The Cleveland Cavaliers proved why they finished the season as first in the East by handling the Miami Heat with ease. The Indiana Pacers are a much different story. Cleveland may have the defensive player of the year, but with the hot streak the Pacers are on right now, they could send the Cavaliers home in the second round.
The Pacers are a much different team now than they were at the start of the season. Many role players have matured and even stepped into the spotlight. Andrew Nembhard, for one, has made a name for himself defensively while knocking down clutch shots. Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith have given continued effort throughout the season, finding ways to win when shots are not falling for others.
Tyrese Haliburton has begun to make an argument for being one of the best point guards in the league. His aptitude for handling the ball has not only caught the eye of NBA fans but has also fueled this Pacers offense to new heights. Setting assist records, while not turning the ball over, and hitting game-winner after game-winner, makes it hard to see why he was voted most overrated.
As a team, the Pacers no longer shy away from big opportunities when it is crunch time. In previous seasons, Indy struggled to close out tight games or would give up big leads in the second half. A new story has been written this season. One where the Blue and Gold give continued effort through four quarters, and even overtime, doing whatever it takes to win.
Since the All-Star break, the Pacers had one of the best regular-season records in the league, right up there with the Cavs. Adding to this, Indy had a harder strength of schedule over that same span. They may not have had the best start to the year, but they made sure to finish it strong.
Stringing wins together and building on team chemistry is just what a team wants to do ahead of the playoffs. The Pacers have done just that. They carried all the momentum going into round one and made quick work of the Bucks. Winning in 5 games against Milwaukee shows Indy has the resolve to win against tough opponents, especially in a seven-game series.
It has long been known that Indiana is not a defensively minded team and struggles with rebounding as well. Their offense more than compensates for this. The Pacers share the ball more than any other team in the postseason and for good reason. Any one of the starters or regular bench players are capable of scoring at a high clip.
Indy has displayed an ability to have eight or nine players score double figures in a night. They have also shown that role players are capable of having breakout nights to win games when the go-to guys struggle. This is crucial in the playoffs, where time and time again it is proven that anything can happen.
The Pacers’ last game against the Bucks is a perfect example of just how resilient their offense is. Down 17 points in the first quarter, Indy fought back to tie the game in the third quarter. From here, they were able to keep even with Milwaukee to send the game into overtime. When trailing 118-111, Indy went on an 8-0 run in the final 40 seconds to send the Bucks packing.
The Blue and Gold have proven time and time again that their shooting is top tier. When given the opportunity, they will knock down tough shots to keep their team in the game. Should the Cavs start the series flat-footed, given a false sense of success by less than formidable opponents, the Pacers will take the advantage.
Indy will be the Cavs’ first real test in the postseason. The Pacers have proven that their offense can take down the toughest opponents, even when games are close. Couple this with the fact that the Pacers have all the momentum coming into the series, Cleveland could be stunned from the start. Should the Pacers come out strong to start the second round, they will win in six.
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