Last year, the Indiana Pacers ended the Milwaukee Bucks' season in the first round of the playoffs before eventually making it all the way to the conference finals. The Pacers will hope that history will repeat itself as they are taking on MIlwaukee in the first round of the playofs once again this year.
Heading into the series, the Pacers and Bucks solidified themselves as two of the hottest teams in the league. The Pacers lost just one game in April and finished the regular season as one of the best teams in 2025. As for Milwaukee, they won each of their last eight gams to end the season, and they enter the playoffs on an incredibly high note. Additionally, they may get Damian Lillard back during the playoffs, which makes them even more dangerous.
This series should be a tight one with both teams having a lot of momentum. However, the Pacers have two clear advantages over the Bucks, and that may be all they need to rely on to ensure a series victory.
The Pacers have 2 big advantages over the Pacers
On paper, the Pacers and Bucks match up well against one another from a talent perspective. The Bucks are more top-heavy with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard, but the Pacers are a deeper team. However, what the Pacers bring to the table may be enough for them to knock out the Bucks--their coaching and pace.
By most standards, Rick Carlisle is a better head coach than Doc Rivers and has a better recent history of leading his teams to successful runs. Furthermore, because of the system he has put in place in Indiana, his team is also among the hardest to beat because of their play style. They are resilient and rely on their fast pace, which will be difficult for the Bucks to overcome.
Anything can happen in the playoffs, and the Bucks are a legitimate threat to the Pacers. However, as it stands, the Pacers are in a good position to advance to the second round, especially since they have homecourt advantage.
If the Pacers want to go on another deep playoff run this year, it is crucial that they bring their A-game, specifically players like Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner, who are key to the team's success. However, they must also win in other areas of the game as well. Luckily for them, they have a good opportunity to capitalize on their other strengths right away.