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

[GiannisAnte34]

It’s not the Pacers fault that the Bucks rushed Dame back, regardless of how much you wish it were the Pacers fault.

I don't think it's the Pacers fault, they play who is in front of them. I'm questioning if they'll rise to the challenge if that's what's in front of them next when the best teams they've beaten the last 2 years have had major injuries factor into the series

You literally asked if people should consider it a coincidence.

I'm implying luck, in no way do I think the Pacers intentionally injured anyone

[GiannisAnte34]

if one of the Cavs stars gets injured in the series you have to start questioning if its all coincidence

Can’t say this then say you aren’t suggesting the Pacers are dirty.

I don't think the Pacers are dirty, trash talking aside

[Black star]

The Bucks may have had the worst defense of any team in the playoffs minus the Heat. On top of that, the only good defensive players they did have in Giannis and Brook matched up terribly with the strengths of the Pacers. So I think we got the ideal version of what the Pacer's offense can look like in round 1.

The Cav's defense is miles better than the Bucks and they at least have some long lengthy defenders to throw at the Pacer's guards. Last year the Celts slowed down the Pacer's offense and I expect the Cavs to do the same. Conversely the Pacers don't have the personnel to stop the Cavs offensive machine. It will be a series of runs but the Pacers are going to hit more lulls in scoring than the Cavs will.

The Cavs downshifted at the end of the season but when they are locked in they are on a different level than any other team in the East other than Celtics. I'm leaning Cavs in 5 or 6 in this one.

[JujitsuFlip]

The Bucks may have had the worst defense of any team in the playoffs minus the Heat. On top of that, the only good defensive players they did have in Giannis and Brook matched up terribly with the strengths of the Pacers. So I think we got the ideal version of what the Pacer's offense can look like in round 1.

The Cav's defense is miles better than the Bucks and they at least have some long lengthy defenders to throw at the Pacer's guards. Last year the Celts slowed down the Pacer's offense and I expect the Cavs to do the same. Conversely the Pacers don't have the personnel to stop the Cavs offensive machine. It will be a series of runs but the Pacers are going to hit more lulls in scoring than the Cavs will.

The Cavs downshifted at the end of the season but when they are locked in they are on a different level than any other team in the East other than Celtics. I'm leaning Cavs in 5 or 6 in this one.

I was wondering that because I think I haven't watched a single minute of Pacers basketball this season...

Question open to the floor, what makes the Pacers offense tick? Are they a motion offense? Pick n roll heavy offense? Fast paced, get out on the break offense?

[GiannisAnte34]

The Bucks may have had the worst defense of any team in the playoffs minus the Heat. On top of that, the only good defensive players they did have in Giannis and Brook matched up terribly with the strengths of the Pacers. So I think we got the ideal version of what the Pacer's offense can look like in round 1.

The Cav's defense is miles better than the Bucks and they at least have some long lengthy defenders to throw at the Pacer's guards. Last year the Celts slowed down the Pacer's offense and I expect the Cavs to do the same. Conversely the Pacers don't have the personnel to stop the Cavs offensive machine. It will be a series of runs but the Pacers are going to hit more lulls in scoring than the Cavs will.

The Cavs downshifted at the end of the season but when they are locked in they are on a different level than any other team in the East other than Celtics. I'm leaning Cavs in 5 or 6 in this one.

I was wondering that because I think I haven't watched a single minute of Pacers basketball this season...

Question open to the floor, what makes the Pacers offense tick? Are they a motion offense? Pick n roll heavy offense? Fast paced, get out on the break offense?

High tempo and a lot of motion misdirection to kick out for open 3s. I think the Cavs have a way better roster to deal with that guard heavy high tempo offense Indy wants to use

[oikosnomos]

Pacers have good offense. Cavs is even better.

Pacers have depth. Cavs are deeper.

Cavs have a big rebounding advantage and the defense is step above the Pacers. I see the Cavs getting faster starts and not surrendering leads.

Pacers are a nice team, but Cleveland is just too good this year.

Cavs in 5.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

I don't think it's the Pacers fault, they play who is in front of them. I'm questioning if they'll rise to the challenge if that's what's in front of them next when the best teams they've beaten the last 2 years have had major injuries factor into the series

You literally asked if people should consider it a coincidence.

I'm implying luck, in no way do I think the Pacers intentionally injured anyone

Gotcha, it didn’t read that way to me, but heard.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

The Bucks may have had the worst defense of any team in the playoffs minus the Heat. On top of that, the only good defensive players they did have in Giannis and Brook matched up terribly with the strengths of the Pacers. So I think we got the ideal version of what the Pacer's offense can look like in round 1.

The Cav's defense is miles better than the Bucks and they at least have some long lengthy defenders to throw at the Pacer's guards. Last year the Celts slowed down the Pacer's offense and I expect the Cavs to do the same. Conversely the Pacers don't have the personnel to stop the Cavs offensive machine. It will be a series of runs but the Pacers are going to hit more lulls in scoring than the Cavs will.

The Cavs downshifted at the end of the season but when they are locked in they are on a different level than any other team in the East other than Celtics. I'm leaning Cavs in 5 or 6 in this one.

I was wondering that because I think I haven't watched a single minute of Pacers basketball this season...

Question open to the floor, what makes the Pacers offense tick? Are they a motion offense? Pick n roll heavy offense? Fast paced, get out on the break offense?

Whatever is working.

The Pacers are just constantly moving and finding whatever mismatch they can get.

Cavs defense is very good and finding those mismatches will be more difficult, but the Pacers truly don’t care who scores. They will feed the hot hand, regardless of their position on the team.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Pacers have good offense. Cavs is even better.

Pacers have depth. Cavs are deeper.

Cavs have a big rebounding advantage and the defense is step above the Pacers. I see the Cavs getting faster starts and not surrendering leads.

Pacers are a nice team, but Cleveland is just too good this year.

Cavs in 5.

The rebounding is the main reason the Cavs will win this series. It’s just a massive problem for the Pacers and the Cavs will absolutely exploit that.

Overall, the Cavs have more talent than the Pacers, at least top end talent. I disagree about the Cavs being deeper though.

[JujitsuFlip]

The Bucks may have had the worst defense of any team in the playoffs minus the Heat. On top of that, the only good defensive players they did have in Giannis and Brook matched up terribly with the strengths of the Pacers. So I think we got the ideal version of what the Pacer's offense can look like in round 1.

The Cav's defense is miles better than the Bucks and they at least have some long lengthy defenders to throw at the Pacer's guards. Last year the Celts slowed down the Pacer's offense and I expect the Cavs to do the same. Conversely the Pacers don't have the personnel to stop the Cavs offensive machine. It will be a series of runs but the Pacers are going to hit more lulls in scoring than the Cavs will.

The Cavs downshifted at the end of the season but when they are locked in they are on a different level than any other team in the East other than Celtics. I'm leaning Cavs in 5 or 6 in this one.

I was wondering that because I think I haven't watched a single minute of Pacers basketball this season...

Question open to the floor, what makes the Pacers offense tick? Are they a motion offense? Pick n roll heavy offense? Fast paced, get out on the break offense?

Whatever is working.

The Pacers are just constantly moving and finding whatever mismatch they can get.

Cavs defense is very good and finding those mismatches will be more difficult, but the Pacers truly don’t care who scores. They will feed the hot hand, regardless of their position on the team.

Sounds kind of like the Cavs offense to be honest although the Cavs do get in droughts of going iso sometimes.

[xBulletproof]

In their last 50 games.

Cavs - 36-14
Pacers - 35-15.

Some people didn't realize how quietly the Pacers have been a top 5 team in the NBA since December. Which ended up in them thinking the Bucks had a chance. I was so sure the Pacers were going to win it bordered on causing disinterest.

This is entirely different. I expect the Cavs should win, in 6 or 7. But the people thinking the Cavs will be able to just cruise should be shocked. This should be a good series.

I just think the Cavs are too talented to not figure this out. Allen is gonna have a series. If I'm Cleveland though I'm leery of a game 7. Indiana offense can go nuclear any given day. I wouldn't want a 1 game winner take all. It would make me nervous.

you make it sound like the Pacers blew out the Bucks 4 times. Games 2 and 5 were close despite Lillard contributing either absolutely nothing or close to nothing, then there was game 3 where the Bucks blew the Pacers out with Lillard acting only as a decoy. not to mention all the horribly suboptimal starting lineups Doc ran against a guard heavy offense that spotted Indy 10-15 points every 1st quarter. I really don't think the Pacers are all that good everything considered. They have depth but that doesn't do you any favor when your matched up with a team like Cleveland that is also pretty deep in their own right. Cleveland also doesn't play dumb defense, the Bucks were constantly overhelping leading to a wide open 3. I don't see the Cavs doing that consistently like the Bucks

Meh. The series is over, I know what you think. The Pacers won 4-1. The first two games weren't really close. The Bucks had a run each game that made you think .... "Ooh maybe!" but it wasn't sustainable or real.

At no point did I ever think the Bucks had a chance. From the last day of the regular season to yesterday. I was correct.

Keep in mind, you were the dude talking about the "Pacers are gonna FOLD" after the Bucks won games 3 and 4, you said. Screaming they were gonna sweep after game 2 Did they fold yesterday? Of course not, and easily could have packed it in and went to game 6. I get it, you think the Dame injury changed something. The Bucks were 32-26 with a healthy Giannis and Dame. It wasn't changing anything.

You've been continually wrong, but swearing you're still right and now you're bringing your wrong into a thread that isn't even about that anymore.

You will get no more responses here about something that has nothing to do with the current series.

[Sixers in 4]

Cavs in 5, Maybe 6 if IND steals one early

[JujitsuFlip]

Pacers have good offense. Cavs is even better.

Pacers have depth. Cavs are deeper.

Cavs have a big rebounding advantage and the defense is step above the Pacers. I see the Cavs getting faster starts and not surrendering leads.

Pacers are a nice team, but Cleveland is just too good this year.

Cavs in 5.

I don't think the Cavs are deeper, which is crazy to say because they're one of the deepest teams in the league.

Cavs will play the below 8, big minutes

Garland
Mitchell
Strus
Mobley
Allen
Jerome
Hunter
Merrill

Then Wade and Okoro are going to see spot minutes, rounding out their 10. I don't think any other Cav touches the floor in meaningful minutes.

I'm not as well versed on Pacers ball but if the 1st seires is any indication the below 11 guys are probably going to see the floor every night, even if for just 1 second.

Hali
Siakam
Turner
Nesmith
Nembhard
Toppin
McConnell
Mathurin
Walker
Ben Sheppard
Bryant

[jbk1234]

The Pacers are a good team, but the Cavs have kind of had their number the last two years.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

The Pacers are a good team, but the Cavs have kind of had their number the last two years.

The Cavs will win the series, they are just further along that the Pacers are, and that’s okay.

But the Cavs are 3-5 against the Pacers over their last 8 games. Obviously two of those this year were meaningless, but still 3-3 without those games. How is that having their number?

Not to mention the Pacers ended the Cavs streak earlier this year too.

[iggymcfrack]

Pacers have a lot of fight and I feel like they can overperform their talent a bit here, but Cleveland is too good to actually lose. Cavs in 6.

[JujitsuFlip]

The Pacers are a good team, but the Cavs have kind of had their number the last two years.

The Cavs will win the series, they are just further along that the Pacers are, and that’s okay.

But the Cavs are 3-5 against the Pacers over their last 8 games. Obviously two of those this year were meaningless, but still 3-3 without those games. How is that having their number?

Not to mention the Pacers ended the Cavs streak earlier this year too.

It's so difficult to take anything from those January games, Hali missed the 2nd one.

But the 1st one, Hunter wasn't on the team yet so the Cavs still had LeVert and Niang on the team who are not a great match for the Pacers. Ty Jerome also missed both games. Plus Strus became a starter after that and Wade became an end of rotation guy. A different team dynamic headed into this series.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

The Pacers are a good team, but the Cavs have kind of had their number the last two years.

The Cavs will win the series, they are just further along that the Pacers are, and that’s okay.

But the Cavs are 3-5 against the Pacers over their last 8 games. Obviously two of those this year were meaningless, but still 3-3 without those games. How is that having their number?

Not to mention the Pacers ended the Cavs streak earlier this year too.

It's so difficult to take anything from those January games, Hali missed the 2nd one.

But the 1st one, Hunter wasn't on the team yet so the Cavs still had LeVert and Niang on the team who are not a great match for the Pacers. Ty Jerome also missed both games. Plus Strus became a starter after that and Wade became an end of rotation guy. A different team dynamic headed into this series.

I understand, but the record is still the record. I don’t see how that is an example of the Cavs having the Pacers number.

[JujitsuFlip]

The Cavs will win the series, they are just further along that the Pacers are, and that’s okay.

But the Cavs are 3-5 against the Pacers over their last 8 games. Obviously two of those this year were meaningless, but still 3-3 without those games. How is that having their number?

Not to mention the Pacers ended the Cavs streak earlier this year too.

It's so difficult to take anything from those January games, Hali missed the 2nd one.

But the 1st one, Hunter wasn't on the team yet so the Cavs still had LeVert and Niang on the team who are not a great match for the Pacers. Ty Jerome also missed both games. Plus Strus became a starter after that and Wade became an end of rotation guy. A different team dynamic headed into this series.

I understand, but the record is still the record. I don’t see how that is an example of the Cavs having the Pacers number.

Meh, i take the record with a grain of salt. Pacere have never played this version of the Cavs, fully healthy.

Idk why jbk said the number thing, we shall see what he says.

[DowJones]

I just think Cleveland is better. Cavs in 5.