Tweets of the Night: Pacers Miss Chance to Steal Game 1
By Jay Neal
The Indiana Pacers traveled to Cleveland to take on the defending NBA champion Cavaliers to open the 2017 NBA Playoffs.
Indiana was a big underdog heading into the series, of course. However, with the way Paul George ended the season, it gives the Pacers a puncher’s chance to make this a competitive series.
Here’s how Pacers fans & media reacted to the game on Twitter as it happened:
PREGAME
Jeff Teague looked fine during his pregame warmup. No limps, no sense of him favoring ankle. “He’s ready to go," said Nate McMillan.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 15, 2017
This is good news. The Pacers need him to be right.
Who sees it?
— Michael Grady (@Grady) April 15, 2017
*via @AMDesignsLLC pic.twitter.com/a9eHMeNxIg
Apparently (according to ESPN) Teague no longer plays Pacers, he still plays for the Hawks. He also got injured playing for the Hawks against the Hawks. How weird.
1st QUARTER
LeBron guarding Monta. What a luxury.
— Jon Washburn (@DeanOfMortgages) April 15, 2017
Nice to have roster flexibility, eh?
Love getting away from Thad Young and knocking down a three. Can’t have too much of that. Cavs 16-13.
Whoa. Paul George with an incredible steal of LeBron's outlet pass and then the pull up three. Playoff PG is something else.
— Wheat Hotchkiss (@Wheat_Hotchkiss) April 15, 2017
He’s pretty good, I suppose. Tied at 18 at the first timeout.
A flop by J.R. Smith gets a first foul on PG, then a late whistle gets Tristan Thompson to the line. Dems the breaks.
Here comes Lance...
— Michael Grady (@Grady) April 15, 2017
… and here comes FUN!
Breen on Pacers 3s: They shoot a high percentage but they don’t shoot many.
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) April 15, 2017
This is one of Nate McMillan’s bigger failings this year to me
Pacers shot the fourth-best percentage in the league, but shot the fourth-least amount of three-pointers.
End of the 1st: Cavs 34, #Pacers 29@Yg_Trece 6p/2r
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 15, 2017
Monta Ellis 5p/1a@yungsmoove21 4p/5r#PacersPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/El8L0cyS4c
Pacers having a few problems with their pick and roll defense. The Cavs have a lot to do with that. They’re just really good.
2nd QUARTER
LeBron James after scoring in the post on Lance Stephenson: "Every time."
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 15, 2017
LeBron enjoyed that and 1 more than most.
— Tom Lewis (@IndyCornrows) April 15, 2017
Yeah… he’s pretty good, too. Cavs up 36-32.
It’s not that high, but it feels that way. Cavs getting anything they want, but the Pacers are still in it – somehow – only down six halfway through the quarter.
Thaddeus Young just picked up his third foul with 4:12 left on a block call that he thought should have been a charge. That hurts.
— Wheat Hotchkiss (@Wheat_Hotchkiss) April 15, 2017
Thad hasn’t had the best game, but this is a big foul. It hurts the Pacers on both ends. Pacers down 57-50.
Too often in the 1st half Myles Turner has watched a shot instead of putting a body on someone.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 15, 2017
Weight room, all offseason, for Myles...
— Michael Grady (@Grady) April 15, 2017
He started well, but it hasn’t been the best half for the 21 year old.
That won’t stop you Pacers fans, right? (This is a good point though. The defense has been terrible.)
PG-13333‼️Paul George already has four triples on the afternoon. pic.twitter.com/QndynZiwfu
— The Crossover (@TheCrossover) April 15, 2017
He’s doing all he can.
Almost every middle pick-&-roll from the Cavaliers is a nightmare for the Pacers.
— Nate Taylor (@ByNateTaylor) April 15, 2017
And almost every side pick & roll… and almost every pick & roll ever created…
Halftime in Cleveland: Cavs 66, #Pacers 59@Yg_Trece 16p/4a
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 15, 2017
Monta Ellis 9p/3r@StephensonLance 6p/3r#PacersPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/RozyDwt1Mk
The Cavs shot 61% in the half, yet the deficit is only seven for the Pacers. That’s minor miracle all things considered.
Teague and Turner today pic.twitter.com/z1WwMLuow6
— Very easily distracted ☝🏾 (@freshface72) April 15, 2017
Hard to imagine Teague being any more invisible than he's been. On the plus side, Indy's free throw defense has been ELITE.
— Jon Washburn (@DeanOfMortgages) April 15, 2017
Other than the refs, Pacers fans have their focus on the sub-par performances of Jeff Teague and Myles Turner. Indiana needs more from its core players to pull off an upset.
LeBron's first half shot chart is simple and ruthlessly efficient. pic.twitter.com/e3a5ZGb2Oh
— Jon R. LaFollette (@JonLawFilet) April 15, 2017
Looks like my baby cousin’s shot chart on his Nerf hoop.
3rd QUARTER
#PlayoffPaulGeorge is something else, man.
— Wheat Hotchkiss (@Wheat_Hotchkiss) April 15, 2017
PAUL GEORGE JOHN RINGO
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) April 15, 2017
Right now it's Paul George vs Cleveland Cavaliers. Someone wanna step?
— Jason Spells (@JasonSpells) April 15, 2017
Nine points in the first three minutes of the quarter. Keep feeding him.
They can't keep switching the Irving-James PnR, unless they're gluttons for punishment.
— Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) April 15, 2017
Meanwhile, on the other end of the floor, the switching is being punished and LeBron is having his way. The PG-LBJ duel is warming up.
https://twitter.com/Pacers/status/853346387429400576
Turner dunked on many-a-Cavalier. The Pacers are hanging around.
I'm just a high school coach but I've never drawn up a D where my tiniest and worst defenders routinely switch onto the best dude on earth.
— Jon Washburn (@DeanOfMortgages) April 15, 2017
The switching when there’s no need to switch keeps happening. Oy vey.
LeBron himself even seemed surprised how easy that was after he double-cluctched the dunk to avoid PG block and was still 12 feet in the air
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) April 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/Schultz975/status/853350520077111296
A 10-0 Cavs run gives Cleveland a 90-78 lead.
Heading into the 4th...@Yg_Trece 25p/5a
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 15, 2017
Monta Ellis 11p/4r@Teague0 9p/4a#GoPacers pic.twitter.com/a5Ue69U10N
Pacers cut the deficit to eight to end the quarter. It hasn’t gotten away from them… yet.
4th QUARTER
Seraphin tried to take on 3 Cavs defenders in the paint while Paul George screams for the ball sitting wide open for 3.
— Jon R. LaFollette (@JonLawFilet) April 15, 2017
Meanwhile, the switching continues and Cleveland continues to feast. Pacers down by double digits.
Lance pulls up and hits. He's scored 14 points today.#GoPacers
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 15, 2017
Lance should take the rest of the shots.
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) April 15, 2017
MOOD pic.twitter.com/TIbeqPRVcw
— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) April 15, 2017
Born. Ready. Pacers cut it to six & force a Cavs timeout.
Teague for THREEEEE to beat the shot clock!
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 15, 2017
CLE 103, IND 99
Myles Turner lays it in, Pacers are on a 7-0 run and it's 103-101 Cavs. Pacers within 2 with about 4:30 to play.
— Pat Boylan (@PatBoylanPacers) April 15, 2017
They may be outmanned & outmatched… but they keep fighting.
Jeff Teague for three AND THE LEAD.
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 15, 2017
IND 105, CLE 103 with 3:15 to play
Oh my!
LeBron says ENOUGH pic.twitter.com/M0mb6H5aH2
— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) April 15, 2017
Oh. My.
One of the few times Lance didn't attack the rim, he misses a three on a key possession. Gotta give it to PG.
— Michael Grady (@Grady) April 15, 2017
Pacers down four with 1:37 left.
Ugh.
— iPacers.com (@iPacersblog) April 15, 2017
Pacers turnover… but Cavs turn it back over.
PAUL GEORGE IS OUR NEW PRESIDENT.
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) April 15, 2017
PG pulls up from 26 feet and buries a three and the Pacers get a stop. Pacers down by one with the ball and a chance to win!
One shot away from stealing Game 1 pic.twitter.com/Q53x3n4Jwe
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 15, 2017
CJ Miles gets a great look to win it, and it clanks off the front of the rim. Pacers fall by 1 in a thrilling game 1.
— Pat Boylan (@PatBoylanPacers) April 15, 2017
#Pacers fall just short in Game 1. We’re back for Game 2 on Monday.@Yg_Trece 29p/7a@StephensonLance 16p/7r@Teague0 15p/4a pic.twitter.com/uj8lkh0MU1
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 15, 2017
Good work by CJ Miles. Just a bit off. That’s a ton of respect shown to Paul George by Ty Lue with the double.
— Jared Wade (@Jared_Wade) April 15, 2017
Miles & PG reax pic.twitter.com/Xi6u4oLbGL
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) April 15, 2017
Soooooo close to taking Game 1 on the road.
The defense was ridiculously bad, but Indiana was one shot away from stealing Game 1 at the defending champs’ place. They missed this opportunity, but hopefully it gives the Pacers confidence that they can compete in this series and make it tough on Cleveland.
Until Game 2 on Monday.