Indiana Pacers: What to expect from a Celtics playoff series

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 29: Darren Collison #2, Myles Turner #33 and Thaddeus Young #21, Bojan Bogdanovic #44 and Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers talk during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 29, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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2. Have strong play from the bench

The Pacers have largely relied on Domantas Sabonis to be the most productive player off of the bench this season, and it’s resulted in a potential Sixth Man of the Year campaign. But other bench players need to contribute and put up better numbers than their season averages show.

Tyreke Evans (10.0 points per game), Cory Joseph (6.6 points per game) and Doug McDermott (7.0 points per game) all have the tools to add to the scoring party, but will likely face tough matchups on the other side of the ball in Irving, Gordon Hayward, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, to name a few. These Indiana players need to be on their toes, both literally and figuratively, against Boston’s offensive sets and use their length to make life tougher on all of Brad Stevens’ weapons.

That isn’t to say Sabonis’ job will be easy, either. He’ll match up against Al Horford and Aron Baynes, both of whom have inside and outside games to defend. Although Baynes can’t hit the 3 at the clip that Horford does, he’s shot (and consequently made) the most 3s of his career this season with the Celtics.

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