The Indiana Pacers have a tough challenge ahead of them in their second-round playoff matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they may have already won the series just one game in. According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst, the Cavaliers internally were scared of taking on the Pacers in the playoffs due to it being a bad matchup for them.
"Internally, the Cavs were wary of the Pacers for weeks," Windhorst said on The Hoop Collective. "Because that's a quasi-bad matchup for the Cavs."
Heading into Game 2 on Tuesday, the Pacers have a 1-0 series lead over the No. 1 seed Cavaliers. Despite Cleveland finishing the regular season with the second-best record in the NBA, the Pacers have proven that they are beatable. And if the Cavaliers truly are scared of the Pacers and what they bring to the table, this series may have already ended before it ever really began.
The Pacers are going to be a tough playoff out
One of the Pacers' biggest advantages (and likely the biggest reason the Cavaliers reportedly did not want to meet them in the playoffs) is their resilience. The Pacers have built a reputation over the past couple of seasons as a team that will not give up or fold under pressure. So far in the playoffs, they have built on this reputation and have made it clear that teams will have a hard time beating them in a seven-game series.
Additionally, beyond their resilience, the Pacers' high energy on both sides of the ball stands out as well. The Pacers rank as one of the top offenses in the NBA because of their pace and energy, but this has also translated to the defensive side of the ball. While they are far from an elite defensive team, the Pacers have drastically improved in this area, making them a much more well-rounded team.
The Pacers played good defense all series against the Milwaukee Bucks, and they played well in Game 1 against the Cavaliers, who had the highest offensive rating in the regular season. Now that they look like a solid defensive team, the Pacers are an even bigger threat in the East.
Ultimately, the Cavaliers earned the No. 1 seed for a reason. They finished with the best offense in the NBA while ranking as a top defensive team in the league as well. There are few teams around the league who are more well-rounded than the Cavaliers, and they have a ton of talent, particularly in their starting lineup. However, the Pacers may have them right where they want them, and that is a scary thought for the Cavaliers.