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Indiana Pacers: What to expect from a Celtics playoff series

By Fran Kilinski

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)
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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Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images
Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images /

1. Contain Kyrie Irving

The most difficult task the Indiana Pacers have is to keep 2016 NBA champion Kyrie Irving under control. Irving has reached a level of superstardom that, when healthy, you can’t expect to totally stop, but simply contain and limit his opportunities.

Even more dangerous than his scoring this season has been the rate at which he’s been assisting; he’s averaging a career-high 7.1 assists per game and ranks eighth in the league in assist percentage, according to NBA.com. So even if there’s a plan to double-team him on a drive, chances are he’s looking for the next available teammate, and with many capable scorers on this Celtics team, it’s going to be tough for the Pacers with Kyrie at the helm.

The Pacers have a myriad of options to throw at Irving, including Collison, Joseph, Evans and Wes Matthews, but none of them is guaranteed to stay in front of him on a given possession, as we saw on Saturday.

Even more problematic is the decision to switch on screens, because even with a “small-ball” lineup that includes Thaddeus Young or McDermott at forward, Irving relishes the opportunity to attack a bigger defender. The Pacers’ best hope should be to trap Irving on screens, deny him a lane and limit him to contested, mid-range shots. All of that is much easier said than done, but if someone is going to put 30 points up on their defense, they can’t let it be Kyrie.

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The Indiana Pacers have a real chance to prove their legitimacy as a franchise returning to prominence if they can best the Celtics in a seven-game series. They’ve established an identity as a defensive-minded team, but have a formidable first test in Boston that they can’t underestimate, despite the Celtics’ underperformance this year.

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