2024-25 Eastern Conference Semifinal Preview: No. 4 Indiana Pacers v. No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers

2024-25 Eastern Conference Semifinal Preview: No. 4 Indiana Pacers v. No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers

As we wrap up the first round of the 2024-25 NBA Postseason, the conference semifinals in the East have arrived. The first of two series tips off Sunday between the No. 4 Indiana Pacers, hoping to get back to their second straight ECF, and top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, who enter Game 1 with nearly a week of rest. Both teams showcase exciting backcourts with Darius Garland, Tyrese Haliburton, Donovan Mitchell and Andrew Nembhard, a proven postseason riser. The battle of the frontcourts could be exciting as well, but without further ado, let’s dive into our series preview!

GAME	DATE	MATCHUP	TIME (EST)	TV
Game 1	Sunday, May 4	Pacers @ Cavaliers	6:00 p.m.	TNT
Game 2	Tuesday, May 6	Pacers @ Cavaliers	7 p.m.	TNT
Game 3	Friday, May 9	Cavaliers @ Pacers	7:30 p.m.	ESPN
Game 4	Sunday, May 11	Cavaliers @ Pacers	8 p.m.	TNT
Game 5*	Tuesday, May 13	Pacers @ Cavaliers	TBD	TNT
Game 6*	Thursday, May 15	Cavaliers @ Pacers	TBD	ESPN
Game 7*	Sunday, May 18	Pacers @ Cavaliers	TBD	TBD

What to know about the Indiana Pacers:

Starters:

• Tyrese Haliburton
• Andrew Nembhard
• Aaron Nesmith
• Pascal Siakam
• Myles Turner

Key Reserves:

• Jarace Walker
• Bennedict Mathurin
• Obi Toppin
• T.J. McConnell

For the second consecutive year, the Indiana Pacers handled the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, this time in five games (after in six last year). In those four games, the Pacers posted a 118.0 offensive rating with a 58.1 effective field goal percentage and 61.3 true-shooting percentage, both the second-best marks in the NBA.

Tyrese Haliburton, who was excellent in the second half of the season, picked up right where he left off in the postseason. He scored eight of the Pacers’ 16 points in their series-clinching Game 5, including the game-winning layup with 1.1 seconds left to close an 8-0 run in 34 seconds. For the series, he averaged 17.6 points and 11.6 assists on 53.0 percent true shooting, the most assists he’s averaged in a single playoff series over his career.

Indiana has won 13 of its last 16 games that their star guard has played, including a 114-112 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 10.

What to know about the Cleveland Cavaliers:

Starters:

• Darius Garland
• Donovan Mitchell
• Max Strus
• Evan Mobley
• Jarrett Allen

Key Reserves:

• De’Andre Hunter
• Ty Jerome
• Isaac Okoro
• Sam Merrill
• Dean Wade

Remember when I mentioned the Pacers’ offensive rating, true-shooting and effective field goal percentages above? Yeah, Indiana was second in each of those statistics–Cleveland was the overwhelming No. 1.

The Cavs didn’t just beat the 37-win Miami Heat–they completely dismantled them. Cleveland, who had one of the best seasons in their franchise’s history, set an NBA record for the largest point differential in a single series (122), including a plus-92 point differential in Games 3 and 4 in Miami without Garland.

It was a complete domination. Mitchell is the head of the snake, but the Cavs’ starting frontline is as good as any team left, led by Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley.

Evan Mobley wins 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year

Biggest Question(s):

1.) How will Cleveland’s long-range prowess affect series?

Making 3s in today’s NBA is the name of the game. How you generate them is just as important, but teams are 236-113 in the playoffs when they outscore opponents from beyond the arc over the last five seasons. Cleveland took the third-most triples on a per possession basis while knocking them down at the second most efficient clip (38.3). Indiana’s ranked 23rd in 3PA’s per 100 with the ninth-best efficiency. That’s not going to be enough if the Pacers fall behind these games–even though they know how to generate open shots in the halfcourt.

2.) Who wins the possession battle?

Both teams played at a similar pace with similar defensive rebounding rates, turnover rates and opposing turnover rates. They also posted the exact same free-throw rate, which could matter. Cleveland is much better defensively than Indiana is, but we’re looking at two teams with somewhat similar profiles (outside of the 3-point discrepancy). Possessions are always at a premium in a playoff series, especially when the race gets tighter. The winner may determine who wins this series.

Prediction: Cavaliers in 6

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