2025 NBA PLAYOFFS East Semifinals: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs #4 Indiana Pacers (IND leads 2-0)

[Dupp]

Always knew that Cleveland was fake, but yo, I thought they would at least win one at home.

Don't do this man.

They are missing 3 of their best players. We'd struggle missing 3 of our top guys too.

Not really an excuse. You win 64 games and won without key guys plus you're at home. The Pacers deserve 100% credit.

It’s definitely an excuse.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

That comment really aged poorly.

Tyrese did nothing all game while Donovan Mitchell killed himself to his team in position to win, taking on 2 and 3 defenders at a time.

Tyrese had Nembhard out here turning the ball over left and right in the half court.

And Tyrese does the only thing he can do in the half court, which is a step back 3, like I said and the comment is in poor taste.

I could understand if Tyrese took over the 4th and he looked like Kobe vs. the Raptors.

But Tyrese getting to his only move, which I said is his only move...is my comment aging poorly.

I forget most casuals only care about what happens in the last 2 minutes...

Did....did you just call Nuntius a casual?

[fanofthegreats]

Another fraud team/organization- the Cleveland cavaliers.

And why do you say that?

You were saying?

[California Gold]

0-2 is a tough hole to climb out of especially now going on the road. Game 3 becomes a must-win for Cleveland obviously but the pressure on game 4 then to also take that knowing if you don't the series is probably over. Pacers are very resilient. As a team that's been here before it will be interesting how hard they go to get that game 3 now knowing they have Cleveland on the ropes.

[jbk1234]

Officiating aside, if you're able to, the two minute meltdown is why Garland needs to play in Game 3.

[Iwasawitness]

Simple fact of the matter is this was a winnable game for Cleveland. Seven point lead with 45 seconds left, they blew it. Can’t blame that one on injuries.

That was one hell of a season. Sucks that it’s ending in this fashion.

[DowJones]

The turnovers down the stretch, the missed rebounds on free throws, the terrible 3-point shooting, and Ty Jerome just having a truly awful game--easily the worst of his season. I don't think it is unreasonable to expect the Cavs to play better. They are playing a good but not great Indiana team. This was a game they should have won had they played even an average game. The effort was there--it was there in spades--but it was just a bad game.

Bench players aren't that good in the playoffs and generally shouldn't be trusted to execute in crucial moments.

If Darius Garland was playing, the turnovers and missed free throws wouldn't have happened.

I think people just overrated the Cavs because they are well coached and look deep on paper but they aren't that talented. I don't expect anything from Max Strus and Ty Jerome if Darius Garland and Evan Mobley aren't there.

You take out 3 players out of a top 8 rotation, most teams will look discombobulated in the playoffs. You remove Darius Garland and Evan Mobley from the Cavs, it's the equivalent of the Hawks or the Miami Heat.

Like I said, I expected the Pacers to push the pace and blow the Cavs out but the Pacers aren't that good of a team.

The Pacers are good but not great. I don't think anyone is claiming they are great. And yes, the story of this series is the injuries to Cleveland. None of that means the Cavs shouldn't be expected to play better than they did. They just didn't play well.

[xBulletproof]

I just realized that in this movie, the big balls team is Cleveland.

That was wild. I screamed "WE WON" and the wife came running in the room as she had already went to bed. Haha. So I had to backtrack and show her what happened. Damn woman, no faith.

[Roger Murdock]

That comment really aged poorly.

Tyrese did nothing all game while Donovan Mitchell killed himself to his team in position to win, taking on 2 and 3 defenders at a time.

Tyrese had Nembhard out here turning the ball over left and right in the half court.

And Tyrese does the only thing he can do in the half court, which is a step back 3, like I said and the comment is in poor taste.

I could understand if Tyrese took over the 4th and he looked like Kobe vs. the Raptors.

But Tyrese getting to his only move, which I said is his only move...is my comment aging poorly.

I forget most casuals only care about what happens in the last 2 minutes...

Pacers play team ball so Tyrese doesn’t have the luxury of being selfish.

The Cavs play team ball too. It’s just their 2-4 scorers weren’t available

[Hoop Hunter]

That comment really aged poorly.

Tyrese did nothing all game while Donovan Mitchell killed himself to his team in position to win, taking on 2 and 3 defenders at a time.

Tyrese had Nembhard out here turning the ball over left and right in the half court.

And Tyrese does the only thing he can do in the half court, which is a step back 3, like I said and the comment is in poor taste.

I could understand if Tyrese took over the 4th and he looked like Kobe vs. the Raptors.

But Tyrese getting to his only move, which I said is his only move...is my comment aging poorly.

I forget most casuals only care about what happens in the last 2 minutes...

You think Haliburton has one move and you're calling OTHER people casuals. Dude, stop it, you are embarrassing yourself.

[CKB]

Being healthy is part of the game. It sucks so many Cavs are currently injured and can't go play at full strength. Pacers took advantage. Garland needs to play in game 3. He is an elite ball handler, shot creator and shot maker that the Cavs sorely missed.

[SOUL]

Pacers voodoo magic again damn!! You can never relax with a lead under 10 against them (unless there's like 30 seconds left)

[SFour]

It amazes me how guys who've dedicated their whole lives to a sport to where they are paid millions of dollars still get too scared to execute basic fundamentals. All Cleveland had to do was not turn the ball over.

They choked. No amount of training can overcome nerves. You're either clutch or you aren't.

You don't need to be clutch to execute basic fundamentals.

-Don't turn over the ball on back to back plays
-Don't stop playing defense in the 4th just because you're up.
-Box out the shooter on a free throw

They teach you this **** in little league.

Freethrow shooting should be basic but even great shooters can miss in clutch moments….that’s what makes sports fun. If there was no human element then we might as well just simulate the games via computer

[djsunyc]

playoffs are a war of attrition. injuries are part of the game. sucks for cavs fans not having garland and then also mobley today.

[Riverwalk2021]

The Pacers play the game the right way. I think they value each possession on offense highly. That's a winning formula in the POs. If they end up playing the Knicks, I like their chances to make the Finals. They have been highly impressive to start the POs.

[JujitsuFlip]

Pacers tried to murder Cavs players multiple times and got away with it. That's sad.

Mitchell tried to put Nesmith in a coma. Far more egregious than anything else we've seen this series. Thats even sadder.

Bahahahahah how many games he gonna miss bc of it? Get outta here.

[threethehardway]

Pacers play team ball so Tyrese doesn’t have the luxury of being selfish.

Every fan of the "true PG" likes to tell themselves this when in reality, their "true PG" doesn't have the bag to get a shot whenever they want.

If Hali could drop 25 on 60 TS a game, he would but he can't. It's been 3 years.

He doesn't draw free throws, he doesn't have simple ways to generate offense, he isn't that crafty of a guy.

He's a bread and butter pick and roll PG that shoots 3s and makes the right pass.

[Nuntius]

That comment really aged poorly.

Tyrese did nothing all game while Donovan Mitchell killed himself to his team in position to win, taking on 2 and 3 defenders at a time.

Tyrese had Nembhard out here turning the ball over left and right in the half court.

And Tyrese does the only thing he can do in the half court, which is a step back 3, like I said and the comment is in poor taste.

I could understand if Tyrese took over the 4th and he looked like Kobe vs. the Raptors.

But Tyrese getting to his only move, which I said is his only move...is my comment aging poorly.

I forget most casuals only care about what happens in the last 2 minutes...

I've been following this team throughout the season, my friend. As a guy from Greece which means I stay up until 5 or 6 in the morning to watch. Yeah, definitely sounds like a casual

As for the game, I have no issue admitting that Mitchell outplayed Hali tonight. He nearly outplayed all of the Pacers. He was absolutely unreal.

But Hali also showed up when it mattered. He had 8 points in the final 1:30 minutes of the game. It wasn't just the step-back. He broke down Cleveland's defense at least 3 times in the biggest possessions of the game. And, yeah, the game winner does tend to matter quite a bit, don't you think?

Mitchell had the better game overall, there's no denying that but you acting like Hali has no moves and then for Hali to take over and hit a big game-winner like that is pretty much the definition of a comment aging poorly.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

Pacers tried to murder Cavs players multiple times and got away with it. That's sad.

Mitchell tried to put Nesmith in a coma. Far more egregious than anything else we've seen this series. Thats even sadder.

You are completely delusional.

Simply matching the energy and absurd claims that your fan base is making.

I don't think Mitchell was intentional, same I know the other injuries weren't intentional...but you haven't called out your own fans for making those claims? Wonder why...

[ArksNetsSince99]

Officiating aside, if you're able to, the two minute meltdown is why Garland needs to play in Game 3.

Man at this point I’m not sure prime Michael Jordan can help you

Cavs team looks beat