The Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers match-up is the most awaited series! After their classic face-off last season, the defending champions look overmatched! Has Indiana got their number?

Based on Game 1, the short answer seems "Yes." This Pacers team had a bitter taste on their mouths after they were denied a trip to the Finals. Now they are out for Heat blood. They were so singularly focused on matching up to Miami that they almost stumbled on the way to South Beach.

But they made it, much to the dismay of the Miami ballclub.

Just how convincing was the first game victory? Bill Simmons of Grantland notes: "But yesterday's game was eye-opening. We were reminded that Hibbert loves playing this team, that Miami doesn't have anyone to defend West, that Paul George was created by scientists to defend LeBron (not stop him totally, but at least make him work), that Lance loves going at Wade, that George Hill can't get exposed against that Chalmers-Cole combo. We were reminded that Bosh, for whatever reason, absolutely sucks against Indiana - we now have a 16-game sample size of Bosh averaging 11 and 4 against Hibbert and West (not a misprint). And we were reminded that, for Miami to advance, it's going to take yet another superhuman effort from LeBron James."

The first game did show how far the Pacers have come in solving the Miami equation. It actually is a wonder how such a team that had a singular, nearly-obsessive purpose managed to survive the two rounds of the playoffs.

Perhaps Miami also knew that. This shark was out for their blood, and theirs alone. The animosity even extended to the stands. Grantland was there firsthand:

 "Well, Pacers fans actually HATE the Heat. You could feel the hostility brewing during the pregame intros-"

Which is very bad news for the Heat: "We know when the Pacers thrive: when they're overachieving, when their fans are pushing them, when they can't let themselves relax for even one second. All that prosperity handicapped them. It fundamentally changed who they were. It can't be a coincidence that they played their most passionate basketball in three months on Sunday."

The Pacers felt they were one home game short of taking down the champions. That was another malady that they fixed. They finished on top of the Eastern Conference to turn the tables on Miami and gain homecourt advantage. Even if they don't win a single road game in this series, they will still be the team to advance.

Game 2 tips off at 8:30PM EST.