Editorial by Graydon Fox

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Top 5 winners

1. amarth***@yahoo.com (350 PTS)
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5. Sam Gouge (329 PTS)

Overview:

On Friday, April 20^th, the Cleveland Cavaliers will be on the road to take on the Indiana Pacers in game three of their Eastern Conference Playoff Series.  The series is tied (1-1).

The Crowd:  

“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Cavaliers 105.3 – Pacers 101.8 with an over/under of 207.1.

Statistical Breakdown (2017-18 season):

Point differential: Pacers +1.4 (12^th) > Cavaliers +1.0 (14^th)

Points per game: Cavaliers 110.9 (5^th) > Pacers 105.6 (16^th)

Points allowed per game: Pacers 104.2 (9^th) > Cavaliers 109.9 (26^th)

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Cavaliers 47.6% (5^th) > Pacers 47.2% (6^th)

Three Point Percentage: Cavaliers 37.2% (6^th) > Pacers 36.9% (8^th)

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Pacers 46.5% (8^th) > Cavaliers 47.4% (28^th)

Turnovers committed per game: Pacers 12.8 (7^th) > Cavaliers 13.3 (12^th)

Turnovers forced per game: Pacers 14.8 (2^nd) > Cavaliers 12.9 (27^th)

Rebounds per game: Pacers 42.3 (22^nd) > Cavaliers 42.1 (23^rd)

Assists per game: Cavaliers 23.4 (11^th) > Pacers 22.2 (23^rd)

Summary:

After being totally embarrassed in game one, Cleveland evened up the series with a 100-97 home victory on Wednesday night.  The Cavaliers shot 50% from the field and 39% from the three-point line.  Lebron James was sensational with 46 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists.  There is real concern for the Cavaliers as this is the weakest supporting cast Lebron has had since his first tenure in Cleveland.  Kevin Love scored 15 points and grabbed 8 rebounds but shot a miserable 5-16 from the field.  Love needs to assert himself as the number two option and I expect him to do more damage in the post moving forward.  Kyle Korver and J.R. Smith were inserted into the starting lineup and provided a nice spark on both ends of the floor.  With the slew off acquisitions Cleveland made at the trade deadline one has to wonder whether they had enough time to gel before the postseason.  The Cavaliers average 110.9 points per game (5^th) and allow 109.9 (26^th).

Indiana has to be absolutely thrilled to be heading home with the series split at one game apiece.  The young athletic Pacers have shown they don’t fear the Cavaliers one bit.  The Pacers shot 52% from the field but were ultimately done in by 17 turnovers.  The Pacers outrebounded the Cavaliers 43-40 and actually outscored them in the final three quarters.  After a tremendous game one performance, Victor Oladipo followed it up with 22 points and 6 assists.  Oladipo is proving to be a star under the brightest lights and Cleveland really struggles defending quick guards.  Darren Collison (16 points and 6 assists) and Myles Turner (18 points 5 rebounds) were certainly impact players in game two.  The Pacers average 105.6 points per game (16^th) and allow 104.2 (9^th).

Bottom Line:

The Pacers are exceeding expectations while the Cavaliers look more vulnerable than at any point since Lebron James chose to return to Cleveland.  The Pacers may even have a better team than the Cavaliers but Lebron is the ultimate X-factor capable of taking over a game by himself.  This series is proving to be way more competitive than anyone expected and I anticipate that being the case in a crucial game three.  I’m picking the Cavaliers to win a close one.

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