Pacers potential playoff opponents preview: Boston Celtics
By Tony East
Series Prediction
Beating a dead horse, but Kyrie Irving’s injury makes this series impossible to truly predict. If he doesn’t play, the Pacers could win this series in five games or so, and win most of those games with ease.
But if he does play, this matchup would be a challenge. The Celtics wouldn’t just get an all-star back, they would get back a player who’s play style caters perfectly to the postseason play style. It really all hinges on Irving.
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Let’s hedge our bets again and say he plays half of the series. That would likely be enough for the Celtics to get three wins, especially since they would have home-court advantage. The difference between Stevens and McMillan is large enough to grant the Celtics another win. Boston has the stars, and the coach, and the (hypothetical) home-court advantage.
Celtics in seven*
*if Kyrie plays