Game Thread 01/26: Pacers vs. Cavs

[boomershadow]

When the 2017-18 schedule first came out last August, not even the most ardent of Pacers fans would believe that Indiana would travel to Cleveland on Jan. 26 with a chance to sweep the regular season series against LeBron and the Cavs.

Yet that's exactly what is in play on Friday night, when the Pacers (26-22) visit Quicken Loans Arena for their fourth and final meeting of the regular season with their Central Division rivals. Not only do the Pacers already own three wins over the Cavs (winning in Cleveland on Nov. 1 and in Indianapolis on Dec. 8 and Jan. 12), but the two teams are trending in opposite directions.

The Pacers are rolling. Fresh off a 3-2 road trip, the Blue & Gold returned to Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday and pummeled the Phoenix Suns, leading by as many as 38 points in a 116-101 victory.

Wheat Hotchkiss

http://www.nba.com/pacers/preview-pacers-cavaliers-180126

[Jake0890]

Tristan Thompson is now starting, which is not so good for us. He eats us alive with put backs and offensive rebounds regularly.

Hopefully the Cavs haven’t gotten their annual wake up call yet.

[DoubleEagle4]

Myles is already ruled out can't believe he's been out this long

[ducler]

[Wizop]

Myles is already ruled out can't believe he's been out this long

and from a showboat dunk.

Sent from my phone.

[AussiePacer]

Ok start, but worried about JR finally finding a shooting stroke against us, along with early fouls for Bogey and Lance.

[boomershadow]

I think if we can stem this initial energy surge from the Cavs drama and changing lineups and stuff that has been happening, I think we can hang in there during this game.

[Nuntius]

Our defense has been absolutely terrible. If we want to win tonight our defense has to improve A LOT.

[boomershadow]

Poythress not looking bad at all.

[DoubleEagle4]

Isaiah Thomas looks surprisingly horrible. They are missing Kyrie badly right now.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[DoubleEagle4]

4 mins left in the 3rd Q. Cavs have given plenty of chances to the Pacers to get back in it, but they haven't been able to capitalize.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[Jake0890]

Only fitting that JR Smith has his best game of the year against us

[boomershadow]

Our defense is so bad that it's brought back vintage Rose.

[Jake0890]

Seemed like a winnable game, just didn't make the baskets at critical moments in the game.

[Miller4ever]

I didn't watch the first half. I saw some good fight. Victor Oladipo and Thaddeus Young get us so many 50-50 balls.

We are low on depth, put heavy minutes on our guys tonight and we have to play tomorrow O.O

[boomershadow]

I actually thought Cleveland was due to turn the ship around. I'm just not happy it happened against the Pacers.

I'm glad to see some fight put in though. After they came out strong, it could have turned into a blowout fairly easily. Instead it was a real game by the end of it.

[Miller4ever]

I actually thought Cleveland was due to turn the ship around. I'm just not happy it happened against the Pacers.

I'm glad to see some fight put in though. After they came out strong, it could have turned into a blowout fairly easily. Instead it was a real game by the end of it.

That DC three...

We're going to be very interesting in the playoffs if healthy.