David West explains how he one-upped LeBron James

Jeff Zillgitt | USA TODAY Sports

MIAMI — Indiana Pacers forward David West had the plays sniffed out, like a police canine searching for the loot.

Sniffed out were West's words — four times he said it — as if he knew exactly what LeBron James was going to do on two game-deciding plays with less than a minute to play in the Pacers' 97-93 victory in Game 2 on Friday, evening the Eastern Conference finals at 1-1.

West forced two steals and prevented the Miami Heat from attempting two potential game-tying or go-ahead shots.

The turnovers were uncharacteristic of James, but the steals were typical of the Pacers' impressive, smart and physical defense.

"The right way to describe David West's performance tonight and most of the time in Indiana is will," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "He has incredible, incredible will to do whatever it takes to win a basketball game."

All the criticism Vogel and the Pacers took for their failed late-game defensive strategy and execution in Game 1 has been replaced with praise for their successful late-game defensive strategy and execution in Game 2.

"We've been in these situations all year," West said. "We rely on our defense regardless of where we are in a game. Everybody was communicating and talking and we were able to sniff out what they were trying to do."

In the closing time of Game 2, Pacers center Roy Hibbert was on the floor, and that was just one significant factor in Indiana's defense on James and the Heat.

James' first crucial turnover came with 42.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Heat trailing 95-93. Heat guard Ray Allen set a pick on James' defender Paul George. West, who was guarding Allen, stepped out just enough to prevent James from driving to the basket and it gave George enough time to recover and get in front of James.

As James began to throw the ball to Allen, who moved to the three-point line near the top of the key, West put his hands in the air — with his back to James — and deflected the pass. West recovered the ball for a steal.

"We know he's a great playmaker," West said. "We talk about getting to him and getting back to our guys and in passing lanes. That's something we drill every day. Just able to make plays that we're accustomed to making. … We knew where the ball was going."

Not only was Hibbert on the court, but West defended Allen, a smaller and quicker player. Vogel, lampooned for taking Hibbert out in Game 1 just before James made the winning shot, relied on his coaching instincts and knowledge.

"We stuck with the scheme that we've been playing most of the night except we removed the switching that we were doing earlier so we could try to keep Paul George on LeBron," Vogel said.

Even after the Game 1 loss, Vogel had confidence in George, who let James get by him for the winner. But more important, Vogel maintained confidence in himself and he has expressed that in a variety of ways throughout the playoffs.

With 17.6 seconds left in the game and the score still 95-93, James caught in in-bounds pass from Allen and Mario Chalmers came up to set a pick on George with 14 seconds left. George got through the screen and in front of James, who drove to the basket. Hibbert helped just enough to prevent James from getting to the rim. West also helped, keeping James from spinning into the lane for an easy look at the rim.

James saw Allen at the three-point line at the left wing. But after helping briefly, West got his right hand in the passing lane, deflected the ball and George Hill came up with it and was fouled with 8.3 seconds left. Hill made both free throws for the win.

"We talk about just having active hands, especially late when LeBron has that ball. We know he's a playmaker first," West said. "Again, I just thought we were able to sniff out what they were trying to do."

During the time between Game 1 and Game 2, the Pacers worked on their pick-and-roll defense because Miami uses guards to set the picks for James where most teams have their big men set screens for guards or wing players.

"They're different in that regard," West said. "They're probably the only team in the NBA does that with little guys setting pick-and-rolls. … We turn back away from the ball with our hands high and in the passing lanes and just able to make a play on the ball."

This is what the Pacers knew: If they could stay in front of James and make it difficult for him to get to the basket for a shot, he would look to pass to a shooter. The Pacers indeed sniffed it out.

"Ray Allen's on the floor to shoot threes," West said. "We knew in that situation he's probably the guy who's going to get the basketball and LeBron's going to be the guy who gets the ball to him."

James walked into the postgame news conference disappointed in himself. He won Game 1. He may have lost Game 2.

Two weeks ago, James said the first stat he looks at on the boxscore is team turnovers. The Heat had 15. The next stat he looks at is his turnovers. He had five and none more costly than the final two.

"I made two mistakes tonight," James said. "That hurt our team. And that hurt more than anything. Let my teammates down. They expect me to make plays down the stretch, and I had the ball with the opportunity to make a couple of plays and I came up short.

"That burns."