8 points, 9 seconds
Fansided

The Pacers can knock off the Cavaliers, but it won’t be easy

By Jonathan Matthes

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball while defended by Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 8, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 08: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball while defended by Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 8, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Victor Oladipo of the Indiana Pacers
DENVER, CO – APRIL 3: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers goes to the basket against the Denver Nuggets on April 3, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Attack, attack, attack

The majority of the analysis that you’ll read on this series will focus on the things that Cleveland can do to the Pacers. Understandable, their five-out offense is among the league’s most lethal when it’s hitting. However, it also ignores half of the equation. The Cavaliers also have to figure out a way to stop the Pacers.

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If the Pacers can relentlessly pilfer the less-than-stellar Cavalier defense Indy will have more than a punchers chance in the series. To do this, Indiana will need two components to fire concurrently.

The first is unleashing Victor Oladipo. Vic has done well against the Cavs (25 ppg, 44/47/60 FG/3P/FT, 30.8 USG%, 4.8 REB, 5 AST, plus one steal per game in four games against Cleveland) and he’s entering the playoffs on fire (24.8 ppg, 61/52/69 FG/3P/FT over last eight games minus the Toronto debacle).

Ok, he’s not shooting well from the line, but he’s dialed in from everywhere else. That’s going to continue because Cleveland doesn’t have anyone who can stop him. If Vic can play up to the moment and match 80/85% (or better) of LeBron’s point production, Indiana will be in a great spot.

The second is Vic’s wingmen need to keep raining fire from three. Bojan Bogdanovic and Darren Collison are both having career years, Collison is the most accurate three-point shooter in the league. Lately, both have been dialed in. Bogdanovic has been shooting the most three of the pair (51 to Collison’s 22) and is making 45.1% of them. Collison’s making a middling 63.6% of his attempts. Indy doesn’t have the volume of three-point shooters that Cleveland has, but when they take them, they’ve been hitting them.

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