Cleveland Cavaliers: Keys to victory over Indiana Pacers
By Dan Gilinsky
Don’t force it
This Pacers squad is at their best when they are getting out on the break from forcing turnovers. Oladipo led the league in steals this year, and he is one of the toughest players in the NBA to defend in the open floor.
Since the All-Star break, Indy led the league in opponent turnovers and only the Oklahoma City Thunder have had more points off turnovers per game this season, according to nba.com. Too many times against Indiana this season the Cavs had rough live-ball giveaways, and those were killers against a Pacers team that is not typically going to scorch teams with threes in their halfcourt offense.
Since the All-Star break, Indiana has also had the lowest offensive rating of any playoff team; if the Cavs make them earn it at a slower pace, they should pull out W’s.
They are great at pressuring opposing ball-handlers and trapping in the corner, leading to run-outs from Lance Stephenson and others. If the Cavaliers are patient in their sets, they should be able to score efficiently and not allow those Indy breaks too often with Love pulling Turner out of the paint to go with on the block, and coupled with James’ court vision.
The Cavs should be able to attack the Pacers’ pressure and get to the free throw line from ball reversals. Kyle Korver and Love’s gravity should stretch Indiana’s defense out considerably, and that will enable players like Green and Jordan Clarkson to get into the teeth of the Pacers and warrant free throw opportunities or dunks.
If the Cavs keep settling for threes and not willing their way to the charity stripe, that will keep giving Oladipo and Stephenson chances to get quick offense from misses. The Cavs are obviously going to shoot their 35ish threes in each game, but if they hurry them unnecessarily, it could backfire and negate their mismatches on the block with James and Love forcing double teams, and allow Indiana to hug shooters more, decreasing Cleveland’s efficiency.
Smith, Hood, and Clarkson need to attack closeouts on the wing and take what the Pacers are giving them, whether that relates to a lob to Nance, a floater or a drive all the way to the rim. As those guys are getting healthier and more acclimated to their roles lately, their production has taken off as of late, such as against the New York Knicks on the road.
If the Cavs don’t try to get too cute offensively and are active enough in their cutting to not enable Indy to get their hands in the passing lane, Cleveland will have no real problem winning this series in four or five games. If the young guys try to do too much, this could potentially go six.
Regardless, I think James’ brilliance will conquer all postseason jitters when it matters in crunch time and end it earlier.