- Joined
- Oct 3, 2019
- Messages
- 9,996
- Reaction score
- 28,715
- Points
- 135
The Cavaliers three-game road trip ends in Indiana against the 38-30 Pacers, who are in 6th place just 0.5 games ahead of Philadelphia and Miami as they fight to avoid the play-in tournament. Obviously every game is huge for the Pacers from here on out.
The Pacers are 21-14 at home and 2-0 against the Cavs this year. However, both games were in the first week of the season and both teams have changed a lot since then.
The Pacers traded for PF Pascal Siakam and sent out Bruce Brown and Buddy Hield. They also lost Bennedict Mathurin to a season-ending injury nine days ago. Those three players combined to score 41 points per game. Since trading for Siakam the Pacers are 14-13. He hasn’t exactly taken them to the next level. They were seven games over .500 before the trade and just one game over since.
So the Pacers have lost Brown, Hield, and Mathurin and gained Siakam since these teams last met. The Cavs have lost Mitchell, Mobley, and Strus to injuries while Dean Wade is doubtful.
The Pacers, like the Cavs, have been very inconsistent of late. In the last three weeks the Pacers have notched impressive wins over Orlando by 14 points, OKC by 10, Dallas by 17, New Orleans by 9, and Brooklyn by 21. But they also lost to Chicago in OT, to San Antonio by 12, to New Orleans by 27, and to Toronto by 8.
They beat OKC on the road and the next night lost to the Bulls at home. They beat the Pelicans by 9 at home and two nights later lost to them by 27 on the road - a 36-point swing. They lost to 14-53 San Antonio and beat Dallas on the road two nights later. Like the Cavs you never know whether you’re going to get Jekyll or Hyde on any given night.
The Pacers lead the NBA in scoring, averaging 125.8 ppg at home. They are average in 3-point attempts, but they are first in points in the paint and in 2-point shooting percentage. They are 2nd in shots per game at the rim and 4th in fast break points. They are 2nd in pace, assists, and field goal attempts per game.
Basically they push the pace, pass the rock, and attack the rim. Their scoring is balanced with six players averaging 10-20 points per game. As a team they’re shooting an amazing 50.5% from the field and 37.4% on 3’s.
Their downfall is defense; they rank 28th in points allowed per game. They’re 29th in points in the paint, 26th in 2-point percentage, and 28th in free throw attempts per game. They give up a ton of points in the paint and foul a lot, which tells me they can’t stay in front of their man.
No team defends fewer 3’s than Indiana; opponents attempt a 3-pointer on just 32.4% of their possessions. My guess is that the Pacers are so weak defending the paint that opponents just attack the rim. The Pacers are below average defending 3’s when opponents decide to shoot them, however.
Bennedict Mathurin is last on the Pacers in on/off; they are being outscored by 10.3 points per 100 possessions when he is on the floor - by far the worst on the team. So his injury may actually help them. In the last two weeks they are 8th in offense and 9th in defense. They recently held Brooklyn to 100 points, Orlando to 97, and OKC to 111 (they average 121). Their defense has improved.
PF Pascal Siakam averages 20.2 points on 55% from the field. All-Star PG Tyrese Haliburton averages 20.5 points and 11.2 assists on 48% from the field. He leads the league in assists per game. C Myles Turner averages 17.3 points and 7.0 rebounds. Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard average 12.4 and 9.0 points. C Jalen Smith and PF Obi Toppin average 10 points each off the bench.
With Mitchell, Mobley, Strus, and Wade out the Cavs will be really short-handed. Without Mitchell they are a .500 team. The Pacers are 21-14 at home and need every win they can get to stay out of the play-in. They are healthier than the Cavs and need this game a lot more. Even Mathurin being injured may help them as statistically they are better when he is out.
I’m really not liking the Cavs chances even with Marcus Morris Sr added to the roster, but the Cavs have a way of following up putrid performances with great performances and vice versa while the Pacers have been either very good or very bad lately. On paper the Pacers should win easily, but both these teams are very tough to predict on any given night.
The Pacers will fast break at every opportunity and the Cavs take a lot of 3's, so they need to get back on defense after long rebounds especially. Force the Pacers into their half-court offense and defend the paint. On offense take advantage of the Pacers ranking 29th in points allowed in the paint. Don't fall in love with the 3-point shot if it isn't falling.
The Pacers are at home, much healthier, and need this game more, so it’s difficult to be optimistic about this one.
The Pacers are 21-14 at home and 2-0 against the Cavs this year. However, both games were in the first week of the season and both teams have changed a lot since then.
The Pacers traded for PF Pascal Siakam and sent out Bruce Brown and Buddy Hield. They also lost Bennedict Mathurin to a season-ending injury nine days ago. Those three players combined to score 41 points per game. Since trading for Siakam the Pacers are 14-13. He hasn’t exactly taken them to the next level. They were seven games over .500 before the trade and just one game over since.
So the Pacers have lost Brown, Hield, and Mathurin and gained Siakam since these teams last met. The Cavs have lost Mitchell, Mobley, and Strus to injuries while Dean Wade is doubtful.
The Pacers, like the Cavs, have been very inconsistent of late. In the last three weeks the Pacers have notched impressive wins over Orlando by 14 points, OKC by 10, Dallas by 17, New Orleans by 9, and Brooklyn by 21. But they also lost to Chicago in OT, to San Antonio by 12, to New Orleans by 27, and to Toronto by 8.
They beat OKC on the road and the next night lost to the Bulls at home. They beat the Pelicans by 9 at home and two nights later lost to them by 27 on the road - a 36-point swing. They lost to 14-53 San Antonio and beat Dallas on the road two nights later. Like the Cavs you never know whether you’re going to get Jekyll or Hyde on any given night.
The Pacers lead the NBA in scoring, averaging 125.8 ppg at home. They are average in 3-point attempts, but they are first in points in the paint and in 2-point shooting percentage. They are 2nd in shots per game at the rim and 4th in fast break points. They are 2nd in pace, assists, and field goal attempts per game.
Basically they push the pace, pass the rock, and attack the rim. Their scoring is balanced with six players averaging 10-20 points per game. As a team they’re shooting an amazing 50.5% from the field and 37.4% on 3’s.
Their downfall is defense; they rank 28th in points allowed per game. They’re 29th in points in the paint, 26th in 2-point percentage, and 28th in free throw attempts per game. They give up a ton of points in the paint and foul a lot, which tells me they can’t stay in front of their man.
No team defends fewer 3’s than Indiana; opponents attempt a 3-pointer on just 32.4% of their possessions. My guess is that the Pacers are so weak defending the paint that opponents just attack the rim. The Pacers are below average defending 3’s when opponents decide to shoot them, however.
Bennedict Mathurin is last on the Pacers in on/off; they are being outscored by 10.3 points per 100 possessions when he is on the floor - by far the worst on the team. So his injury may actually help them. In the last two weeks they are 8th in offense and 9th in defense. They recently held Brooklyn to 100 points, Orlando to 97, and OKC to 111 (they average 121). Their defense has improved.
PF Pascal Siakam averages 20.2 points on 55% from the field. All-Star PG Tyrese Haliburton averages 20.5 points and 11.2 assists on 48% from the field. He leads the league in assists per game. C Myles Turner averages 17.3 points and 7.0 rebounds. Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard average 12.4 and 9.0 points. C Jalen Smith and PF Obi Toppin average 10 points each off the bench.
With Mitchell, Mobley, Strus, and Wade out the Cavs will be really short-handed. Without Mitchell they are a .500 team. The Pacers are 21-14 at home and need every win they can get to stay out of the play-in. They are healthier than the Cavs and need this game a lot more. Even Mathurin being injured may help them as statistically they are better when he is out.
I’m really not liking the Cavs chances even with Marcus Morris Sr added to the roster, but the Cavs have a way of following up putrid performances with great performances and vice versa while the Pacers have been either very good or very bad lately. On paper the Pacers should win easily, but both these teams are very tough to predict on any given night.
The Pacers will fast break at every opportunity and the Cavs take a lot of 3's, so they need to get back on defense after long rebounds especially. Force the Pacers into their half-court offense and defend the paint. On offense take advantage of the Pacers ranking 29th in points allowed in the paint. Don't fall in love with the 3-point shot if it isn't falling.
The Pacers are at home, much healthier, and need this game more, so it’s difficult to be optimistic about this one.
