The Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics are almost locked into playing each other in the first round of the playoffs. How important is it for Indiana to surpass Boston for the fourth seed?
The Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics hold the same record at this point. Both squads are 47-32 with three games left in the season. However, the Celtics currently hold the tiebreaker as they prepare for to play Indiana on Friday, April 5th.
Unless something miraculous happens, the two sides will meet up again in the playoffs. As it stands, Boston will have home court in a playoff series. How desperate should the Pacers be to take back the fourth seed?
The Value of Home Court
Indiana
The Pacers have played much better this season at home. They are 29-10 at home compared to just 18-22 on the road in 2018-19. The Celtics are in the same boat. They are 28-12 at home on the season, but only 19-20 on the road. Both squads are much more comfortable in front of their home fans. In three games so far this season, the Pacers are 1-2 against Boston. Their lone win came at home in a 102-101 win back in November. Indiana lost both games in Boston, one a blowout and one decided in the final seconds. The two are set to meet on Friday, April 5th, in Indianapolis in a game that could decide home court in the playoffs.
The Pacers have a rough history of late when it comes to road playoff games. In 2018, Indiana went just 1-3 in Cleveland in a series they lost in seven games. Dating back to the 2013-14 season, the Pacers are just 7-12 in playoff games away from Bankers Life. On the other hand, Indiana is 9-9 at home over that same stretch. The Pacers have played in three game sevens since 2014, going 1-2 in those games. Their lone win? It came at home; both losses were on the road.
Boston
Boston has appeared in the playoffs in each season dating back to 2014-15. Over that span, the Celtics are 17-9 at home and a measly 5-16 on the road. They have also appeared in three game sevens, going 2-0 at home and 0-1 as the visitor (catching a theme? Game 7 at home is huge).
The Celtics are a much better team at home, especially during the playoffs. It will be incredibly valuable for them to hold on to the fourth seed and host the underwhelming road team that the Pacers have to offer. Their rough history as the road team in a playoff series should entice them to do all they can to secure the number four seed in the East.
Where Things Stand
The Pacers and Celtics are both far better at home than on the road. This season has shown each team appears much more comfortable on their home courts, neither team has won an away game in the series to this point. Recent history suggests much of the same in the playoffs. In a series between two teams this close to each other, home court could be enough to decide who moves on.
The Indiana Pacers need to take care of business to end the season and ensure that they will be the beneficiaries of home court advantage in the playoffs. Either way, we are set for an interesting playoff series between two teams who love to compete for 48 minutes. Time to strap in!