Modern offensive dialogue? How many chances are there for Pacers in the second round!

After

eliminated the Bucks with a score of 4-1, the Pacers will face the Cavaliers in the second round and challenge the opportunity to attack the Eastern Conference Finals again.

Although the opponent is the number one in the East, after entering 2025, the gap between the Pacers and the Cavaliers may not be as huge as we imagined. Since January 1, 2025, the Pacers have achieved a record of 34 wins and 14 losses, only one game less than the Cavaliers with 35 wins and 14 losses; compared with the team's net efficiency value, the Pacers in 2025 ranked sixth in the league with +5.5, and compared with the Cavaliers with +7.8, ranked third in the league, and the two are quite close.

Both teams have excellent backcourt ball holders and are also representative teams that embrace the modern offensive concept. Both attach importance to offensive rhythm, space running and the flow of on-court basketball.

The meeting of two extremely similar teams in the playoff semi-finals is indeed enough to be expected. Below, we will examine some of the focus of this series from the perspective of the Pacers' downwind team: How to deal with Garland + Mitchell's backcourt dual engines is a major test in Pacers' defense; referring to the fact that facing Brunson last season, Nembhard and Nembhard should shoulder the main counter-reach responsibility, using Nembhard's physical condition to fight Mitchell, and using Nembhard's body advantage to interfere with Garland's pick-and-roll offense.

Slowing offensive rhythm is the key starting point for the Pacers to deal with the Cavaliers' offense. As a disadvantaged team, the Pacers hope to delay the advancement of the opponent's ball-holder through high-intensity pressure in the half-court or even the frontcourt. In addition to Nembhard and Secretary Ness, whether substitutes TJ McConnell, Matherine, and even Shepard, who has the opportunity to play, can maintain corresponding tactical discipline, will be an important factor in whether the Pacers can play an advantage on the defensive end.

At the same time, once Halliburton is targeted in the Cavaliers' offensive tactics, whether he can play an offensive strategy like he did last season against the Knicks will be the key to the Pacers' defensive layout.

Front court offense

Facing the Cavaliers' double tower defense, the performance of frontcourt players is also particularly important on the offensive end. How much pressure can Halliburton + Turner's pick-and-roll put on Jarrett Allen + Mobley? Once the Cavaliers use an aggressive defensive strategy to target Halliburton, Turner will have more offensive decision-making opportunities, from peripheral projections, pick-and-roll follow-up, short pick-and-roll selection, and punishment for opponents to switch to defense misalignments. He needs to use more appropriate decisions and sufficient firepower output to create defensive difficulties for the Cavaliers.

Regardless of whether the Cavaliers choose to cross the match, referring to the pick-and-roll match between Mobley and Halliburton and Turner, in addition to these two, Siakam's offensive performance in this round of the series is also particularly important. If you encounter a counterattack Allen or an outside player's defense switch, Sika needs to play a low post and elbow area to punish the opponent.

Of course, the Pacers can also completely reconstruct the offensive space, put Turner in the bottom corner, and use defenders such as Nembhard or McConnell to occupy the end position in the interior, relying on Sika to instigate the offense at a high position, pulling the Cavaliers' frame protection power, and bringing some advantages to the team's offense.

As the fifth man in the lineup, Nesmith has a good chance to meet one of the two Cavaliers on the offensive end. If he can consume Garland or Mitchell by taking the ball offense, the Pacers' subsequent defensive work will be easier.

Referring to the first round of the series, Nesmith scored an efficient output average of 14.8 points, with both shooting percentage and three-point shooting percentage exceeding 50%. If he can maintain similar performance in the future, it will be a very critical help for the Pacers' evolution.

The test of regional joint defense

Outside the Bucks, the Cavaliers are the one who can use regional joint defense to test the Pacers' offense in the league. Looking forward to the snowball effect of the previous round of the series, this is likely to become an important variable in the semi-finals.

Faced with the regional joint defense put on by the Bucks, the Pacers also put on a new offensive tactic, allowing Sika to have many opportunities to hold the ball in the paint area and create additional pressure on the opponent's joint defense. If the Pacers can continue the offensive execution of the previous round of the series, there should be no need to worry about creating attacking capabilities when facing regional joint defense, just to see if they can finally make steady shots.

X factors that affect victory or defeat

In addition to the existing team's core lineup and tactical main line, the performance of individual players has a great chance of affecting the direction of the series.

Cavaliers Jerome and Pacers McConnell's sixth man showdown will be the focus of the team's substitutes. Jerome's projection and McConnell's ball-holding breakthrough are all key outputs of both sides' offensive roles. How can the two achieve their results in offense and whether they can maintain their position on the defensive end have a profound impact on both teams.

As for Pacers who are one point behind, in what ways can they get additional defensive support? Can Halliburton contribute more to the team defense? In the second half of the substitute rotation, how many key defenses can Shepard and Jales Walker provide? And who can get the trust of Coach Carlisle in this round of the series? These are all issues worth paying attention to.

Based on similar styles and strengths, the semi-final showdown between the two teams is more exciting than the first round. Perhaps the Cavaliers will be highly favored for their better record, but the Pacers also have the ability to lengthen the series front.

Personal prediction, this round of series should require six or even a tiebreak battle to determine the final victory or defeat. No matter who wins and who loses in the end, as fans, our hope is that the two teams can present a wonderful showdown.