Game 3 In Review: The Series-Changing Win That Never Was

The Indiana Pacers blew a 26-point lead on Thursday night in Bankers Life, and fell to a 3-0 series deficit against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In last night’s painful loss, the Indiana Pacers and their fans experienced about ever emotion known to this Earth.

Indy was cruising in the first half on their way to a franchise record 74-point half.

Nonetheless, it was too good to be true, and the game became a story of two halves.

First Half Rise

In the first half, Indiana looked motivated, hungry and poised to avenge the losses in Games 1 and 2.

The starters came out clicking on all cylinders, and the bench furthered that effort. The crowd was rocking and the Cavaliers looked like a shell of themselves. Paul George was vintage PG, knocking down 3’s, getting to the rim, rebounding at a high rate and defending.

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Myles and Thad were locked in as well and were both owning the paint and fearlessly attacking the rim. Kevin Seraphin had 9 points in the first half and Lance Stephenson was salivating at a chance to knock off the Cavs on his way to 8 first-half points. He also locked up King James and informed LeBron that (Bankers Life) was “his house” (for the time being at least).

Myles Turner’s poster and Paul George’s beautiful alley-oop from out-of-bounds served as symbols of indication that the Pacers refused to be swept, and Game 3 would be theirs.

Oh, how wrong that assumption was. The whole team was in sync, and it seemed as if the Cavs showed up unprepared. Game 3 was in the bag and the Pacers would have a chance even things up at home on Sunday.

Wrong.

The other team has LeBron James. Yes, they also have Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, but who needs those guys? Just surround LeBron with shooters and defenders. If you do that, 26-point halftime leads are easy to surmount.

Second Half Demise

LeBron and Co. came storming out of the gates following the halftime break and never looked back. Indiana simply had no answer, and it looked as if they were out of their league, or they were just another playoff victim of LeBron James.

Whatever it was, the Pacers were outmatched by the Cavaliers and Nate McMillan was outcoached by Tyronn Lue’s. Cleveland successfully sucked all of the life out of Bankers Life, and possibly Indiana’s season.

"“I thought we came out kind of passive,” coach Nate McMillan said. “You knew they were going to be more aggressive.”"

It’s common practice to point out the positive in a game, and there were plenty for the Indiana Pacers in this one. Paul George became the first Indiana Pacer since Jermaine O’Neal to secure a 30 point, 15 rebound playoff game and was 1 assist shy of a triple-double.

Also, the Pacers showed they could be the team everyone believed they were going to be. Nonetheless, it’s the playoffs. It’s a chance to knock off a LeBron James-led team that has perpetually overpowered Indy on their way to the Finals. There are no moral victories in the playoffs, and surely no moral victories when you blow a 26-point lead.

The Indiana Pacers have their backs against the wall going into Sunday. They simply have to show up and play all four quarters. They owe it to themselves and the loyal fans of Indiana.

"Jeff Teague said, “We’re playing for pride now. We’re all competitors in here and we all believe in one another.”"

Pride may be on the line here, but that is not all. The fate of this franchise is on the line, and so is Paul George’s future in Indiana.

Next: Tweets of the Night: Pacers Lose Game 3

A series win against the elite of the Eastern conference may have ensured his return, but that appears extremely unlikely at this point. But stranger things have happened, and I guess Indy faithful will have to wait until Sunday at 1 p.m. to hypothesize the future of the Pacers.