Expert Predictions: Who They’re Picking In Cavs-Pacers Series

But I do think the Cavaliers have enough to fend off the Pacers and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, as I projected here.

So, that’s my take. Here’s what other NBA writers are saying:

USA Today

Three of the four experts picked the Cavs to win in six. The fourth, noted NBA beat writer Jeff Zillgitt, picked the Cavs in five.

“If Cleveland maintains the defensive intensity with which it shut down the Heat in the first round, the Cavs become a very difficult out,” wrote USA Today’s Lorenzo Reyes. “Their offense is versatile, quick-paced and gets contributions from various sources. Ty Jerome and De’Andre Hunter, for example, are a pair of bench players who are capable of popping off.”

Reyes also mentioned the importance of Donovan Mitchell.

“With the status of point guard Darius Garland (toe sprain) still in question, Mitchell becomes even more important,” Reyes wrote. “Against the Heat, Mitchell’s services weren’t heavily required in blowouts in Games 3 and 4, but he dropped 30 in each of Games 1 and 2. His ability to score inside and out should stress Indiana’s defense, though expect the Pacers to put shifty guard Andrew Nembhard or Aaron Nesmith on Mitchell.”

ESPN

Again, across the board, ESPN is picking the Cavs. 

“The Cavaliers won’t steamroll the Pacers, but they’re built to win this series,” wrote ESPN betting expert Eric Moody, who went with the Cavs in seven. “Indiana’s offense and depth will keep it competitive, but their defense will ultimately be their undoing. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen are capable of containing Tyrese Haliburton‘s penetration in the paint. While the Pacers won the regular-season series 3-1 and finished 15-4 to close the campaign, expect Cleveland to outlast them in a competitive series.”

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jim McCormick picked the Cavs in five.

“A theme developed when looking at these Eastern Conference matchups; the higher seeds have massive advantages that will prove difficult to overcome in a long series,” he wrote. “The Pacers have been a great two-way team for much of the calendar year, yet there is another tier of offense in the half court and in turnover-driven transition production from Cleveland that should overwhelm Indiana.

“This isn’t just strategy; the Cavaliers have much more size and skill in the frontcourt and more depth and playmaking talent in the backcourt.”

NBC Sports

Longtime NBA writer Kurt Helin also thinks the Cavs shouldn’t have too many issues — picking them to take the series in five games.

“The Pacers are a good team about to face a better one — Cleveland can do everything Indiana wants to do, and do it better, and with superior players,” Helin wrote. “It’s not Donovan Mitchell vs. Tyrese Haliburton at the top of the card, it’s Darius Garland vs. Andrew Nembhard, it’s Myles Turner vs. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

“The Cavaliers and Celtics have been a tier above everyone else in the East and that will play out in this series.”

Cleveland.com

Columnist Jimmy Watkins agrees with my take that, all things considered, the Cavs will win because they have the best player in the series (Mitchell).

“Call me a caveman or, even worse, an unimaginative takes-man,” Watkins wrote. “But the more I study the Cavs and Pacers, the more I land on the simplest round two hypothesis: Cleveland will beat Indiana because of playoff basketball’s golden rule:

“The team with the best player(s) usually wins the series.”