The Cleveland Cavaliers looked like a team primed for an upset series loss in the first round to the Indiana Pacers when they played this past weekend. Can they turn it around fast? The Pacers are teeming with confidence, and are now eyeing to dig the Cavs a deeper hole when the two teams meet again this Wednesday.
Victor Oladipo and the sixth-seed Pacers made the defending Eastern Conference champs kneel before them on Sunday, beating the Cavaliers with ease, 98-80. Oladipo muscled out 32 points, making 11 of this 32 shots and added six rebounds, four assists, and four steals. The Pacers pounced on a lackadaisical effort on both ends of the floor by Cleveland. They shot 45.6 percent from the field and limited the Cavs to only 38.5 field goal shooting percentage. The win was also Indiana’s fourth in five meetings overall with Cleveland this season, so it’s safe to say that the Pacers are more than just a confident team in this matchup.
Indiana is now 8-2 ATS in its last 10 road games in Cleveland, and for bettors, the Pacers’ latest win should only convince themselves that there is money to be made when taking Indiana’s spread in this series.
Having LeBron James simply was not just enough for Cleveland in Game 1. It was initially thought that LeBron and the Cavs will start flipping the switch in the playoffs, but if their loss to Indiana in the series opener was any indication, it’s that that switch remains off. James had a triple-double of 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists, but the Cavs turned the ball over 17 times, which Indiana converted into 18 points. It was a truly pathetic effort by Cleveland, which did not have a non-LeBron James starter score in double digits. Kevin Love was once an MVP candidate but only had nine points. Although he had 17 rebounds, the Cavs still need him to score. Jeff Green was a huge disappointment, going 0-for-7 from the field to finish the game with a big fat egg. Adjustments on offense and defense for the Cavs, who are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Indiana doubles down with a 110-107 win. There’s some money to be made on this one folks.
