Some Indiana Pacers Playoff History

This series vs the Miami Heat will be the seventh NBA semi-final appearance for the Indiana Pacers, who advanced after winning their quarterfinal series vs the New York Knicks in six games.

The Pacers, who are over five to one underdogs vs the Miami Heat in the upcoming “semi,” are (1-5) in previous semi-final series. After losing twice to the Knicks (1994 and 1999) and once each to the Orlando Magic, remember them, (1995) and the Chicago Bulls (1998), Indiana won a semi-final series vs the Knicks in 2000. The Detroit Pistons beat the Pacers in the 2004 semi-finals.

The Pacers lost three of those “semis” in seven games and both the 1999 loss vs the Knicks and 2004 loss to Detroit were in six game series. The Pacers won in six vs the Knicks in the 2000 semi-final round.

The clinching win for the Pacers in that series was on the road and was just their third road semi-final series win in eighteen such games. In 2004 the Pacers were (1-2) at Detroit, making their semi-final, road record (4-17) going into this “semi” vs the defending champion, Heat.

I think Indiana will be competitive in this series vs the Heat. However, too much talent and history are against the Pacers. The winner of the five previous Pacers/Knicks quarterfinals or semi final series, lost their next series. History repeats says I,—–Miami in six games.