The NBA Playoff field has been set, and one of the most intriguing matchups is between the Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pacers hold the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, while the Bucks are fifth. Indiana won 50 games this season and has homecourt advantage but lost the season series 3-1.
Still, the teams are evenly matched and already have a bit of a rivalry brewing from last year’s playoffs, where the Pacers won in six games. Each game they’ve played has been competitive. The clash of playstyles and star players will be exhilarating to watch.
The Indiana Pacers
Like last year, the Indiana Pacers had another great season that went under the radar. They went 50-32 and have been especially good down the stretch. They closed the regular season 15-4 and have shown they can compete with and defeat good teams. The Pacers are one of the few teams that can say they won the season series over the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics, going 5-2 against both teams. Indiana plays fast, pushing the pace and running up the score. It’s a style that takes many teams off their game as they fight to match the pace instead of playing their own game.
Beyond the playstyle, the Indiana Pacers have a talented roster. Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton are their leading duo. Siakam averaged 20.2 points per game this season, while Haliburton had 18.6 points and 9.2 assists. Siakam is an efficient scorer who can produce in the post and stretch the floor. Haliburton is the floor general and one of the game’s premier passers but can also take over a game if he gets hot.
The Pacers are far deeper than their leading duo. Andrew Nembhard is a great defensive guard who can score at will. When Haliburton went down during last season’s Eastern Conference Finals, Nembhard made sure Indiana’s offense did not miss a beat. Myles Turner is a floor-stretching center who can defend the rim. One “new” piece to this year’s playoff team is Benedict Mathurin. Mathurin was injured for the entire playoff run last year, but this season he has averaged 16.1 points per game. They also have players like TJ McConnell, Obi Toppin, and Aaron Nesmith coming off the bench.
The Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are a very different team than the Indiana Pacers. While the Pacers are a team full of talented players that can produce, Milwaukee is led by a true star. Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the league. This season, he averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game. When on the court, he will unquestionably be the best player in the series. But the biggest question for the Bucks is the status of Antetokounmpo’s costar, Damian Lillard.
Lillard has been out with blood clots since March and was ruled out indefinitely. If he can return it would be a huge help for the Bucks. Lillard is one of the few players who can win a playoff game if he gets hot and is still among the upper echelon of NBA guards. But, even if he does not return, the team has looked good in his absence. Milwaukee enters the playoffs on an eight-game winning streak because Antetokounmpo has taken over in Lillard’s absence.
The Bucks roster is not as deep as the Indiana Pacers. They still have talented players like Brook Lopez, Gary Trent Jr., Kyle Kuzma, Kevin Porter Jr., and Bobby Portis, but the Indiana Pacers game plan will be to force these players to win the game over Antetokounmpo. That being said, Antetokounmpo could take over the series. He was injured when the Pacers beat them last year and could be the man to avenge the playoff loss.
Final Thoughts
This series is an interesting one to predict. The Indiana Pacers have more depth, and their fast playstyle means they’re never out of a game, no matter the opponent. But the best player in the series is Antetokounmpo. Indiana will rely on their style and talent, from stars like Siakam and Haliburton to players off the bench, while Milwaukee, barring a Lillard return, will go as far as Antetokounmpo can take them.
