2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs #4 Indiana Pacers (IND leads 1-0)

Moderators: Clav, Domejandro, ken6199, bisme37, Dirk, KingDavid, cupcakesnake, bwgood77, zimpy27, infinite11285

Who wins and goes to the ECFs?

Poll ended at Mon May 5, 2025 4:13 pm

Cavs in 4
9
5%
Cavs in 5
45
23%
Cavs in 6
69
35%
Cavs in 7
22
11%
Pacers in 4
5
3%
Pacers in 5
1
1%
Pacers in 6
29
15%
Pacers in 7
16
8%
 
Total votes: 196

User avatar
bisme37
Forum Mod - Celtics
Forum Mod - Celtics
Posts: 24,752
And1: 71,905
Joined: May 24, 2014
 

2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs #4 Indiana Pacers (IND leads 1-0) 

Post#1 » by bisme37 » Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:13 pm

Game 2: Tuesday May 6th, 7pm ET on TNT

Image

Image

Image
Mavrelous
Forum Mod - Mavericks
Forum Mod - Mavericks
Posts: 19,749
And1: 17,644
Joined: Aug 20, 2020

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#2 » by Mavrelous » Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:23 pm

I expect this to be the most fun series offensively, Cavs have elite defense, and Pacers can defend this year, but these 2 teams have some really creative players in the open court and both have great ball movement, on talent, it's Cavs in 5, but Carlisle is a battle tested wily fox with decades of experience who will muck things up and throw weird punches, so I'm expecting to be wrong.
Defense wins draft lotteries!
Jadoogar
RealGM
Posts: 17,316
And1: 16,960
Joined: May 06, 2010
   

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#3 » by Jadoogar » Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:24 pm

Pacers have looked pretty good. I think Cavs should win but this should be a fun series. 2 versatile offensive teams with a lot of options. I think Cavs defense will eventually be enough
ReggiesKnicks
Veteran
Posts: 2,993
And1: 2,470
Joined: Jan 25, 2025
   

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#4 » by ReggiesKnicks » Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:26 pm

Cavaliers in 5
SA37
RealGM
Posts: 18,639
And1: 9,309
Joined: Sep 10, 2002
Location: Basking in the Glory
 

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#5 » by SA37 » Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:27 pm

This is going to be a heck of a series. I am going to say Cleveland in 6, but I could absolutely see this going 7.
tsherkin
Forum Mod - Raptors
Forum Mod - Raptors
Posts: 92,237
And1: 31,828
Joined: Oct 14, 2003
 

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#6 » by tsherkin » Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:35 pm

My first impulse is to say Cavs in 5, because I just think the defensive gap is so large.
JujitsuFlip
RealGM
Posts: 14,687
And1: 9,102
Joined: Sep 10, 2021

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#7 » by JujitsuFlip » Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:47 pm

So again, trying to stay humble with the predictions here.

I think a strength of the Cavs is their depth and honestly the Pacers may somehow actually be deeper.

Spo threw some zone out in round 1 and i know Carlisle likes zone too, so it'll be interesting to see when he deploys those looks.

Cavs are #1 and Pacers #3 in ORtg thus far in the playoffs, so should be some high scoring games.

I have gotta go Cavs in 6 because of the year they're having, i think they gotta find a way to pull it out. Maybe Mitchell can finally make a conference final.
User avatar
mcfly1204
General Manager
Posts: 9,932
And1: 2,569
Joined: Oct 31, 2008

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#8 » by mcfly1204 » Wed Apr 30, 2025 4:57 pm

I was told Miami matched up well with Cleveland's front court, how's Indiana sizing up?
Well at least we're not Detroit!
yoadknux
Rookie
Posts: 1,148
And1: 692
Joined: May 21, 2011

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#9 » by yoadknux » Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:10 pm

Cavs are more talented. Both teams are deep.
I think the Pacers will upset game 1, but the series will go to 2-2. I say Cavs in 6
"I’ve seen a guy that played for the Pacers, gave them everything they had, or everything he had, and was essentially traded to the dogs. And I’m speaking on Danny Granger, who was one of the better players in Pacers history"
User avatar
bisme37
Forum Mod - Celtics
Forum Mod - Celtics
Posts: 24,752
And1: 71,905
Joined: May 24, 2014
 

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#10 » by bisme37 » Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:12 pm

Pacers were really tough vs my Celtics last playoffs. One of the most competitive sweeps I've seen and the games came down to execution in crunchtime. Indy seems to have learned and improved since then, not freaking out so much at the end of games, so I think they will take the Cavs to 6 or 7. But I do favor Cleveland to win.
sp6r=underrated
RealGM
Posts: 20,893
And1: 13,690
Joined: Jan 20, 2007
 

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#11 » by sp6r=underrated » Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:19 pm

bisme37 wrote:Pacers were really tough vs my Celtics last playoffs. One of the most competitive sweeps I've seen and the games came down to execution in crunchtime. Indy seems to have learned and improved since then, not freaking out so much at the end of games, so I think they will take the Cavs to 6 or 7. But I do favor Cleveland to win.


I like your point about competitive sweeps. It is a real thing.

Game 1
Indiana led 9:24.0
Boston led 38:48.0
Last Indiana Lead: OT 3:45 to go

Game 2 Blowout

Game 3
Boston led 12:40.0
Indiana led 34:56.0
Last Indiana Lead: 1:26 to go

Game 4
Boston led 18:09.0
Indiana led 24:26.0
Last Indiana Lead: 3:30

I'm not trying to imply Indiana was the better team in that series for they weren't. Boston did beat em 4 straight. But it was a competitive sweep and Indiana could leave that series feeling like they had the building blocks of a real team not that they were a pretender who was exposed.
User avatar
bisme37
Forum Mod - Celtics
Forum Mod - Celtics
Posts: 24,752
And1: 71,905
Joined: May 24, 2014
 

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#12 » by bisme37 » Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:31 pm

Read on Twitter
Gregoire
Analyst
Posts: 3,529
And1: 669
Joined: Jul 29, 2012

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#13 » by Gregoire » Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:44 pm

Cavs in 6
Heej wrote:
These no calls on LeBron are crazy. A lot of stars got foul calls to protect them.
falcolombardi wrote:
Come playoffs 18 lebron beats any version of jordan
AEnigma wrote:
Jordan is not as smart a help defender as Kidd
Cubbies2120
Head Coach
Posts: 6,368
And1: 9,285
Joined: Apr 20, 2012
Location: MD
 

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#14 » by Cubbies2120 » Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:46 pm

Pacers in 6
Jokic 5x MVP train
bfchs123
Pro Prospect
Posts: 908
And1: 2,053
Joined: May 15, 2019
     

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#15 » by bfchs123 » Wed Apr 30, 2025 5:48 pm

Don't overlook the Pacers - they are now 20-4 over their last 24 games (incl. playoffs)

I definitely see this going 6 or 7
User avatar
Green89
RealGM
Posts: 28,326
And1: 27,803
Joined: Apr 01, 2013

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#16 » by Green89 » Wed Apr 30, 2025 6:06 pm

bfchs123 wrote:Don't overlook the Pacers - they are now 20-4 over their last 24 games (incl. playoffs)

I definitely see this going 6 or 7


Yes, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Pacers upset them.
User avatar
dakomish23
Forum Mod - Knicks
Forum Mod - Knicks
Posts: 58,764
And1: 48,736
Joined: Sep 22, 2013
Location: Empire State
     

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#17 » by dakomish23 » Wed Apr 30, 2025 6:36 pm

Garland only played 2 games but he was incredible in the first round

24.0 PPG 2.5 RPG 7.0 APG
51.6% on 15.5 FGA
41.2% on 8.5 3PA
90.0% on 5.0 FTA
Jimmit79 wrote:Yea RJ played well he was definitely the x factor


#FreeJimmit
Revived
RealGM
Posts: 37,445
And1: 22,225
Joined: Feb 17, 2011

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#18 » by Revived » Wed Apr 30, 2025 6:39 pm

Read on Twitter
User avatar
The High Cyde
General Manager
Posts: 8,319
And1: 15,066
Joined: Jun 06, 2014
Location: Elbaf
 

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#19 » by The High Cyde » Wed Apr 30, 2025 6:43 pm

Revived wrote:
Read on Twitter

That is hilarious lmao
Image
User avatar
mcfly1204
General Manager
Posts: 9,932
And1: 2,569
Joined: Oct 31, 2008

Re: 2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Indiana Pacers 

Post#20 » by mcfly1204 » Wed Apr 30, 2025 7:08 pm

dakomish23 wrote:Garland only played 2 games but he was incredible in the first round

24.0 PPG 2.5 RPG 7.0 APG
51.6% on 15.5 FGA
41.2% on 8.5 3PA
90.0% on 5.0 FTA

I'll see your Garland stats, and raise you a Mobley:

8/17 from 3 (47%)

For reference, Mobley was a combined 5/19 (26%) in previous playoff series.
Well at least we're not Detroit!

Return to The General Board