The Indiana Pacers are set to face the Cleveland Cavaliers this afternoon, so we gather a super-mega playoff edition of the 8 Points, 9 Seconds Roundtable to look at the series.
Let’s not kid ourselves, the odds are stacked against the Indiana Pacers as they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Bovada gives Indiana 13/2 odds (roughly a 7.50% shot to beat LeBron James and his crew.
However, that doesn’t mean Paul George and the Pacers don’t have a chance.
If they can keep playing like they did in their last few games, then this series should go 6 or 7 games, and in a Game 7, anything can happen.
With all that in mind, we gathered for a super-mega playoff edition of the 8 Points, 9 Seconds Roundtable.
The Indiana Pacers are winners of their last five contests. How much does that momentum matter going up against the Cleveland Cavaliers?
Josh Padmore: It definitely will play a factor. You always want to go into the playoffs on a high note playing your best basketball. The Pacers have looked comfortable, and they’ve played some tough opponents over that five game stretch. Three of which are playoff teams. The Pacers are definitely the underdog, but it will make things a lot easier knowing everyone understands their role and knowing the team is in rhythm right now. They’re going to need that momentum and confidence and then some heading into this series against Cleveland.
Jon Washburn: It matters for Paul George moving forward, specifically in regards to how he views his potential future in Indiana. The 2016-17 season was a grind, one that few people would describe as “fun” in any way. That changed when the Pacers signed Lance Stephenson and started playing better. If Indy can steal a game or two from the Cavs and make the series interesting, then
PG could conceivably talk himself into the idea that the Pacers might be building something. This would obviously be great news for Indiana.
However, I don’t think the last five games will really have much of an impact on the Pacers prospects of actually beating Cleveland.
Luke Parrish: The last 5 games could provide a huge jolt of confidence for Indiana. I think the addition of Lance has brought life to this team that was not seen at all earlier in the season, and Paul George has seemed to feed nicely off of it as well. Paul and Lance bring out the best in each other, which is great news for the Pacers.
Will Furr: That momentum means the world. This Pacers team has spent a good portion of the year bouncing between looking disinterested and dispirited. In the six games AL (After Lance), the Pacers are 5-1. Their one loss was a double overtime defeat in Cleveland against a Cavs team playing all 3 stars. Paul George looks like he’s capable of scoring efficiently on anyone alive.
That momentum means the world. This Pacers team has spent a good portion of the year bouncing between looking disinterested and dispirited. In the six games AL (After Lance), the Pacers are 5-1. Their one loss was a double overtime defeat in Cleveland against a Cavs team playing all 3 stars. Paul George looks like he’s capable of scoring efficiently on anyone alive. — Will Furr
Myles Turner and Jeff Teague are having fun, and Thad Young finally looks healthy. For 90% of the season, the Pacers looked like a team sputtering their way into a first round sweep. The last 6 games, they look like a team capable of going toe to toe with anyone in the East. With only 2 days between clinching a playoff birth and game 1 in Cleveland, I have to think these guys will still be feeling it.
Mason Hankins: It means everything. A team with confidence is always a scary thing, and the Pacers haven’t had that all year until this point. This is due in large part to PG’s offensive and rebounding explosion, and obviously the attitude and spark of Lance Stepenson.
Kevin Kaspar: Momentum is everything in the playoffs. Indiana is arguably the hottest team heading into the post season and I don’t expect them to lift their foot off of the gas pedal.
The Pacers are also beneficiaries of having the greatest hype man in NBA history, Lance Stephenson, coming off their bench. Expect ‘Born Ready’ to pump up Paul George all series long in an effort to keep the momentum going.
Ryan Barth: For a team that has been as up and down as the Pacers (see the consecutive Win/Loss streak)…it matters. Everyone on this team knows they’re a massive underdog and the only way to combat that is with some Blue Collar, Momentum Swagger.
Jay Neal: It matters because it gives the Pacers a chance to make this series competitive. Paul George has been on fire for a month and half and he nearly singlehandedly put the Pacers in this position. I expect him to keep this level of play even against the challenge of LeBron James. I also expect the #LanceEffect to have an impact on the series.
Dave Searle: It means almost nothing. The “Braveheart” speech that the coach or someone makes will stick to the ribs a little bit more given the momentum, but 5 minutes into Game 1 it will all wash away.
Ryan Eggers: Not a bunch, considering LeBron James’ teams have a weird skill of automatically turning on the playoff switch. Paul George also has this gear, and it’s a good sign that he’s already on that level, but it probably won’t make a difference against this team.
Dylan Hughes: It means something. The Cavs can’t be an uber-confident team heading into the playoffs, even though they are the defending champs and have the best player in the world. The Pacers are hot and feeling themselves. For at least Game 1, I would think that gives the Pacers some sort of an advantage.