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

[GiannisAnte34]

This is the real 2vs3 seed series lol

Celtics more fitting to be #1 and Knicks more fitting to be #4

I have to admire your spunk

I feel this series will be closer than the Knicks Celtics series, we'll see

[cgf]

This is the real 2vs3 seed series lol

Celtics more fitting to be #1 and Knicks more fitting to be #4

I have to admire your spunk

I feel this series will be closer than the Knicks Celtics series, we'll see

I think both series will be closer than people expect and go 7.

The east has a really good top 4 this season. Now that Giannis & the two feisty up-n-comer's are out, it’s just the 4 teams I wouldn’t be shocked to see in the final.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Yeah, I like Ben Shepherd off their bench as well…and Walker is super interesting. Their d sucked to start last season but since the lineup change they’ve been pretty tenacious, with a style that wears out teams with less depth, on both ends.


I get what you mean, but some of that is just that this team didn’t have a training camp together, so have had to figure things on the fly…which was complicated by all of the injuries to the limited depth we do have; Robinson ~60 games, Shamet ~30, Achiuwa ~20, McBride & Payne ~10 each; forcing the starters to play crazy minutes, which forced Thibs to cut back on practices.

Luckily that has turned around and we finally got to see our top 7 all healthy for the same game before the end of the regular season, and Brunson’s ankle is the only major health concern at the moment…and we’ve been beating the Pistons without busting some of the things so many of us are clamoring for, and giving Boston tape to pick apart.

But I also don’t think we’re 0-8 below the top 3. We got blown out by each of the top 3 once, but the other games were all close until we gassed in the 4th…despite only having our top 7 for one of those 8 games; the OT loss to Boston, which was the second time we faced them as our third game in four nights, and 3 of the Cleveland games being the second night of a b2b. With 7 guys Thibs trusts + the fringe guys + proper rest, we shouldn’t gas in the 4 like we did in most of the RS matchups…whether that’s enough for us to win or not.

We still smacked the Pacers, Nuggets, Grizzlies, Magic, etc. around the way the top 3 smacked us around. Which makes me think we’re a cut above most of the field…even health + rest isn’t enough to get us in that top tier

Well, the defense largely sucked because Nembhard and Nesmith, our two best perimeter defenders, both missed a lot of games, then both of our backup Centers got injured, so we had no one behind Turner. It was more of a health issue than anything.

I meant last season before the rotation shake up. This season yeah, it was all injuries that left you 10-15 to start the campaign.

You spoke clearly and I misread haha, my bad!

[GiannisAnte34]

I have to admire your spunk

I feel this series will be closer than the Knicks Celtics series, we'll see

I think both series will be closer than people expect and go 7.

The east has a really good top 4 this season. Now that Giannis & the two feisty up-n-comer's are out, it’s just the 4 teams I wouldn’t be shocked to see in the final.

I fully expect the Celtics in the Finals again, they’re just too stacked with that starting lineup and off the bench they’ve got PP and Big Al

[cgf]

I feel this series will be closer than the Knicks Celtics series, we'll see

I think both series will be closer than people expect and go 7.

The east has a really good top 4 this season. Now that Giannis & the two feisty up-n-comer's are out, it’s just the 4 teams I wouldn’t be shocked to see in the final.

I fully expect the Celtics in the Finals again, they’re just too stacked with that starting lineup and off the bench they’ve got PP and Big Al

The one time we played them with our top 7 healthy it went to OT in Brunson’s 2nd game back from injury. Boston was missing horford for that one, but they might be missing Jrue for this one

I expect them to win, but it won’t be an easy series for either top seed.

[Kameleon]

Post from Realcavsfans and I couldnt agree more. But this is sport so we will see.
"Fun matchups!
1. We'll target Haliburton like we did Heiro--with the same success.
2. We'll treat Turner like Adabayo--double-teaming him and frustrating him with Jarrett and Mobley--with the same success.
3. We'll use a lot of Mobley, Wade, and Hunter on Siakim--and he'll get frustrated, especially trying to defend Mobley and Hunter. He may get in foul trouble.
4. Garland and Mitchell will be able to score at will.
5. If we keep our turnovers down, it'll be a 4 game sweep"

[durden_tyler]

Series Odds:

Cavaliers -2.5 vs Pacers

Meaning you bet on the Cavaliers here you need to the series finished in six games (4-2). i would have thought this is going to be closer but Vegas does not think of it that way.

Wouldn't it have to be 4 - 1?

2 + 2.5 > 4

Yes, you are correct.

[Eightnineborn]

Post from Realcavsfans and I couldnt agree more. But this is sport so we will see.
"Fun matchups!
1. We'll target Haliburton like we did Heiro--with the same success.
2. We'll treat Turner like Adabayo--double-teaming him and frustrating him with Jarrett and Mobley--with the same success.
3. We'll use a lot of Mobley, Wade, and Hunter on Siakim--and he'll get frustrated, especially trying to defend Mobley and Hunter. He may get in foul trouble.
4. Garland and Mitchell will be able to score at will.
5. If we keep our turnovers down, it'll be a 4 game sweep"

Wow, this is a little too optimistic…

The series will at least go 5 games but I really wont be shocked to see game 6, which means game 7 is always a possibility.

This is a tough tough matchup.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Post from Realcavsfans and I couldnt agree more. But this is sport so we will see.
"Fun matchups!
1. We'll target Haliburton like we did Heiro--with the same success.
2. We'll treat Turner like Adabayo--double-teaming him and frustrating him with Jarrett and Mobley--with the same success.
3. We'll use a lot of Mobley, Wade, and Hunter on Siakim--and he'll get frustrated, especially trying to defend Mobley and Hunter. He may get in foul trouble.
4. Garland and Mitchell will be able to score at will.
5. If we keep our turnovers down, it'll be a 4 game sweep"

So the Pacers are going to lose every game by 50?

[JujitsuFlip]

Post from Realcavsfans and I couldnt agree more. But this is sport so we will see.
"Fun matchups!
1. We'll target Haliburton like we did Heiro--with the same success.
2. We'll treat Turner like Adabayo--double-teaming him and frustrating him with Jarrett and Mobley--with the same success.
3. We'll use a lot of Mobley, Wade, and Hunter on Siakim--and he'll get frustrated, especially trying to defend Mobley and Hunter. He may get in foul trouble.
4. Garland and Mitchell will be able to score at will.
5. If we keep our turnovers down, it'll be a 4 game sweep"

I think some key differences is that they're not going to want to leave Turner open from 3 and dare him to shoot, like they did Bam. Turner will lace those in their eye. Cavs also used Hunter and Wade on Bam for stretches which i think would be an awful idea with Turner's size.

Maybe they do attack Hali like they did Herro but on the other side of the court, Hali is not just going to chuck it, he will facilitate, and get others involved.

But the true difference between the teams is Siakam. The Heat have no one like him, the guy can shoot, pass, and has a post-up game.

I also think the secondary creators in McConnell and Nembhard will pose a different threat than the Heat could. They will keep the ball moving and continue that rim pressure.

[Eightnineborn]

We really dont know the Cavs yet, and its so weird, 64 wins, record beating round 1, but still there remain questions. A certain side of me thinks everything will click and we will abolish everyone infront of us, but then the part of me who has been with this team for the last 5 years kicks in.

[Wizop]

Post from Realcavsfans and I couldnt agree more. But this is sport so we will see.
"Fun matchups!
1. We'll target Haliburton like we did Heiro--with the same success.
2. We'll treat Turner like Adabayo--double-teaming him and frustrating him with Jarrett and Mobley--with the same success.
3. We'll use a lot of Mobley, Wade, and Hunter on Siakim--and he'll get frustrated, especially trying to defend Mobley and Hunter. He may get in foul trouble.
4. Garland and Mitchell will be able to score at will.
5. If we keep our turnovers down, it'll be a 4 game sweep"

so you are going to double team Haliburton (your #1), Turner (your #2), and Siakam (your #3)?

[ReggiesKnicks]

Post from Realcavsfans and I couldnt agree more. But this is sport so we will see.
"Fun matchups!
1. We'll target Haliburton like we did Heiro--with the same success.
2. We'll treat Turner like Adabayo--double-teaming him and frustrating him with Jarrett and Mobley--with the same success.
3. We'll use a lot of Mobley, Wade, and Hunter on Siakim--and he'll get frustrated, especially trying to defend Mobley and Hunter. He may get in foul trouble.
4. Garland and Mitchell will be able to score at will.
5. If we keep our turnovers down, it'll be a 4 game sweep"

Cleveland is going to get smoked if they employ the same strategy defensively against the Pacers as they did the Heat.

I assume Cleveland isn't brain dead.

[JujitsuFlip]

Post from Realcavsfans and I couldnt agree more. But this is sport so we will see.
"Fun matchups!
1. We'll target Haliburton like we did Heiro--with the same success.
2. We'll treat Turner like Adabayo--double-teaming him and frustrating him with Jarrett and Mobley--with the same success.
3. We'll use a lot of Mobley, Wade, and Hunter on Siakim--and he'll get frustrated, especially trying to defend Mobley and Hunter. He may get in foul trouble.
4. Garland and Mitchell will be able to score at will.
5. If we keep our turnovers down, it'll be a 4 game sweep"

so you are going to double team Haliburton (your #1), Turner (your #2), and Siakam (your #3)?

That is sort of the D the Cavs played in the 1st round. But Kenny and Johnnie Bryant are not rigid in their approach, like bickerstaff was the 3 postseasons before them. I am sure they will have a defense tailored to the Pacers scheme and personnel.

[Los_29]

I’ve read that they’ll put Mobley on Siakam. I’m not sure about this year but Siakam had his way with Mobley in the past.

This will be a good series. Got the Cavs in 6.

[Wizop]

so you are going to double team Haliburton (your #1), Turner (your #2), and Siakam (your #3)?

That is sort of the D the Cavs played in the 1st round. But Kenny and Johnnie Bryant are not rigid in their approach, like bickerstaff was the 3 postseasons before them. I am sure they will have a defense tailored to the Pacers scheme and personnel.

But you can't do all three things at the same time. The Pacers are at our best when the ball moves. Passing out of double teams could be key.

[oikosnomos]

I'm sure the Cavs will pressure Haliburton on offense and go at him on defense, like they did with Herro, but obviously they will expect him to react differently than Herro did. Herro wanted to shoot, Haliburton wants to pass.

I'm also sure they will have something similar plan for Turner that they did with Adebayo, but again they'll expect Turner to do different things, like fade out to the 3 point line more often. But if they can get Turner to take mid-range shots, they'll probably be happy with that.

The big difference is the rest of the roster. They can't just hone in on two guys, as the rest of the team is capable of making shots and creating. Cavs won't be able to completely stall the Pacers offense.

[oikosnomos]

so you are going to double team Haliburton (your #1), Turner (your #2), and Siakam (your #3)?

That is sort of the D the Cavs played in the 1st round. But Kenny and Johnnie Bryant are not rigid in their approach, like bickerstaff was the 3 postseasons before them. I am sure they will have a defense tailored to the Pacers scheme and personnel.

But you can't do all three things at the same time. The Pacers are at our best when the ball moves. Passing out of double teams could be key.

They won't double Turner. They'll probably pressure Haliburton coming up the court and maybe do some late doubling of Siakam if the shot clock is running down. Who knows? It's why this series will be fun. Lots of options of how things will play out.

[Wizop]

IBut if they can get Turner to take mid-range shots, they'll probably be happy with that.

Turner's mid-range shots tend to come when he gets the ball in the middle of a zone. will the Cavs play zone against our starters? against our second unit?

[JujitsuFlip]

so you are going to double team Haliburton (your #1), Turner (your #2), and Siakam (your #3)?

That is sort of the D the Cavs played in the 1st round. But Kenny and Johnnie Bryant are not rigid in their approach, like bickerstaff was the 3 postseasons before them. I am sure they will have a defense tailored to the Pacers scheme and personnel.

But you can't do all three things at the same time. The Pacers are at our best when the ball moves. Passing out of double teams could be key.

They weren't like true double teams. No Cav was really guarding any 1 guy.

The broadcast kept calling it a 'shell defense', I'm not familiar with the terminology.

The best way i can describe it, is a matchup zone.

Switch all pick and rolls out top, then when anyone tried to drive from the wing, 2 guys pinch down, then rotate and recover on the back side/weak side if the Heat swung the ball.

But again, i think the Cavs coaching staff will deploy whatever defense they feel is best vs the Pacers, not just recycle the Heat defensive game plan.