira Winderman — Thu, 23 May 2013 03:52:00 GMT

Observations from Wednesday night's 103-102 overtime playoff victory over the Indiana Pacers at AmericanAirlines Arena:

For starters: Indiana Pacers at Miami Heat

By Ira Winderman — Wed, 22 May 2013 23:51:00 GMT

A look at the starting lineups, inactives, referees and a pregame note of note for Wednesday's 8:30 p.m. playoff game between the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers at AmericanAirlines Arena (TNT):

ASK IRA: Are Heat making it look easier than it is?

By Ira Winderman — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:00:55 GMT

Q: Do you think the Heat are too good? I know the ultimate test(s) are still to come in the remainder of the playoffs. The Heat are 45-3 in their last 48 games. Does this make for compelling basketball? -- Stuart.

Heat prefer not to play with fire again against Pacers

By Ira Winderman — Wed, 22 May 2013 01:10:00 GMT

The Miami Heat have developed a nasty habit of playing with fire during the NBA playoffs. They have yet to get burned.

Pacers' Vogel says Heat series to be decided on 'substance'

By Ira Winderman — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:26:00 GMT

The extended break before the start of the Eastern Conference finals has allowed ample time for all the ancillary issues to be pushed aside, the talk of respect, the recap of last season's bad blood between the teams.

ASK IRA: Could Lewis emerge as factor vs. Pacers?

By Ira Winderman — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:00:49 GMT

Q: Do you think we'll see more Mike Miller against the Pacers? Aside from 3-point shooting, he is a good rebounder and ballhandler. He could be valuable, especially if Dwyane Wade is ineffective or hurting. -- David.

Pacers' Vogel on Heat: 'There's no lack of respect'

By Ira Winderman — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:22:00 GMT

Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel stressed Monday that he meant no disrespect to the Miami Heat in his postgame comments Saturday night and took to South Florida radio to clear the air.

Chris Bosh helps makes Heat a swat team in playoffs

By Ira Winderman — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:56:00 GMT

Erik Spoelstra's message to Chris Bosh was clear: What goes up must come down. And then go up and come down again. And again. And again.

ASK IRA: Does Wade retain edge on Stephenson?

By Ira Winderman — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:00:53 GMT

Q: OK Ira, should we be worried about Dwyane Wade's ability to play Lance Stephenson? Stephenson just looks so much more athletic than Wade. -- Teresa, Miami.

Talk is cheap and heaped, as Pacers, Heat prepare

By Ira Winderman — Sun, 19 May 2013 20:31:00 GMT

An innocuous quote about the Heat "just the next team that's in our way" by Pacers coach Frank Vogel sets the tone for the Eastern Conference finals.

ASK IRA: Can Pacers inside game overwhelm Heat?

By Ira Winderman — Sun, 19 May 2013 10:00:55 GMT

Q: The Pacers will be a tough opponent and the Heat need to do better on the boards than they did against the Pacers in the regular season. Can you see a possible Chris Bosh/Chris Anderson tandem at times if rebounding becomes an issue? -- Martin.

Heat believe they can reach another playoff level

By Ira Winderman — Sat, 18 May 2013 16:18:00 GMT

Perhaps it's because the bar has been set so high. Winning 45 of their last 48 games can do that.

Bloom not off Bulls bolstered by Rose

Ira Winderman — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:02:00 GMT

Sunday notes: Even in wake of series loss, Chicago sets up as top Heat 2013-14 East challenger. Also: Heat's lottery view, how Larkin measures up; and Greg Oden talk resurfaces.

ASK IRA: Does long layoff put Heat at risk in opener?

By Ira Winderman — Sat, 18 May 2013 10:00:49 GMT

Q: Is another long layoff going to result in another lackluster Heat performance in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals? It's easy to say that they learned their lesson in the last round, but not playing is not playing. Although Dwyane Wade benefits, the rest will have to fight off rust. -- Myles, Coconut Creek.

Wade makes surprise Friday prom-night appearance | Video

By Ira Winderman — Sat, 18 May 2013 05:15:00 GMT

So what does an All-Star shooting guard with a bum knee do when he has a night off during the NBA playoffs?

ASK IRA: Can anyone beat Heat four times out of seven?

By Ira Winderman — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:05:44 GMT

Q: Ira, I am so sick of all of these Heat "fans" with the "oh no it's (insert Team X here they're scared of this week)"! I'm not saying any of the teams left will be easy, but unless LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Birdman, Norris Cole, Udonis Haslem, Erik Spoelstra go play on the other team, why should we be scared? -- Mike.

Heat's shooters never found their mark vs. Bulls

By Ira Winderman — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:13:00 GMT

For Shane Battier, Ray Allen and Mario Chalmers, it was a struggle from distance. "A team that shoots a lot of 3-pointers, that's on the radar, that's on the scouting report," Battier says.

ASK IRA: Are Pacers scarier challenge this season?

By Ira Winderman — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:50 GMT

Q: Indiana looks better than last year. Maybe New York is making them look better. But Heat-Pacers will be really, really tough for Miami to win if Dwyane Wade doesn't produce at his typical level. -- Jeffrey.

Winderman's view: Heat 94, Bulls 91

By Ira Winderman — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:43:00 GMT

Observations from Wednesday night's 94-91 playoff victory over the Chicago Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena:

For starters: Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat

By Ira Winderman — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:03:00 GMT

A look at the starting lineups, inactives, referees and a pregame note of note for Wednesday's 7 p.m. playoff game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls at AmericanAirlines Arena (TNT), with Derrick Rose, Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich again out for the Bulls:

ASK IRA: Could Wade become a liability?

By Ira Winderman — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:00:57 GMT

Q: Hey Ira, after watching Game 4, I think it is time to shut down Dwyane Wade for the rest of the playoffs. He is completely useless out there with that knee. The Heat have enough depth around LeBron James and Chris Bosh to win a championship. Your thoughts? -- Shawn.