He doesn’t need to get 25 points and 10 boards against the Heat, but he’s got to be in attack mode when the opportunity presents itself. I think he’s got to be around the boards as well since the Heat aren’t a good rebounding team.  All of the Pacers would be well served to be attacking the glass for a rebounding. They’ve had a big advantage in that category when playing the Heat this regular season, and that could be the deciding factor in the next round.

It’s amazing to see the transformation Lance Stephenson has made just in the past couple of seasons.  We did see him get into some trash talk last year in the playoffs against the Heat, and I know we won’t see that again.  Lance has come a long way since looking like he didn’t belong on this team. Now he’s playing at the level that Larry Bird believed he would be at when he signed him to a long contract. I know I was so against that because I didn’t see anything good from Stephenson.  But then last season, there were those brief moments, where I started to realize, this guy does have something. He was making passes that probably had no business being passes.  This season, he gets bumped into the starting lineup and looked like a starter.  He brings all that ball of energy to the starting unit, and really feeds off doing well.  Last night, you could just see the confidence building up in Stephenson, and just imagine if that can continue.  He got the nickname “Born Ready”, but I believe a better nickname is just ready.  He’s ready for the Heat.  He’s ready for a break out moment.  He’s ready to be Ready.

With the small amount of playoff times, it’s amazing to think how good Lance has looked at times during this playoff season.  He’s a guy that won’t show up in the stat line, even though he almost had a triple double in game four with 10 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists.  Last night, he grabs a career high of 12 rebounds.  He’s also played two games over 40 minutes.  He’s showing up there and doing whatever he can to give the Pacers that shot of energy, and that’s what I like best about his game.  When he’s got that crazy amount of energy under control, he can get the ball up to someone in a hurry and get them an easy basket.

At the same time, he can finish the play himself if need be.  He’s got to work on the shot a bit more, and even misses those lay ups right at the basket at times.  But for all the good things that Stephenson has been doing, I am picking him as a difference for what the Pacers can do.  He’s going to be important at times if the other guys aren’t finding their shot. He’s got a great way of finding those passes that most guys don’t see.  Even at times, seeing a play the other guy doesn’t see as he’ll make that great pass.  I think once he gets all avenues of his game working, he’ll become an even important part of the Pacers.  He’ll be around for what he can do for the Pacers for the next few seasons, and that’s going to be fun to watch.