8p9s Roundtable: Can the Pacers Beat the Raptors?
By Jared Wade
1. What one word would you use to describe the Indiana Pacers performance in Game 4?
Tim Donahue: Total. Fifteen seconds into the game George Hill hit a 3 to give the Pacers the lead. They held it for the final 47:45 of clock time. Indiana won almost every aspect of Game 4, scoring 110 points per hundred possessions, while allowing only 87 per100. The Pacers shot better, had more rebounds, more assists, more steals, more blocks, and fewer turnovers. It was a total victory.
William Furr: Unselfish. The Pacers had twice as many assists as Toronto (24 to 12), led by Ian Mahinmi with a career-high 5. Every single player who played more than garbage time had at least 1. There were very few forced shots, and the ball movement rivaled the Pacers’ best so far this year. Paul George talked about having to trust his teammates, and it looked like the message reverberated.
Jacky Neal: Typical. Just when you think you have a beat on what the Pacers are, they change up. They’ve been consistently inconsistent all year, and the playoffs have been no exception. So after the low-energy, turnover-filled debacle that was Game 3, it was only natural that they would become world-beaters a mere 36 hours later.
Ryan Eggers: Necessary. With two of the (potentially) three games left taking place in Toronto, it was necessary for the Pacers to not only win Game 4 but demolish the Raptors. Breaking their confidence provides a huge mental edge for Indiana as the Raptors tremble in fear of dropping another first-round series with home-court advantage. The Pacers can grab another game on the road if they ride that wave.
Next: Ian Mahinmi?