Indiana Pacers: 3 takeaways from Game 2 vs. Celtics

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 14: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics and Thaddeus Young #21 of the Indiana Pacers go after loose ball during Game One of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 14, 2019 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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1. It’s going to take everything the Pacers have to stop playoff Kyrie

If Irving’s 37-point performance on Wednesday tells the Pacers anything, it’s that he’s returned to a form that the NBA hasn’t seen in a while and that they’ll need to go the extra mile at Bankers Life Fieldhouse to stop him.

The task at hand for Indiana is replicating a defensive effort like Game 1, where Irving had just 20 points on just 6-of-17 shooting and an offensive effort like Game 2. The Celtics’ combined margin of victory in both games is a mere 18 points, but the nature in which Kyrie and Boston have overpowered Indiana over 8-to-10 minute stretches this series is a big concern for the Pacers.

For McMillan and his team, Boston simply can’t have access to the “switch” in games 3 and 4. They can’t allow Kyrie to just turn it on and run away with a victory.

"“You don’t want to put yourself in a situation where you’re down by three games. We’re going to do this one game at a time,” Darren Collison told reporters after the Game 2 loss, per Boston.com."

Next. Best NBA player from every state. dark

The Pacers have to have a sense of urgency now more than ever without their superstar in Victor Oladipo to lead them. It will take a full 48-minute effort on Friday in Indiana to avoid a 3-0 hole.

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