Cavs Meet Chaos: Pacers Bring the Five-Out Frenzy

The Cavaliers made their first-round series look easy, sweeping the Heat and handing Miami its worst back-to-back postseason losses in years. The Pacers? All they did was stomp out Giannis and the Bucks in five, capping things with a wild overtime rally in Milwaukee.

So now it’s Cavs vs. Pacers. Round 2. With a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line.

Game 1 tips off Sunday at 6 p.m. at Rocket Arena.

The regular season tells one story — Indiana won 3-of-4 — but the Cavs were locked into the No. 1 seed in two of those games. That makes this a blank slate. And don’t be surprised if defense tells the story. Specifically, Cleveland’s ability (or inability) to contain Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton.

He was left off the All-Star team this season. He was voted the NBA’s most overrated player by his peers. The Cavs aren’t buying it.

“I didn’t vote,” Donovan Mitchell said, almost laughing. “But look at him. He’s been to the conference finals. He’s elite.”

Coach Kenny Atkinson was even more blunt. “Those guys who voted? I don’t know what they’re watching,” he said. “He’s one of the hardest covers in the league. Score and pass. He’s got both. Reminds me of LeBron, Harden — guys who can put the ball anywhere on a dime.”

Haliburton’s numbers post-All-Star break? Try 20 and 12.

But for the Cavs, there’s one big “if” looming: Will Darius Garland play? He missed Games 3 and 4 against Miami with a toe sprain and is considered day-to-day. Kyle Anderson of the Heat had something to say about Garland’s absence — suggesting the Cavs looked better without him. Cleveland didn’t take that well.

“I think we’re better with our All-Star point guard, personally,” Atkinson said.

If Garland can’t go, Sam Merrill may again start. Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter have anchored the bench, and Dean Wade — maybe the most underrated piece of the rotation — continues to plug in wherever needed.

Defensively, though, the challenge is steep. Indiana’s “five-out” attack means everyone on the floor can shoot, slash, or swing it. Seven players are averaging double figures in the playoffs. The scoring is everywhere. Pascal Siakam. Myles Turner. Andrew Nembhard. Aaron Nesmith. Bennedict Mathurin. T.J. McConnell.

And, of course, Haliburton.

Atkinson knows it’ll stress Jarrett Allen’s ability to defend the perimeter — but also sees opportunity.

“They apply five-out, but we’ve got two bigs,” he said. “They’ll have to guard us too. Our offensive rebounding. Our pick-and-roll with JA. They can’t hide either.”

So yes, there’s a chess match coming. But it’s also two rising teams believing their time is now. Only one will be right.