With the playoffs less than two weeks out, the Indiana Pacers will likely secure the fourth seed. Their recent burst of victories has inspired hope in the fan base to make another deep run. However, this year’s playoff picture in the East could shake out to be tougher than 2024, despite a higher seed.
Last season, a six-seeded Pacers team was able to power their way to the Eastern Conference Finals. There is no denying that injuries on the opposing teams aided that process, but the Pacers still showed up to take care of business. Since then, Indy has only gotten stronger as a team and is capable of handling any team in the East, healthy or not.
The Eastern Conference is arguably tougher and healthier than last year, but so are the Pacers. With their red-hot winning streaks down the stretch of the regular season, no team wants to face the Pacers in the first round.
The Blue and Gold will meet the Bucks for the second year in a row and should expect the same outcome. Milwaukee looks to add Damian Lillard back to the lineup for the first round, no doubt complicating matchups. A newly defensive-minded Andrew Nembhard should be able to contain Lillard and keep options limited.
There may be no stopping the Greek Freak, but the Pacers can outrun him. Their high pace of play in combination with a selfless team mentality will accelerate the Pacers to victory. This series should be a shorter one with Indy again taking care of business in 5 games.
It is no secret that the Cleveland Cavaliers are the team to beat in the East. They will dominate in the first round just like they have handled opponents in the regular season, without issue. Realistically, their first challenge of the season will be against the Pacers in the second round.
Playoff basketball inspires lower-seeded teams to play above their level and presents higher-seeded teams with unique challenges. The term “perfect storm” comes to mind when thinking of a Cavs versus Pacers series. Yes, Cleveland is good, but are they seven-game series good?
Indiana is currently 13-3 in their last 16 contests and on a five-game win streak. They are finding their grove with impeccable timing. Factor in coming off a short, victorious series against the Bucks, and the Pacers will be having all the momentum.
If the Pacers can push this playoff series to six or seven games, they have a shot at taking down the one-seed. In the last month, Indiana has displayed grit to close out tight games, even when missing a star player. If the Cavs concede a close game or two, they could be in real trouble. With a healthy and confident Pacers squad, they take this playoff matchup in seven games.
On the other side of the playoff bracket in the East, the New York Knicks will make some noise. They will make light work of the Pistons, likely sweeping them. Afterwards, the Celtics will put up commendable effort, but will ultimately fall to the Knicks in six games. This leaves us with an Eastern Conference Finals matchup bringing back iconic playoff memories, good and bad alike.
With a deep playoff history between the two teams, a chippy, cutthroat attitude can be expected from both. A couple of aspects of the game that go hand in hand with this mindset are defense and rebounding. A lack of these almost cost the Pacers the series against the Knicks last year in the second round. There is no denying injuries on New York’s side aided the Pacers, but Indiana still showed up to take the series in seven games.
There have been looming concerns around Indiana’s defense and rebounding efforts this season as well. While these concerns may be justified, this Pacers team has matured greatly over the past year, including on the defensive side of the floor. In the end, a series against the Knicks will be decided by consistent offensive performances from the Pacers. As a result, Indiana will relive their 2000s playoff glory and surpass New York in six games.
The likely contender to make it out of the West is the OKC Thunder, and for good reason. They have not lost more than two games in a row this season. That streak will continue into the playoffs, carrying them to a championship run.
Indiana will make a playoff run they have not had in 25 years, but OKC will cut their championship dreams short. The Pacers’ lack of depth and the aforementioned defense and rebounding issues will prove too much to overcome. The Thunder take this series in six games, but not without a respectable effort from Indiana.
Last season showed much promise from the Pacers, and this year that promise has only grown. Coming off an impressive finish to the season, Indiana will carry that momentum deep into the playoffs. They are not quite yet at championship caliber, but they are well on their way. I predict that this year the Pacers will end a 25-year NBA Finals drought.
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