Down 2-0, with the series shifting to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, can the Indiana Pacers fight back?
Two games in, the Indiana Pacers have been close. However, after losing another semi-tight (at least in the waning moments) contest in Game 2, Indiana enters Game 3 down 2-0.
Specifically, in Game 2, Cleveland’s Big 3 of LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving combined for 89 points. It’s tough for any team to compete with that type of firepower, much less one that can only combat it with Paul George.
Still, the Pacers fought back as much as they could – they turned what was a 19-point deficit, at one time, to a four-point spread in the final minute.
As was the case in Game 1, the Indiana Pacers exited Game 2 empty handed. Again.
As the series shifts to Indiana for Games 3 and 4, it’s do-or-die for Paul George and the Pacers. After playing Cleveland tough on the road in Games 1 and 2, you’d think that they’d have a decent shot at winning one, if not both games at home. However, it’s usually never that simple in the playoffs.
Through the first two games of this series, George is averaging 30.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 7.0 assists on 49 percent shooting from the field and insane 56 percent from three-point range. If he continues down this trend, it’s not insane to think that George can lead Indy back into this series.
Another reason why there should be optimism for the Pacers is that role players usually play better at home. Specifically, perhaps Lance Stephenson can dial up some of that old playoff magic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
However, if the Pacers don’t do a better job on the defensive end, there might not be no saving them. In the words of Paul George:
"We’re doing a terrible job of getting back and guarding people. If we had the answers we’d probably be up in this series right now."
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In Game 2, for the first time in team history, the Cleveland Cavaliers had three players (LeBron, Kyrie, Love) score at least 25 points in a playoff game. For the next two games, the Indiana Pacers can’t allow that to happen again.
If they’re going to win a game, or even tie it, they’re certainly going to have to clamp up on defense.