What do you think is the most important factor for each team heading into Game 1?
Furr: Easy answer, but defense. The Pacers spent much of the season as a top offense before falling off later in the year, but finished a stellar 8th on defense. Cleveland’s 5 out lineup with Kevin Love at center is absolutely brutal to defend, but has a bad bad time on defense. One of these teams will step up on the defensive side of the ball. LeBron still might (and I would assume will) wake up and remember to play defense now that the playoffs have started.
Matthes: For the Pacers: Myles Turner. Will Myles show up. Fortunately, unlike years past, Indy has Sabonis if Myles falters. But a tuned in Myles is a different animal and one that no Cav save LeBron could guard. Cleveland won’t be able to stop Vic, just like Indy won’t be able to stop LeBron. So assuming that’s happens, a strong Myles would give the Pacers two seismic forces to Cleveland’s one.
For Cleveland: that’s tough. I’m going with George Hill. He’s been off all year. But if he finds himself, hits those corner threes and possibly defends Vic, the advantage stays in Cleveland’s corner. Love is who he is, Green has never impressed me (although he’s good for a big dunk every couple games) and Hood won’t kill ya, but if Hill gives anything close to what he gave Indy and Utah…gulp.
Indiana Pacers
Hughes: Indiana will win this series if they can shut down everyone else around LeBron. If they show right off the bat that LeBron is going to have to do everything, that could have a mental impact on Cleveland. It also may call for some all-time LeBron performances. LeBron needs to make sure he gets everyone involved for that reason. Kevin Love may be huge in this series, as Thaddeus Young can only guard one of Love and LeBron. If Love gets Turner or someone else on him away from the rim, they may start feeding him the ball.
East: For the Cavaliers, it is clearly LeBron James. The best player of all time needs little in terms of background and introduction. If he starts at the 3, he is going to tear up the Pacers from the wing and create matchup problems. If he starts at the 4, the Cavs can put another shooter on the floor. I think the latter is more deadly, so the most important factor for Cleveland is what lineups do they surround LeBron with?
For the Pacers, it has been discussed ad nauseam, but its getting Myles Turners involved both offensively AND defensively. Using him on offense to space the floor and knock down jumpers is easy, Indiana has done it all year with some level of success. Using him as a post passer could work well in this series too since Cleveland’s defense stinks. But the team needs to get him involved and engaged on that end. On D, it is up to Turner himself to stay in it. He needs to be glued to his man, protect the paint, and use his butt to box out hard and keep the Cavs from getting extra possessions. Turner’s engagement will be crucial.
Gibson: Again, Myles Turner, for all the reasons listed above. The Pacers can’t stand too many duds from him in this series if they want to win. Even if he isn’t scoring or rebounding as much, he can’t be invisible.