Hoops Habit
Fansided

Indiana Pacers Playoff Preview: 4 Potential First Round Matchups

By Adrian Lawhorn

Mar 22, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) works the ball against Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) in the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) works the ball against Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) in the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Mar 19, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) controls a ball as Indiana Pacers forward Rakeem Christmas (25) defends during the fourth quarter in a game at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 116-91. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell (24) controls a ball as Indiana Pacers forward Rakeem Christmas (25) defends during the fourth quarter in a game at Air Canada Centre. The Toronto Raptors won 116-91. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Toronto Raptors

The Pacers and the Raptors engaged in an epic seven-game first-round playoff series in 2016, and if Indiana gets hot in the final three weeks of the regular season, we could see this matchup again.

These teams have only played once so far in 2016-17, and that game was a recent one, played on Mar. 19. The Raptors routed the Pacers 116-91 in Toronto, dominating this contest from wire-to-wire.

Indiana will play the Raptors two more times before the end of the regular season: on Mar. 31 in Toronto, and again on Apr. 4 in Indianapolis. If the Pacers do earn a first round rematch with Toronto, these games will serve as a good measuring stick as to where these teams stand going into the 2017 NBA Playoffs.

The Raptors play at a slower pace than the Pacers, but they are more effective both offensively and defensively. Toronto outranks Indiana by a whopping 13 spots in offensive rating among all NBA teams, and leads by eight positions in defensive rating.

Point guard Kyle Lowry’s injury could be a factor, but he is expected back around the last week of the regular season. The recent addition of power forward Serge Ibaka has made this team even more dangerous.

The Pacers have little to hang their hats on in terms of advantages they hold over the Raptors. Indiana small forward Paul George may be the best player on the floor when these teams collide, but Toronto is clearly the better team overall.

Home/Indiana Pacers