Celtics vs. Pacers – Our analysis and predictions for the Eastern Conference Final
The Eastern Conference Final pits two high-flying offenses against each other, the Celtics and the Pacers. Here is our analysis, odds and prediction.
The Celtics won the Heat series in five games and the Cavaliers series in five.
Seven of Boston’s eight wins this postseason were by 13 points or more, including both games played at TD Garden.
The Pacers couldn’t have been more opposite.
The Bucks were defeated in six games, and the Knicks won the seventh game at Madison Square Garden. This was the first time since a decade that the Eastern Conference Finals had been reached.
The Celtics had a 3-2 advantage in this series during the regular season. However, they haven’t faced each other since January 30.
Will the Celtics make it to their second NBA Finals within four years, or will the Pacers be making their first Finals since 24 years?
Our analysis and predictions on the Eastern Conference Finals between Celtics and Pacers this year:
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Offense: Tie
When it comes to dividing teams, one team usually has the advantage.
This is not the case.
The Pacers and Celtics have had two of the most effective offenses in the NBA.
Both Boston and Indiana, who led the NBA in scoring during the regular season (123.3 PPG for the Pacers and 120.6 PPG for the Celtics), rank in the top six in the playoffs.
The Pacers are the best in this postseason with 114.2 per game, and the Celtics, at 108.1 points, are sixth.
Indiana scored at least 116 in five out of seven games against the Knicks, while Boston had a solid showing against Cleveland in round two.
It’s a true toss-up, with neither team having an advantage over the others.
Defense: Celtics
Defense is the key difference between these franchises.
Celtics dominate on defense in this postseason. They have only allowed 100+ points to be scored three times out of 10 games.
It’s not the same for the Pacers. The Pacers have only conceded less than 100 points in 2 games of the playoffs: Game 6 against the Bucks and game 4 against the Knicks.
Boston also has the third-best defensive rating (106.1), and is the best among the four remaining teams. Indiana, on the other hand, has the fourth lowest defensive rating (118.1), which is the lowest rating of all of the franchises mentioned in the conference finals.
Three of these games had totals exceeding 250 points, including the 155-104 Celtics’ win over the Pacers on the first matchup, which took place on November 1.
The Celtics are at a distinct advantage over Indiana in the playoffs, as the Celtics’ defense is completely different from that of the regular season.
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Celtics vs. Pacers betting odds and predictions:
I, myself, did not expect the Pacers’ win.
The team had missed the playoffs and finished below.500 in each of the three previous seasons before this run.
It’s easy for Indiana to be overlooked, even though each of the four final teams has earned this position.
Both Pacers’ opponents, the Knicks and Bucks, are clearly injured and not 100 percent. New Yorker Jalen Brunson fractured his hand in Game 7 of last Sunday.
The Celtics are going to win their third consecutive series by sweeping the Pacers.
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