Indiana Pacers: 5 Keys To Completing The Upset

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Apr 16, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel reacts in game one of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. Indiana defeated Toronto 100-90. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Treat Game 2 Like A Must-Win

After a 56-win season, after the latest career years from Lowry and DeRozan, and after spending the entire 2015-16 campaign trying to prove they weren’t the same team as the last two seasons, the Toronto Raptors are suddenly standing on the edge of a cliff. It took exactly one playoff loss to put them there, and now it’s the Pacers job to give them a gentle nudge into the abyss.

In 2014, the Raptors lost to the sixth seeded Brooklyn Nets in seven games despite having home-court advantage. Last year, they were unceremoniously swept in the first round by the fifth seeded Washington Wizards. This year, despite being the No. 2 seed and having a more complete roster than they’ve ever had, the Raptors are suddenly down 1-0 and have squandered home-court advantage once again.

With an 0-8 record, the Raptors have the worst mark among all current NBA teams in playoff openers. Game 1 immediately brought back painful memories for We The North, and now Indiana has the opportunity to incite a widespread panic among the Air Canada Centre faithful.

Bearing all this in mind, the Pacers shouldn’t rest on the laurels of seizing home-court advantage. Indiana needs to treat Game 2 like a must-win and give themselves an opportunity to close out the series back at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in four games. Don’t give the Raptors their chance at redemption, Pacers. Take Game 2 and put them in a familiar hole from which they have yet to find an escape.

Next: No. 1