Cavs Built To Win Series vs. Pacers, And Highly Likely Will

Well-coached. Dynamite offensively. Incredibly talented point guard in Tyrese Haliburton, All-Star forward in Pascal Siakam, underrated center in Myles Turner. Strong bench. A locker room full of good dudes.

Indiana’s core also advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. 

But that was this and this is this. These Cavs have a few things working in their favor. For starters, they’re better defensively. For another, their offense is at least as capable of putting up huge numbers (and efficient numbers) as Indiana’s.

If Donovan Mitchell performs as he usually does, the Cavs will also have the best player on the floor. But even if he doesn’t, Cleveland is just more talented and deeper all-around. It’s close, but the Cavs have the edge and home-court advantage.

This is also a series in which Evan Mobley must continue his rise, De’Andre Hunter has to play as he did in the final three games of the first round vs. Miami, and Ty Jerome has to be the Jerome we’ve all season, and the Cavs have to really defend the perimeter.

I suspect all of those things will happen. That said, I’m not so sure I’m as convinced as ESPN betting expert Andre Snellings, who wrote that the Cavs will get out of this series fairly easily and quickly.

“Put me down as the one who expects the Cavaliers to win and win convincingly,” Snellings wrote. “Yes, the Pacers won the season series, but that is misleading. Two of those wins came in April after the Cavs had clinched the top seed and were starting bench players. And the Pacers’ first win came before the trade deadline deal that sent De’Andre Hunter to Cleveland and with Ty Jerome out.

“The Cavaliers team at full strength is significantly better than the Pacers and can beat them at their own style. My official pick is Cavs in six games, but I could see them taking this series in five.”

Meanwhile, I could see the Cavs losing Game 1, especially if Darius Garland (toe) doesn’t play — and then bouncing back to take the series in six. I’m not saying that’s what WILL happen. But I think it COULD.

However it plays out, I just think the Cavs are the better team. They will be challenged, without a doubt. They will also advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. They’re just too good not to.

Cavs in six.