For the Pacers to win this series, what needs to happen?
Furr: Victor Oladipo and Myles Turner have to be on point. Both need to shoot well, and make their presence known on defense. This Cleveland team hasn’t been able to guard anyone: being able to get some stops may very well be the swing factor. Nothing quite changes the game flow like a big steal or a big blocked shot.
Matthes: Suffice to say, the Pacers need to come back to Indy, for game 6, with the series lead. If the Pacers are up 3-2 I think the Pacers will close them out for a few reasons. 1- Indy is intense come playoff time, and it’ll be tough for any opposing team to rally facing that energized crowd. 2- The Cavs are increasingly dependent on the three and that gives Indy 2/3 shots at facing a Cavalier team that has a bad shooting night. 3- the Pacers have closed well all season long and are unafraid of any opponent. I’d love to see their intensity will a series clincher on the line.
Hughes: First and foremost, Victor Oladipo needs to do what he has done all season—and maybe more. Paul George averaged 28 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists in the four-game sweep last season, but his play made every game close (Cleveland only won the series by a total of 16 points). They might need similar production from Oladipo. They really need some consistent play from Turner, as well.
More from 8 Points, 9 Seconds
- 2 Studs, 1 dud from gut-wrenching Indiana Pacers loss to Charlotte Hornets
- Handing out early-season grades for Pacers’ Bruce Brown, Obi Toppin
- 3 positives, 2 negatives in Pacers In-Season Tournament win vs. Cavaliers
- 2 positives, 3 negatives from first week of Indiana Pacers basketball
- Should Isaiah Jackson’s days with Indiana Pacers be numbered?
This may be his chance to fully emerge as a star talent, taking it to LeBron’s team and possibly beating them. There are games where he’s nailing threes and getting sick putback dunks, and others where he scores two points. Indiana needs more of the former. Support from the others would be great, too. In theory, Domantas Sabonis should have some success. Bojan Bogdanovic’s shooting could open a ton of things up offensively. Thaddeus Young and Cory Joseph’s defense could be difference-making.
East: Win the matchups at the margins. LeBron is gonna get his. It is impossible to stop him, and attempting to do so would be futile. But if the Pacers can with the matchup at every other position, it may be enough to keep pace with the high powered Cleveland offense. Can Collison keep up with GHill? Can the big men keep up with Thompson, Nance, and Love? Can Bojan stay engaged while getting outscored? These are the question that the Pacers have to answer correctly to stay afloat.
Gibson: Myles Turner must get back into form, particularly the more physical version we saw after the All-Star break. That’s the key to the series because we expect greatness from Victor Oladipo. We expect stability from Thaddeus Young. We know Bojan will go off in a game or two and that Darren Collison will hit some 3-pointers.