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While we wait a week for the first round to kick off, let's have a thread to discuss Pacers vs. Bucks. The Pacers won the season series 4-1, but all of those games were in the first half of the season, and a lot has changed since then. Haliburton has cooled off a bit, the Pacers added Siakam, the Bucks got Doc Rivers as their coach. The Bucks basically were .500 in the last half of the season.

Giannis is injured and it's unclear whether he will miss any games, or how many. He has absolutely gone off on the Pacers in multiple games this season with 54 and 64 point games.

The Pacers and Bucks had the infamous game ball conflict, where Giannis set the franchise record and then mistakenly thought the Pacers had snatched the game ball and got very upset and charged the Pacers locker room.

What does the series have in store? What will be the key matchups? Are the Bucks just too old and injured? Or are the Pacers too young and streaky? Who will win?

I mean. After all the IST stuff, isn't this the matchup we all wanted?

boomershadow wrote:I mean. After all the IST stuff, isn't this the matchup we all wanted?

other than Atlanta, sure.

Sunday 21st at Milwaukee is the first game of the series per NBA. No time details yet.

Looks like no Giannis for at least the first game or two... the Pacers must capitalize on this, they are now the favorites.

Gonna cheer for us (of course!),... and gonna cheer for Philly. If Philly makes it past the playin,.. it will be the first playoff games for Buddy,... ever. Would love to see him finally check that box,... and if Philly gets past Miami,... then past NY,... we get a home playoff series,.. =] (where I will be cheering just as strongly that Buddy goes cold,.. LOL) =}

Somehow the Ringer has the Pacers w/ the 2nd best odds to win the East: https://nbarankings.theringer.com/playoff-odds

jowglenn wrote:Somehow the Ringer has the Pacers w/ the 2nd best odds to win the East: https://nbarankings.theringer.com/playoff-odds

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2024-nba-playoffs-predictions-picks-for-entire-postseason-bracket-with-experts-eyeing-celtics-nuggets-finals/

of the CBS sportswriters filling out playoff brackets,... 5 of 6 have us getting past the Bucks. =}

Pacers Forever wrote:Sunday 21st at Milwaukee is the first game of the series per NBA. No time details yet.

This is what’s showing on ESPN:
Game 1: Sunday at Milwaukee, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Game 2: Tuesday at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
Game 3: Friday April 26 at Indiana, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Game 4: Sunday April 28 at Indiana, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)

Game 5 (if necessary): Tuesday April 30 at Milwaukee
Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday May 2 at Indiana
Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday May 4 at Milwaukee (TNT)

I longed for this and it is hard to be pessimistic even when being extremely realistic. Fun season getting more fun .

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While we may be favored a bit because of the injury factor, Milwaukee still has the advantage of playoff tested vets and home court. Yes, we did win the regular season series vs them, but that was regular season and this is the playoffs..

I hate it, but I expect us to get our butts kicked in this opening game.

Tom White wrote:While we may be favored a bit because of the injury factor, Milwaukee still has the advantage of playoff tested vets and home court. Yes, we did win the regular season series vs them, but that was regular season and this is the playoffs..

I hate it, but I expect us to get our butts kicked in this opening game.

I'm apprehensive too. We could be over confident. I hope we split the first two games.

When your goal is to get to the playoffs, it's hard to win when you do. That said, every road team getting stomped this weekend.

Our defense is horrible tonight. No wonder they’re down almost 20.

4 minutes left in the game and your all star is 4-5. How can Carlisle not come up with plays to free Tyrese for shots ????? So pissed at him.

I'm not super surprised about this. I had some optimism, but the Bucks are playing super motivated because of Giannis's absence and are a playoff experienced and tougher team, especially with Beverly. Couldn't breathe on Lillard the first quarter either, and after that it was mostly already headed in the direction it went. That combined with some horrid shooting, well. Man. What can you do.

I was happy Rick experimented with some things, like putting Jackson on Portis early and then inserting Doug when they couldn't hit anything. Luckily there are still more games to play.

Pacers Forever wrote:4 minutes left in the game and your all star is 4-5. How can Carlisle not come up with plays to free Tyrese for shots ????? So pissed at him.

I'm so pissed of Hali lack of aggressiveness, always looking to pass the ball, not asking for the ball, play like a role player. He is the all-star and leader of the team, he should take over.

Much better start tonight in game 2. Pacers 30-26 after 1. Only Lopez and Lillard contributed for the deer.