(1) Boston Celtics versus (6) Indiana Pacers
(64-18) (47-35)
Season-Series:
Celtics Won 3-2 (0-1 IST)
Playoff History: BOS def IND 3-2 1991 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
BOS def IND
3-0 1992 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
BOS def IND
4-2 2003 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
BOS def IND
4-0 2004 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
IND def BOS
4-3 2005 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
BOS def IND
4-0 2019 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
It is
not a surprise that the boys from “Beantown” are playing to represent the
Eastern Conference in NBA championship round for the second time in the past
three seasons. The team that is standing in their path in the boys from
“Hoosier Country” are a surprise as they have made the most of their first
postseason appearance in a decade. Their previous six postseason encounters all
occurred in the opening-round of the postseason. The two now meet for the first
time outside the Quarterfinal round with a berth in the NBA Finals on the line.
For the boys from “Beantown,” they hope to get one step closer to winning the
franchise’s 18th championship in franchise history. While the boys
from “Hoosier Country” hope to punch their ticket to “The Finals” for the
second time in franchise history, including their first since the start of the
new century.
Following
their 14th 60-plus win season in their storied franchise history
with 64 wins in the regular season and winning their third straight Atlantic
Division title, the Celtics have been decent in the first two round of 2024
Playoffs taking out the No. 8 Seeded Miami Heat and the No. 5 Seeded Cleveland
Cavaliers winning both series 4-1.
The
Celtics have followed the same pattern to win their first two series in 2024
NBA Playoffs. They won Game 1 at home but dropped Game 2 at because the Heat
and Cavaliers each had single-game franchise record from three-point range.
The
Heat in their Game 2 victory (111-101) in the opening-round at the Celtics Apr.
24, 2024 (TNT) hit a single-game franchise Playoff record 23 triples, going
23/43 from three.
The
Cavs in their Game 2 victory in the East Semis at the Celtics on May 9, 2024
(TNT) connected on 13 for 28 from three and shot 54.7 percent on the night
(47/86 FGs) and outscored the Celtics 36-24 in the third quarter and 28-16 in
the fourth quarter.
The Celtics answered in the first two round by taking the final three games of both series including both Games 3 and 4 on their opponent’s home floor to win both series 4-1.
The
Celtics earned their third straight Finals appearance and six in the last eight
seasons behind their dynamic All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum (24.3 ppg, 10.4 rpg,
5.8 apg) and Jaylen Brown (23.1 ppg, who have been flanked by Derrick White
(18.2 ppg, 48.5 FG%, 43.5 3-Pt.%), Kristaps Porzingis (12.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.5
bpg 40 3-Pt.%), Jrue Holiday (10.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.1 apg, 44.0 FG%, 38.6
3-Pt.%), Al Horford (8.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 47.3 3-Pt.%), Payton Pritchard (7.8 ppg,
45.2 FG%, 42.9 3-Pt.%), and Sam Hauser (5.5 ppg, 48.8 FG%, 44.2 3-Pt.%).
In the
opening-round versus the Heat, it was Brown and White who did the heavy lifting
offensively with Brown (22.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 52.2 FG%) and White (22.4 ppg, 57.7
FG%, 47.7 3-Pt.%). Tatum was solid with his overall game (21.8 ppg, 10.4 rpg,
5.4 apg) but his shooting efficiency was not there connecting on just 41.6
percent from the field and 29 percent on his triple tries but shot 80 percent
at the foul line on an average of nine trips (36/45 FTs).
In the
East Semis against the Cavs, Tatum’s (26.8 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 6.2 apg) shooting
efficiency overall ticked up to 44.1 percent, which also rose his scoring
output, while also continuing to get to the foul line at a solid rate at 7.4
attempts, connecting on 94.6 percent of those tries (35/37 FTs).
Tatum
in the Cavs’ victories in Cleveland had his two best games of this postseason
so far with 33 points, 13 boards, and six assists on 11/25 from the floor and
9/9 at the charity stripe in the 106-93 victory in Game 3 May 11, 2024 (ABC).
That was followed by another 33-point performance with 11 rebounds and five
assists with two steals on 11/25 shooting and 9/9 at the foul line again in the
Game 4 triumph (109-102) two nights later (TNT). In the Game 5 clincher, Tatum
had a near triple-double with 25 points, 10 boards and nine assists on 9/16
shooting, including 3/7 from three.
Brown
(23.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 59.2 FG%, 42.9 3-Pt.%) was also solid in the East Semis
against the Cavs.
The
Pacers, who made the Playoffs for the first time since 2020 restart in Orlando,
FL are back in the East Finals for the first time since 2014 and are making
their ninth appearance in the Eastern Conference championship round.
Head
Coach Rick Carlisle’s squad got here by taking down the injury riddled No. 3
Seeded Milwaukee Bucks in the opening-round 4-2, who missed perennial All-Star
and two-time Kia MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. In the East Semis, they outlasted
the No. 2 Seeded New York Knicks, who missed All-Star Julius Randle, Bojan Bogdanovic,
Mitchell Robinson to start the series. They lost OG Anunoby the final five
games of the series and All-Star lead guard Jalen Brunson was lost late in the
third quarter of Game 7 on Sunday when he broke his left hand while swiping
down on lead All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton on a breakaway layup.
While
the Pacers’ top seeded opponents were depleted by those injuries to key
personnel, the boys from “Hoosier Country,” handle their business in those
series behind their dynamic offensive attack and their incredible depth from
their starters to their reserves.
The
Pacers high-octane offense, which was one of the best in NBA history during the
regular season, leading the NBA in scoring at 123.3 points has continued into
the postseason led by Haliburton (19.3 ppg, 8.2 apg, 4.9 rpg, 48.8 FG%, 38.1
3-Pt.%).
In the
opening-round series against the Bucks, Haliburton (16.0 ppg, 9.3 apg, 5.8 rpg)
was solid in terms of his floor game, but his shooting effectiveness just was
not there as he shot 43.5 percent overall from the field and just 29.6 percent
from three.
In Game
3 of the First-Round versus the Bucks, Haliburton overcame a rough shooting
performance (8/22 FGs-1/12 3-Pt.) by registering his first career triple-double
of 18 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds and hit the go-ahead field goal that
helped the Pacers pull out a 121-118 victory in overtime in Game 3 Apr. 26,
2024 (ESPN) to go up in the series 2-1.
While
those shooting struggles continued in the Game 6 clinching win versus the Bucks
(120-98) on May 2, 2024 (TNT) where he went just 2/10 from three, Haliburton
had his third double-double of the series with 17 points and 10 assists with
six boards on 7/16 shooting overall.
In the
East Semis against the Knicks, Haliburton was publicly pushed by his head coach
to raise his offensive aggressiveness. Looking to score and find open teammates
second.
That
adjustment worked as Haliburton in the series averaged 24 points on 17.5 field
goal attempts in the victories compared to just 17.6 points on just 11.3 shot
attempts in the three losses.
In the
Pacers aforementioned Game 3 victory versus the Knicks, Haliburton had his best
scoring night of the postseason with 35 points with seven assists on 14/26 from
the field, including 6/16 from three-point range. This was on the heels of a
34-point performance with nine assists and six rebounds on 11/19 from the field,
including 7/11 from three in the Game 2 defeat (130-121) May 8, 2024 at the
Knicks (TNT).
In the
Game 7 clincher at the Knicks on Sunday afternoon (130-109) (ABC), Haliburton
led the way with 26 points and six assists on 10/17 shooting, including 6/12
from three. He scored 14 of those 26 points in the opening period, going 5/7
from the field, including 4/5 on his triple tries.
Back in
the middle of January, the Pacers made a major deal in acquiring All-Star
forward Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors, who brought with him postseason
and championship experience in helping the Raptors win it all in 2019 over the
back-to-back reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors in six games.
After a
rocky beginning when he first arrived during the regular season, Siakam (21.3
ppg, 7.9 rpg, 3.8 apg, 53.6 FG%) has really hit his stride with the Pacers
especially in the postseason.
To open
the First-Round at the Bucks, Siakam scored 36 points with 13 rebounds and two
blocks on 15/25 shooting in Game 1. But the Bucks lost the opener of the series
(109-94) Apr. 21, 2024 (TNT). In the Game 2 victory (125-108) two nights later
(NBATV) that tied the series 1-1, Siakam scored a Playoff career-high 37 points
with 11 rebounds, six assists on 16/23 shooting, going 3/4 from three.
Siakam
though was quiet in the game that followed until the close of the Knicks series
where he scored 20-plus in four of the final five games. That included a
26-point performance with seven rebounds on 9/14 shooting and 7/9 at the
charity stripe in the 111-106 triumph in Game 3 versus the Knicks on May 10,
2024 (ESPN) that cut the Pacers’ series deficit to 2-1. He then registered 25
points with seven boards and five assists with two steals on 11/21 shooting in
the Game 6 triumph (116-103) versus the Knicks last Friday night (ESPN) that
tied the series 2-2.
The
Pacers deep roster also consist of veterans in Myles Turner (17.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg,
1.8 bpg, 52.3 FG%, 47.3 3-Pt.%) and Haliburton’s understudy in T.J. McConnell
(10.9 ppg, 5.2 apg, 48.6 FG%).
Youngsters in Andrew Nembhard (12.9 ppg, 5.0 apg, 56.5 FG%, 48.8 3-Pt.%), Obi
Toppin (11.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 54.4 FG%), Aaron Nesmith (10.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Ben
Sheppard (5.6 ppg, 47.4 FG%, 43.9 3-Pt.%) and Isaiah Jackson.
Turner
came up big for the Pacers in the Games 3 and 4 in the opening-round versus the
Bucks. He registered 29 points and nine rebounds on 10/21 shooting, including
4/10 from three in the aforementioned Game 3 win in OT. He scored 29 again with
nine rebounds and three blocks on 10/17 from the floor, including going 7/9
from three-point range in the Game 4 victory (126-113) Apr. 28, 2024 (TNT) that
put the Pacers up 3-1.
The
Pacers on that night made a single-game franchise Playoff record 22 triples,
going 22/43 from three.
Turner
in the Game 3 victory in the East Semis versus the Knicks had his first
double-double of this postseason with 21 points and 10 boards with three blocks
on 7/13 shooting.
In that
same game, Nembhard hit the go-ahead three with 16 seconds left that gave the
Pacers the eventual victory.
Last
season, Toppin with the Knicks was languishing at times playing behind Randle
and it was a struggle to earn minutes under Head Coach Tom Thibodeau who will
only play certain guys that he trust, especially at the defensive end.
With
the Pacers, Toppin has earned Coach Carlisle’s trust and it has resulted in him
being a major contributor off the Pacers bench.
In the
Game 6 clincher versus the Bucks, Toppin led the way off the bench with 21
points and eight boards on 8/15 from the field, making three triples. He
averaged for the series 12.3 points and 5.8 boards on 49.2 percent from the
floor.
Against
his former team in the East Semis, Toppin scored in double-figures four times
against the Knicks. His best game of the series came in the Game 2 defeat at
the Knicks where he scored 20 off the bench on 7/10 shooting.
During
the regular season, the Celtics took three of the five meetings, outscoring the
Pacers 129 to 116.8. The differential of -12.2 by the Celtics over the Pacers
was the largest deficit against any opponent against the Pacers.
The
Pacers during the regular season led the league in scoring at 123.3 and just
behind them at No. 2 were the Celtics 120.6.
Most Combined Points Per Game In
Playoff Series In NBA History
Combined PPG
1967 NBA Finals 76ers-Warriors
(SF)
247.6
1962 East Division Finals Celtics-Warriors
(PHI)
246.5
1962 East Division Semifinals Warriors
(PHI)-Nationals (SYR)
246.2
1967 East Division Finals 76ers-Celtics
244.5
2024 Eastern Conference Finals Pacers-Celtics
243.9
The
difference between these two teams is that the Celtics were No. 5 in points
allowed (109.2) while the Pacers were No. 2 in points allowed (120.2).
In
their first meeting of the season, the Celtics blew out the Pacers (155-104) at
home on Nov. 1, 2023, where they scored 44 points in the opening period to lead
44-27 and then outscored and 46-33 in the fourth quarter.
Tatum
in his last eight his last games against the Pacers, including the Playoffs has
scored 30 or more, the longest streak all-time versus the Pacers. In the four
games against the Pacers, Tatum averaged 32.5 points, 11 rebounds, and 5.8
assists on 57.8 percent from the field and 48.6 percent from three-point range.
Brown
was just as effective against the Pacers averaging in the five meetings in
regular season 28.4 points and 6.2 boards on 60.6 percent from the floor.
Along with their 1-2 punch on offense with Tatum and Brown, they along with the dynamic defensive starting backcourt of Holiday and White, and Pritchard will be tasked to slowing down Haliburton, who in the four games he played against the Celtics in the regular season averaged just 15.8 points, nine assists, and 5.3 rebounds on 41.1 percent from the floor and 32.1 percent from three (compared 20.1 ppg, 10.9 apg-Led NBA, 47.7 FG%, 36.4 3-Pt.%).
In the
Pacers’ first win of the regular season versus the Celtics during the In-Season
Tournament Dec. 4, 2024 (TNT) Haliburton had his first career triple-double
with 26 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds on 10/18 from the floor, including
5/11 from three-point range.
On this
night, the Pacers overcame a nine-point deficit at intermission (57-48)
outscoring the Celtics 74-57 in the second half, including 37-23 in the third
quarter.
The
Pacers outshot the Celtics from three-point range going 19/40 compared to 12/41
by the visitors as well as outshot them at the foul line going 17/21 compared
to 8/12 by the Celtics.
The
Celtics did not help themselves in the defeat with 18 turnovers that led to 17
Pacers points.
For the
Pacers to have a chance in this series, they will need to play to the level
they did in the two wins they had against the Celtics, where they kept the
tempo up and scored on every easy chance they got. Meaning Haliburton and
McConnell have to keep the tempo of the game up at all times and force the
Celtics to play on their heels as much as possible.
So far
this postseason, when the Pacers have scored 120 or more, they have a 6-1
record.
Defensively,
the Pacers will have to try and contain Tatum and that assignment will go to
Nesmith, who went against Tatum every day in practice for two seasons (2020-22)
as the Celtics No. 1 draft choice (No. 14 overall) in 2020 out of Vanderbilt
University.
Nesmith
was traded to the Pacers two off-seasons back as part of the 5-1 deal that sent
now Portland Trail Blazers veteran guard Malcolm Brogdon to the Celtics.
Nesmith,
who had some success in slowing down the Brunson, will be called upon to attempt to
slow down Tatum.
Perhaps
the biggest key in determining the outcome of this series is what takes place
both in the paint and on the perimeter.
The
Celtics since the close of their First-Round tilt with the Heat have been
without All-Star center Kristaps Porzingis due to a right calf strain sustain
in the opening half of Game 4.
While the Celtics have gone 5-1 without Porzingis and 26-5 counting the regular season (21-4 record in regular season), his absence has resulted in the Celtics reverting back into some heavy isolation sets offensively.
Filling
in for Porzingis has been Horford, who put on a show in the series clinching
113-98 victory in Game 5 versus the Cavs May 15, 2024 (TNT) where he registered
a massive double-double with 22 points and 15 rebounds with five assists, and
three block shots on 8/15 from the field, including 6/13 from three-point
range.
At age
37 years, 347 days, Horford, who registered his first 20-plus point game in the
postseason since 2022 became the oldest player in NBA Playoff history to
register 15-plus points, 10-plus rebounds, five-plus assists, and five-plus
made threes.
Having
Horford and Luke Kornet should be enough to get the Celtics past the Pacers.
But considering what lies ahead in The Finals if they can get past the Pacers,
they will need Porzingis’ size and sharp-shooting and rim protection to win it
all against either the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Dallas Mavericks.
Another
challenge for the Celtics in this series possibly and moving forward is how
they might respond if this series against the Pacers and possibly The Finals
have games that go to clutch time.
So far
through their first 10 Playoff games, the Celtics have played just 79 seconds
with the score of the game within five points in the last five minutes of the
fourth quarter/overtime, which took place in Game 4 at the Cavs.
Cleveland
got within five on three occasions in the final period after trailing by nine
with five minutes remaining. But the Cavs never got any closer as the Celtics
closed the door scoring six points on four offensive possessions in “clutch
time.”
Nine of
the Celtics 10 games so far this postseason (including both of their setbacks)
have been decided by 10 points or more.
The
Pacers have gone 2-2 in “clutch games” so far this postseason, winning as
previously mentioned Game 3 of the opening-round versus the Bucks and Game 3 in
the East Semis versus the Knicks.
The
other issue for the Celtics has been their play at home versus on the road not
just this postseason but the past three postseasons, including this one.
While
they have gone a solid 4-2 at TD Garden in the first two round of the 2024 NBA
Playoffs, the Celtics are just 15-14 on their home floor dating back to the
2022 postseason, compared to the 18-7 mark on the road, which includes a
perfect 4-0 record so far in the 2024 Playoffs.
Holding
serve at home will be big for the Celtics in this series because the Pacers
even with their series clinching victory last Sunday afternoon at the Knicks
are just 2-5 so far in the 2024 Playoffs on the road compared to 6-0 at home
and have won 11 straight games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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