The Cleveland Cavaliers punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference semifinals after sweeping the Miami Heat in the first round.
They entered the playoffs as the best team in the East, but they also had their fair share of doubters and skeptics.
Needless to say, beating this version of the Heat won’t do much to turn the narrative around, but it was still encouraging.
Now, some believe that the Indiana Pacers could pose trouble for them because of the matchup, but that’s not the case with Anthony Lima.
Talking to Ken Carman on 92.3 The Fan, the renowned pundit claimed that the Cavs wouldn’t have much trouble beating Rick Carlisle’s team, and he firmly expects them to meet with the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals:
“The Cavs should be fine (vs Pacers). The Cavs should be good, and we should be looking at a Boston Celtics-Cavs Eastern Conference Finals,” Lima said on 92.3 The Fan.
"They have to play their best basketball to beat Boston. The Cavs have to be 'on it' in that series. The #Cavs should be fine (vs Pacers) and we should be looking at a Celtics-Cavs Eastern Conference Finals." @SportsBoyTony to @KenCarman 🏀⤵️
🔊 Listen: https://t.co/PyNMnUySuU pic.twitter.com/fKGCxU0uY9
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) April 30, 2025
Of course, that’s what should happen on paper, as they’re the two best teams in the conference, but that’s not a guarantee, either.
The Cavs cannot afford to overlook a team that beat them three out of four times this season and is fresh off taking down the Milwaukee Bucks in just five games.
The Pacers have one of the most efficient offenses in the game, just like the Cavs.
They’re also a deep team that can feature as many as 10 players despite it being a playoff game, so fatigue shouldn’t be an issue.
More than that, they have two big men who can step out to the perimeter and knock down shots, and that could spell trouble for the Cavs’ more traditional frontcourt.
NEXT: Insider Names 1 Cavs Player As 'X-Factor' For Pacers Series
