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

[WuTang_CMB]

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[Pacers_Freak]

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.

Why are you saying this like it is a bad thing? Being elite in the pick and roll, hitting teammates with good passes and being a competent 3 point shooter leading to a high quality offense is literally the idea "true PG". Teams don't need to be constructed around outdated isolation players like it is the late 90s. Your takes reek of someone who lives for instagram reels.

Tbh, against elite teams there will be times where the plan to play the "right way" just won't be available. Unfortunately this Cavs team got decimated with injuries again this year, but at some point you're going to need your guy to be able to take those oppertunities and turn them into a made shot when nothing is working.

Hali is a great player, but I do always wonder that against the Bostons/OKCs/etc if he can be the one to have a 3-5 minute period where he kinda wills the team past a shooting slump until they find their footing again. Every team is going to run into stretches where they can't get a good look, but generally the top tier players can turn that bad shot into a shot that has a reasonable percentage of going in.

We'll see in the next round I guess, barring Boston and NYC losing key players on their side too. I like this Indiana team, but I want them to be tested against the juggernauts before I can call them a true contender.

They are not a true contender. Good team I think but in that next tier. To the reasoning that you pointed out. They don't have that guy and their defense isn't good enough to will them through that 3-5 minute period. I think you have to have one or the other, preferably both.

[yoadknux]

Cavs were gassed at the end, but still feel like they win this if not for bad officiating. Nesmith should have been called for lane violation on a putback dunk, and then potentially for flagrant on Mitchell afterwards. Mitchell also deserved flagrant for revenge on the ensuing possession, but the worst call was last foul on Haliburton which was non-existant.

Mitchell got to the line 21 times. Really think we're not gonna find one wrong call on him throughout the game?

[Wolfgang630]

Tell me again about Ty Jerome being the next Jalen Brunson

[drstarheel]

Tony Brothers is known to call playoff games way more tightly than all the other refs. That's why there were 64 total foul shots in Game 2 and only 33 in Game 1. So while I don't think the final foul on Haliburton should normally be called it was 100% being called within the context of this particular game. Mitchell understood this as well as anyone and consequently attacked the rim relentlessly.

If anything, I think calling the games so tightly hurts the Pacers game plan to wear the opponents down by going up-tempo.

[BigDan245]

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[xxSnEaKyPxx]

It was a disgusting foul to call. Indiana has gotten so many breaks in this series, they didn’t need that from the officials.

The elbow from Mitchell? I think that gets called 99% of the time.

The officials have been letting the 2 teams play physical all series, but with 10 seconds left they give the Pacers a ghost foul. That is what I am referring to. It was an awful call that goes against the established pattern throughout the series.

It didn’t go against the pattern though as Mitchell had gotten that call all game…

[littlerock2277]

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The one time I agree with Stephen A. Garland needs to play last time we seen him he was acting very cocky talking about other player’s defence. Cavs can’t win a championship like this if there players are going to be getting hurt during the playoffs.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

That final call was just as important as a missed box out. Cleveland played great defense on the closing seconds, but they were punished by a phantom foul. It isn’t the lone reason the Cavs lost, but it was just as big as the made 3, the turnovers, etc.

Correct. Control what you can control was my point. Pacers didn't control the game early against an injured team. Cavs didn't control what they could have late. Either side blaming it on one singular call is a cop out. Control what you can control is my point.

I don’t play for the team. I am doing what you are doing—-commenting on the game. A big part of that game was the blown call at the end, which Indiana benefited from. That is why I commented on it. I also commented on how poorly the Cavs played earlier in this thread, so it’s not like my commentary is isolated to the phantom foul with 10 seconds left.

What are your thoughts on Mitchell’s elbow to Nesmith’s head, which is called a flagrant 999/1000 times in today’s NBA, but was only a common foul then?

[azcatz11]

Tell me again about Ty Jerome being the next Jalen Brunson

He's an UFA after this season? This has been a disaster. If he played well he probably could have made $50M+ but now I don't think so. He can't be any focal point of an offense. Seems like he's great when the Cavs are up by 50 and that's about it.

He's also very arrogant

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

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The one time I agree with Stephen A. Garland needs to play last time we seen him he was acting very cocky talking about other player’s defence. Cavs can’t win a championship like this if there players are going to be getting hurt during the playoffs.

I mean, not like they want to get hurt?

Take away half of any teams most important players and they aren’t going to win a Championship.

[Raps in 4]

The real losers of this series are Kings fans. Last year they had to watch Luka light the league on fire. This year they're watching Hali. I don't know how you guys find the will to live anymore.

[DowJones]

Correct. Control what you can control was my point. Pacers didn't control the game early against an injured team. Cavs didn't control what they could have late. Either side blaming it on one singular call is a cop out. Control what you can control is my point.

I don’t play for the team. I am doing what you are doing—-commenting on the game. A big part of that game was the blown call at the end, which Indiana benefited from. That is why I commented on it. I also commented on how poorly the Cavs played earlier in this thread, so it’s not like my commentary is isolated to the phantom foul with 10 seconds left.

What are your thoughts on Mitchell’s elbow to Nesmith’s head, which is called a flagrant 999/1000 times in today’s NBA, but was only a common foul then?

I am good with that as long as they call Indiana for a flagrant for swiping at Strus’ face so hard that it actually drew blood from his mouth and nose. While we are at it, can we get a flagrant called on Myles Turner for sliding under the feet of Evan Mobley, knocking him out for game 2 and possibly beyond?

[ryan in Maine]

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.

Why are you saying this like it is a bad thing? Being elite in the pick and roll, hitting teammates with good passes and being a competent 3 point shooter leading to a high quality offense is literally the idea "true PG". Teams don't need to be constructed around outdated isolation players like it is the late 90s. Your takes reek of someone who lives for instagram reels.

Tbh, against elite teams there will be times where the plan to play the "right way" just won't be available. Unfortunately this Cavs team got decimated with injuries again this year, but at some point you're going to need your guy to be able to take those oppertunities and turn them into a made shot when nothing is working.

Hali is a great player, but I do always wonder that against the Bostons/OKCs/etc if he can be the one to have a 3-5 minute period where he kinda wills the team past a shooting slump until they find their footing again. Every team is going to run into stretches where they can't get a good look, but generally the top tier players can turn that bad shot into a shot that has a reasonable percentage of going in.

We'll see in the next round I guess, barring Boston and NYC losing key players on their side too. I like this Indiana team, but I want them to be tested against the juggernauts before I can call them a true contender.

Against Boston? Probably. I don't know if he could do it every game for an entire series, but I've seen him play great for 3 minutes at a time lol.

I think it's harder for him against OKC. They don't let their foot off the gas like the Celtics do. That said, if he's getting into the defense he's a threat imo.

[xxSnEaKyPxx]

I don’t play for the team. I am doing what you are doing—-commenting on the game. A big part of that game was the blown call at the end, which Indiana benefited from. That is why I commented on it. I also commented on how poorly the Cavs played earlier in this thread, so it’s not like my commentary is isolated to the phantom foul with 10 seconds left.

What are your thoughts on Mitchell’s elbow to Nesmith’s head, which is called a flagrant 999/1000 times in today’s NBA, but was only a common foul then?

I am good with that as long as they call Indiana for a flagrant for swiping at Strus’ face so hard that it actually drew blood from his mouth and nose. While we are at it, can we get a flagrant called on Myles Turner for sliding under the feet of Evan Mobley, knocking him out for game 2 and possibly beyond?

*sigh* whatever man.

[jbk1234]

Cavs were gassed at the end, but still feel like they win this if not for bad officiating. Nesmith should have been called for lane violation on a putback dunk, and then potentially for flagrant on Mitchell afterwards. Mitchell also deserved flagrant for revenge on the ensuing possession, but the worst call was last foul on Haliburton which was non-existant.

Mitchell got to the line 21 times. Really think we're not gonna find one wrong call on him throughout the game?

There were a couple of soft calls, but you don't make that call with less than 10 seconds left, especially when Haliburton was clearly hunting for it.

[Helsbyte]

Mitchell getting the soft whistle all game and resulting in how many points and people on here whining about Indy getting one, which is debatable, it is just sad. Sucks it happened at the end of the game but oh well. You execute at the end of this game, you win.

[WuTang_CMB]

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[DowJones]

What are your thoughts on Mitchell’s elbow to Nesmith’s head, which is called a flagrant 999/1000 times in today’s NBA, but was only a common foul then?

I am good with that as long as they call Indiana for a flagrant for swiping at Strus’ face so hard that it actually drew blood from his mouth and nose. While we are at it, can we get a flagrant called on Myles Turner for sliding under the feet of Evan Mobley, knocking him out for game 2 and possibly beyond?

*sigh* whatever man.

Both teams can argue about calls or missed calls during the course of the game. Only one team can complain about a phantom call with 10 seconds left that had a direct impact. Now, had Indiana been called for a phantom foul on Merrill’s last second heave, you would have an argument.

[Crunch 99]

I feel bad for Donovan and the Cavs, because I think management did an excellent job in building a relatively deep, young team to contend this season. They weren't paying near aged out stars while crossing their fingers that an old star could bring it for a season plus a playoff run. And they managed minutes well during the season. Mitchell played their highest, regular season mpg at just 31.4 mpg, and looks like he arrived at the playoffs ready to go. I would have expected the same from Garland, Mobley and Hunter, but somehow Cleveland is missing their #2, 3 and 4 scorers, one of whom is DPOY, and they are all aged 27 and under. What a bad break!