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The Pacers Will Be Looking to Come Out Strong at Home, Will Cavs Answer?

By Albert Dadson

Apr 17, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) shoots over the defense of Indiana Pacers guard Jeff Teague (44) during the second half in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 117-111. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) shoots over the defense of Indiana Pacers guard Jeff Teague (44) during the second half in game two of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 117-111. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Indiana Pacers know that this series agains the Cleveland Cavaliers is not over. They have two games left to not get swept and they have them at their home court.

The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Pacers 117-111 in Game 2 which gave them the chance they have now to not play another home game in the first round.

The crowd will be into it and the Cleveland Cavaliers will be in a hostile environment which shouldn’t be a problem because of the experience they have on the team.

These next two games are crucial since their biggest competition in the east in Boston is down 2-0 to the Bulls.

MUST READ: 7 Things We Learned From Game 2

The Cavs knowing this will have to increase the intensity if they are going to have a rest before the next round.

Beside the Cavaliers looking like the most dominant team in the east, the rest of the east looks even.

A heightened focus on the series is need though because the Pacers have shown they are able to play with the Cavs.

Paul George is averaging 30.5 points in this series and has been a force in this series.

George is known to play extremely well at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse, the Pacers Home court, and will try to will the Pacers on to a win in Game 3 to put up a fight with the Cavs.

The Pacers are in a awkward position because with the success the Bulls are having they would have been better served being the 8th seed and would have been able to play the Cavs later in the playoffs.

Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers /

Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron looks like he will keep the first round hot streak going and add to his legend.

With how bad the Cavs looked in the playoffs getting the Pacers in the first round was the best thing that happened to him because it made it possible that they could play a team that they were comfortable to play.

In the season series this year they won it 3-1 and they have carried on that dominance to the playoffs.

The Bulls were not the team they wanted to face. They swept the Cavs in the season 4-0 and have won five straight games against them which goes into last year. The last time the Cavs won against the Bulls was February 18, 2016. Which is more than a year ago.

The Bulls and the Pacers were teams that underachieved during the season and the better teams in the east knew that they were not going to be a tough out.

The experience and talent that both teams have on their teams was what the other teams feared.

With Paul George, Monte Ellis, and Miles Turner on the Pacers and Dwayne Wade, Jimmy Butler, and Robin Lopez on the Bulls those two teams had big time players that have come through in big time moments that would create matchup problems for other teams.

Star power is keeping the Bulls afloat. The Pacers have talent but just don’t have enough stars to keep up with the Cavs.

Must Read: Defensive Issues Should Still Be a Big Concern for Cleveland

The matchups worked out perfectly for the Cavs and now they have the team they wanted. Now they just have to close it out and keep up the play to sweep the Pacers.