The Indiana Pacers put together a strong 2023-24 NBA regular season. They went 47-35, exceeding most expectations that were placed on them. Many analysts coming into the season believed they would be fighting for a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament, but they avoided that altogether.
Indiana finished in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, which has lined them up for a first-round series with the Milwaukee Bucks. The two teams know each other well as Central Division foes and had an extra matchup this season because of the NBA In-Season Tournament.
The Pacers found a lot of success against the Bucks in the regular season. They went 4-1, propelled by their incredible offensive efficiency and taking advantage of the shortcomings the Bucks have defensively.
For a relatively young team lacking playoff experience, this could be overwhelming. The NBA Postseason is a totally different animal than the regular season and first-timers can sometimes be met with a rude welcome.
Despite that, All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton believes that he and his teammates have what it takes to get the job done. When making an appearance on NBA on ESPN, Haliburton expressed confidence his Pacers can defeat the Bucks.
“We’re a fully confident group,” Haliburton said. “We really feel like we can play with anybody in the NBA. We’ve felt that way all year. We’ve proven that all year.”
Indiana should have some confidence heading into the series against Milwaukee. Not only did they find success in the regular season, but the Bucks are going to be extremely shorthanded to begin the series.
Former NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will not be in the lineup for the Bucks at the start of the series. He is dealing with a calf injury that was suffered on April 9th and will not be ready to get back on the court.
While it is an unfortunate situation for the Bucks, it presents the Pacers with a golden opportunity to get off to a strong start early. Their goal should be winning at least one of the first two games in Milwaukee, enabling them to return to Indiana with homecourt advantage for the remainder of the series.
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