The Cleveland Cavaliers are poised to play against the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the NBA playoffs, but do they have what it takes to win?
According to Jimmy Watkins, they do.
Explaining for Cleveland.com, Watkins got into the “simple” math that suggests the Cavaliers will win.
“The math in this series is simple: The Cavs boast three 2025 All-Stars (four former All-Stars) while the Pacers count two, which means it doesn’t matter how well Indiana can shoot, take care of the ball or distribute minutes,” Watkins noted. “The golden rule states that these Pacers lack the pedigree required to win this series.”
The Cavaliers and Pacers have a lot in common.
For the last few years, they have both been trying to break out of the Eastern Conference, making a name for themselves as one of the most exciting and driven young teams in the league.
And they have both had their setbacks: last season, the Cavaliers again faced serious troubles right when they hit the playoffs and the Pacers pushed to the Eastern Conference Finals but were then easily handled by the Boston Celtics.
These are teams looking to make names for themselves and be seen as true championship contenders.
Most analysts have more faith in the Cavaliers because of their roster, their selection of All-Stars, and their regular-season record.
They have also gotten off to a great start in the playoffs, dispatching the Miami Heat with ease.
But the Pacers have a lot to be proud of, too, and they could create more noise than expected in this second round.
Both of these teams will bring a lot to the table, and it could end up being a very tight series.
However, Watkins firmly believes the Cavaliers will be on top when the dust finally settles.
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