The Cleveland Cavaliers never knew what hit them in Game 4.
They missed a chance to even up the series and regain homecourt advantage, and it wasn’t close at all.
That’s why coach Kenny Atkinson had no choice but to tip his hat to his opponents:
“Complete domination by them. Every facet,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. “It wasn’t like, oh, you know, tactics or anything involved. They dominated us in every facet of the game. That’s what we get. A 20-point game or really a 30-point game.”
To say that the Indiana Pacers dominated in Game 4 would be a massive understatement.
They wanted it more, and it showed from start to finish.
While the Cavs managed to make it closer down the stretch, the game seemed over at halftime.
Now, they’re on the brink of elimination.
For months, doubters claimed that the Cavs were fake contenders, and they mocked them and compared them to the No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
They won’t have much margin for error to prove the doubters wrong anymore.
This will be the ultimate character test for this team, and it will be very difficult to shake off the narrative if they fail to get the deal done.
The Cavs won 10+ games in a row multiple times during the regular season, and they’re a deep and well-rounded team that can match up with any opponent in the game; they’ve already proven that.
Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell have to prove that they’re up to the task and that they’re the kind of players who can put their team on their shoulders and take care of business.
Otherwise, this team might have to have some uncomfortable conversations in the offseason, even after leading the Eastern Conference from start to finish this season.
NEXT: Cavs Owner Makes Bold Statement After Tough Game 4 Loss
