The Cleveland Cavaliers can’t afford to lose in the second round, not after posting one of the greatest seasons in franchise history.
Unfortunately for them, their matchup for the Eastern Conference semifinals is quite the tough one.
The Indiana Pacers took three out of four from them this season, and their style of play and roster composition, while similar to the Cavs’ to a degree, could also spell trouble.
Notably, that’s why NBA analyst Ethan Sands believes they could pose a ‘strategic dilemma’ for coach Kenny Atkinson:
“Unlike Miami, who struggled to space the floor consistently and couldn’t match Cleveland’s tempo, Indiana wants to run with the depth and shooting to do it,” Sands wrote. “For Kenny Atkinson and the Cavs, that forces a strategic dilemma. They’ll look to build early leads and leverage their improved half-court defense. But if they fall behind, Atkinson has shown he’s willing to lean into offense-heavy lineups — sacrificing size or rim protection for shooting, pace and versatility.”
The Pacers can push the tempo for all 48 minutes.
They’re young, fast, athletic, and have a myriad of shooters and a deep rotation.
The Cavaliers can hold their ground against anybody in a shootout, but the problem is that even the Pacers’ bigs can shoot.
One option will be to lean heavily on De’Andre Hunter and Evan Mobley at the four and the five, giving the team an all-shooters’ lineup to match up with the Pacers’ speed and athleticism.
The Cavs were the best team in the Eastern Conference all season long, and it wasn’t particularly close.
In spite of that, pundits and fans claimed that they weren’t so sure about their chances in a seven-game playoff series because they hadn’t been battle-tested and had a history of crumbling under pressure.
Of course, getting past the lowly Miami Heat in the first round won’t do much to change that narrative, and it will now be up to them to prove the doubters wrong.
NEXT: Analyst Names 2 Difference-Makers In Cavs-Pacers Playoff Matchup
