Boldly predicting the 1st-round outcome of each potential Eastern Conference playoff series 

Cleveland Cavaliers (No. 2 Seed) vs Indiana Pacers (No. 7 Seed)

The Cavs have been the hottest team in basketball over the last couple of months, as they've climbed to second in the Eastern Conference at 37-19. Indiana is currently seventh in the Conference with a 33-26 record.

Cleveland was expected to face some struggles as Evan Mobley and Darius Garland both suffered injuries in mid-December that would keep them out for over six weeks. Surprisingly, the Cavs had their best stretch of the season during that time, with role players such as Issac Okoro, Dean Wade, and Caris Levert playing a key role in the team's success.

Meanwhile, Indiana has been up-and-down since acquiring Pascal Siakam mid-way through January. Their defense is still among the worst in the league, but their offense remains unguardable. Come playoff time, Indiana will have a chance against any team based on sheer offensive firepower.

Still, Cleveland profiles as the better all-around team as they rank 2nd in defense and 15th in offense. They also have a year of playoff expierince under their belt, which they've certainly learned a lot from. It could go either way but expect the Cavs to come out as winners of this series.

Prediction: Cavs Advance