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Hardwood Paroxysm Presents: Super-Overreactionizer! Featuring the Conference Finals, the NBA Draft Lottery, and Eternal Fisher

By HP Basketball Network

Apr 20, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; General view of a game ball before game one of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs between the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; General view of a game ball before game one of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs between the Denver Nuggets and the Golden State Warriors at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chris Bosh: Hollow Man

by Robby Kalland (@RKalland)

May 14, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Chris Bosh (center) celebrates with teammate forward Rashard Lewis (right) after defeating the Brooklyn Nets 96-94 in game five of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat center Chris Bosh (center) celebrates with teammate forward Rashard Lewis (right) after defeating the Brooklyn Nets 96-94 in game five of the second round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

The Heat are like a Tootsie Pop. Hard on the outer shell with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, but with a soft, gooey center in Chris Bosh.

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Miami got steamrolled by a Pacers team built to take advantage of Miami’s soft interior. Roy Hibbert and David West abused the Heat frontcourt for 38 combined points on their way to a dominating 11-point win.

Bosh got taken out of his game early by the physicality of Hibbert and West. They pushed him around and bullied him early and often. Instead of responding with strength, he ran out to the three-point line to hide from the bruising Pacers defense and ended up shooting 0-for-5 from the arc.

The Pacers can change their name to Sherwin Williams for this series, because they’re going to own the paint.

Everyone knows the physicality ramps up during the playoffs, and the Pacers are a team made to wear the opposition down over a series. It normally takes time to wear a team down mentally and physically, but with Bosh it only took minutes.

After being chewed up and spit out early, Bosh’s confidence was shot and he became invisible. With Bosh out of the equation, the Pacers could focus their attention on Wade and LeBron without fear of Bosh ever asserting himself. Wade and LeBron did what they could, but they just aren’t enough on their own.

Miami needs its Big Three to be just that, three players producing, but their soft center is melting under the pressure of the Playoffs.

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