Previewing Cavs opponents: Indiana Pacers
Cavs news and links for Tuesday, September 24.
The first sip
The Eastern Conference is stacked in the middle with a handful of teams looking to distance themselves from the pack. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers will likely be two of those teams looking to leap from one tier to the next.
Indiana won 47 games and ran to the conference finals last season. Timing is everything — and while the Pacers had a fortuitous path due to opposing injuries — this team isn’t to be overlooked.
Tyrese Haliburton has emerged as a bonafide star, averaging 20.1 points and 10.9 assists in an All-NBA season. He’s joined by developing players such as Aaron Nesmith, Andrew Nembhard, Jarace Walker, Bennedict Mathurin and Isaiah Jackson in a young core that rivals just about anyone else in the league.
Rounding out the roster is two-time All-NBA forward Pascal Siakam and a group of quality veterans like Myles Turner and T.J. McConnell. All together, the Pacers play a fast-paced brand of basketball that is tough to keep up with.
The Pacers are an electric offensive team that improved defensively down the stretch of last season. Putting both ends of the ball together will be the key. If the Pacers can continue to score at a league-best rate while establishing a legit defensive presence — they could create some noise.
How the Cavs played the Pacers last season
Cleveland split their series with Indiana 2-2 last year, losing the first two and then winning the next pair.
On paper, these teams are a brilliant matchup. A high-powered offense meets one of the best defensive squads in basketball. The Cavs didn’t find much success slowing down Indiana’s run-and-gun style last season — with the Pacers scoring 120+ in three of four matchups.
While the Pacers search for a more competent defense, Cleveland looks to buff their offensive output. Two teams in the same tier attempting to address opposite issues. Watching their matchup this season should be just as fun as before.
Cavs vs Pacers this season
- at Home - Jan. 12
- in Indiana - Jan. 14
- in Indiana - Apr. 10
- at Home - Apr. 13
Notable players who have been with both franchises
- Caris LeVert spent a brief time with the Pacers before being traded to Cleveland. Upon his arrival to Indiana, a routine physical revealed a cancerous tumor. It’s entirely possible the trade that sent LeVert to the Pacers saved his life by triggering the exam.
- Georges Niang is our second current Cavalier who also suited up for Indiana. Niang began his career with the Pacers, appearing in just 23 games before being waved. He’d join three more teams before landing in Cleveland.
- George Hill will forever be remembered for missing the free throw that led to J.R. Smith’s debacle in the 2018 NBA Finals. At least, that’s how Cavs fans remember him. For the Pacers, Hill was a quality starter who contributed to numerous playoff runs.
Cavs news
The Cavaliers add four players to training camp roster spots. Camp opens up next week in Bradenton, Florida.