Indiana Pacers: 3 takeaways from Game 1 vs. Cavaliers

Following a Game 1 Indiana Pacers victory that perhaps no one outside their locker room expected, the NBA world now turns its attention to the series.

If you’ve ever paid attention to Bill Simmons various gambling do’s and don’t’s, you know that rule No. 1 is to always be weary of the “Nobody believes in us” team.

Coming into the playoffs, no one assumed that mantle better than the Indiana Pacers, who after 82 games of solid but unspectacular basketball, were the playoff team standing in the corner at the school dance not getting any love.

It didn’t last long.

NBA euphemisms were invented for games like this. The Pacers were the hungrier team. Indiana just wanted it more. The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t ready to play. You’ve heard them all, but in this game, they were all true.

In a 98-80 victory that never got closer than seven points after the first quarter, the Pacers didn’t do anything spectacular. They just did what they’ve been doing all year: played hard, played smart and didn’t beat themselves. Here are three takeaways from the not-so-improbable victory.