Three matchups for the Pacers to exploit versus the Celtics

The Indiana Pacers will need to take advantage of some matchups to take down Boston.

It’s no secret that when it comes to the NBA playoffs, matchups can mean everything. In theory, an NBA playoff series can be considered a glorified chess match, each piece serving a greater purpose, but a specific role.

The Indiana Pacers will take on the Boston Celtics this weekend in what will be the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Heading into the season, both teams had high hopes for what they could accomplish. However, inconsistency by the Celtics throughout the entirety of the season has caused the team to constantly shift its approach. For the Pacers, their season took a dramatic turn due to the injury to Victor Oladipo in January.

As a result, the Pacers had to adjust on the fly. Luckily, the depth of the Pacers roster coupled with the group of men that make its infrastructure, the team displayed resiliency and cohesion that have allowed it to earn a playoff berth. This has forced the Pacers to identify their specific roles which in return have provided a foundation for what matchups the team can exploit in the first-round bout against the Celtics.

1.     Wesley Matthews vs. Jaylen Brown:

An old bull versus a young calf. Unfortunately, for the Celtics, they will be without shooting guard Marcus Smart for the first-round due to a torn oblique. Smart’s injury forces Brown into the starting lineup.

Brown has only played thirteen games this season for the Celtics at shooting guard so the veteran Matthews will need to attack this matchup. Over the course of his career, Matthews has developed into a well-rounded shooter. Matthews can find his shot from multiple spots on the floor. It will be important for Matthews to be active on the offensive side of the floor to make Brown work hard and defend.

Not only can Matthews exploit Brown offensively, but the defensive prowess of the Pacers shooting guard has the potential to cause some problems for Boston. Brown isn’t as dynamic as Matthews on offense, therefore an aggressive approach on defense can wreak havoc against the Celtics guard.

2.     Thad Young vs. Marcus Morris:

It’s unfortunate for the Celtics that the injury to Smart hurts the foundation of their roster. It could have a domino effect that forces Marcus Morris to play more minutes at the 4 than he normally would. This presents an intriguing matchup for Thad Young to exploit.

Young is the Swiss Army Knife for the Indiana Pacers; he can do it all. Whether it’s scoring at a high-level, rebounding or making the right play instead of the first play, Young brings a multitude of skills to the table.

On the other hand, Morris, who has shown flashes, is more one-dimensional. Morris has a post-presence; however, he can’t stretch the floor (anymore, he was a great shooter pre-All-Star break) or defend at the rate of Young. Young should look to wear Morris out over the course of this series. Working inside-and-out of the paint, while bringing energy to every possession, Young has the potential to give the Pacers an edge in his ability to exploit Morris.

3.     Domantas Sabonis vs. Gordon Hayward:

A battle of the sixth-man. Sabonis has had the best year of his career this season, for Hayward, that is certainly not the case. Hayward has struggled to find a rhythm coming off missing an entire season due to injury.

Hayward has had flashes, especially of late, but nothing to warrant any concern for Sabonis. Sabonis’ game is founded on his ability to be relentless during every minute on the floor. This can give Hayward trouble as he looks to make his first playoff appearance since his 2016-17 campaign.

Hayward is a tremendous player, one who will hopefully return the all-star game someday, but this season just hasn’t quite shown enough to be a constant threat. On the other hand, Sabonis has molded himself into one of the best sixth-men in the league.

Sabonis has been productive on a nightly basis which is substantially important in a seven-game playoff series. Sabonis has a diverse game. Not only does he score but he also passes and rebounds. Sabonis is a throwback player, and those types of players thrive on the game’s biggest stage, the playoffs. Hayward has had flashes, but coming off the bench, the Pacers have the advantage over the Celtics due to Sabonis’ potential to exploit Hayward.

This first-round battle between the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics will be interesting, to say the least. For a Celtics ball club who has everything to lose, the Pacers have the ability to dwindle their opponent’s confidence. Arguably two of the best head coaches in the league will also be going head-to-head. The Pacers versus Celtics series will be a chess match that includes strategy and preparation.