INDIANA
Indiana (56-26) comes in as the with the best record in the Eastern Conference and the number 1 seed, but has not had the best ending to the year as they have been slumping to the finish line. During their last 25 games, the Pacers were 12-13, not how you want to finish the season to get momentum going into the postseason. They have one of the top ten to top fifteen players in the NBA in shooting guard/small forward Paul George. Last year the Pacers got to the Eastern Conference championship series before losing to the eventual NBA champion Miami Heat in 7 games. The Pacers have one of the best defenses in the NBA ranking second lowest in points allowed per game at 92.3. Their defense was first in opponents shooting percentage at 42% and were 4th in 3 point opponent shooting percentage at 34.5%. The main problem for them is can they score enough points to get through to the NBA finals. They do have two really good post players in David West and Roy Hibbert who is in consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year Award. Defense is the main thing that carries this team though and if they make it to the finals and possibly win it, it will be because of their great defense.
ATLANTA
Atlanta ( 38-44) barely got into the playoffs and with a losing record. Because of this and other years where teams having losing records getting into the playoffs, some people are trying to change it so that the teams with better records get into the playoffs. However, they got the 8th best record their conference so that means that they are in the playoffs. Atlanta relies a good deal on the three point shot which they take around 26 threes a game which is second most in the NBA. Although they shoot a lot of threes they do not make a good percentage of them at 36.3%. Atlanta also turns the ball over too much at about 15 a game. They do however have some good players like power forward Paul Milsap . If their bigs cannot get Hibbert and West into trouble and they don't make that many three this could be a very short series for the Hawks.
STARTERS
PG INDIANA George Hill ATLANTA Jeff Teague
Neither of these players are that great, but are good players. George They do what they have to do Hill get about 10 points per game and about 3.5 assists per game which is not good for a starting point guard in the NBA. However the Pacers do not need him to be a star for them to do well. The Hawks however need Teague to be one of their best players especially because the best player is hurt. Teague is averaging 16 ppg and 6.7 apg which is slightly above average for a starting point guard. In this matchup, I expect Teague to have the better series.
ADVANTAGE: HAWKS
SG INDIANA Lance Stephenson ATLANTA Kyle Korver
Lance Stephenson was a role player turned pretty good player for the Pacers when he plays well the Pacers usually play well. He is good in transition, plays good defense, and is decent at making threes. Korver is basically a three point specialist who does nothing else. He probably should not be starting, but instead be a bench player at least with his skill set. Korver does happen to be one of the best in the NBA at making threes though and makes them at a rate of 47% which is the best in the NBA.
ADVANTAGE: PACERS
SMALL FORWARD INDIANA Paul George ATLANTA DeMarre Carroll
Paul George is one of the best players in the NBA with length and can shoot and drive to the basket well as well as play defense well. He averages 21.7 ppg 6.8 rebounds per game and 3.5 apg. He is one of the best all around players in the game and definitely the best player on the Pacers. If the Pacers want to win the title, he will have to play like an MVP for that to happen. Carrell is one of the many three point shooters on this team of many. He will be more thicker of a player for George to guard so if he has any post game he might want to do that. But I do not think that this will be much of a contest – too much George.
ADVANTAGE: PACERS
PW INDIANA David West ATLANTA Paul Milsap
David West is a legitimate pro who is one of the leaders of the Pacers both on and off the court. He is a low post threat with a good medium range jump shot. He averages 14 ppg and about 7 rpg and has been a good player for a long time in the league. Paul Milsap is the Hawks real leading scorer bc Horford got hurt. He is another one of the typically low post power forwards with good size for the position. He can also go out and shoot the three at a decent rate. This position battle I expect to be extremely close with the the edge to West.
ADVANTAGE: PACERS very slightly
C INDIANA Roy Hibbert ATLANTA Pero Antic
Roy Hibbert is a really tall center that blocks lots of shots but doesn't get as many rebounds as you would hope for from your starting center. He has a really good hook shot from either hand and side of the post. He was 4th in blocks per game this year with 2.25. Pero Antic is basically a backup center starting bc of injury he has a bad field goal percentage for a center which should be a great amount higher for a center. Additionally he is shorter and not a big as Hibbert and he likes to shoot threes like everyone and the Hawks. Hey probably the water boy for the Hawks probably shoots a lot of threes. Hibbert should dominate this matchup and I don't see much of problem for him.
PREDICTION: Even though the season series was 2-2, I do not see the Hawks posing much of a threat for the Pacers. George and company push their will on the Hawks and move on without too much trouble. Pacers in 5.
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