The Indiana Pacers Might Sweep The Series Now That The Cleveland Cavaliers Are Complaining Playoff Basketball Is Too Physical

Uh Oh! Are the #1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers scared of the little ol' Indiana Pacers?  Before the playoff matchups were set, the Cavs were eyeing Indiana, crossing their fingers, and praying they would be on the complete opposite side of the bracket?  YIKES! Championship mentality right there. All the pressure is on the best team in the east to beat the measly Pacers, and the Cavs are FEELING THE PRESSURE down 1-0.

I saw this clip of Windhorst and figured it was a classic case of a team giving lip service to their competitor - say great your  competition is so your team doesn't get caught with their pants down and overlook them. At least that's what I believed until I saw Kenny Atkinson complaining today that this playoff matchup has PASSED THE LINE OF PHYSICALITY. 

This made me wonder what Atkinson was so upset about. There were a few fouls that could have gone either way on both sides last night, but nothing egregious. Below were the plays Kenny thought went beyond the line of physicality? Kenny ... what are we doing? Pacers vs Cavs was a track meet, nowhere near physical. Look at Pistons/ Knicks or Rockets / Warriors if you want to see a physical wrestling match. These are basketball plays. I was shocked there wasn't a foul called during the review with  Mathurin putting a hand on Hunter, but he very clearly goes up for the ball. As for Mobley and Turner, that shit happens to Pascal Siakam maybe 15 times a game without a whistle. Passed the line of physicality? I was expecting a clip of a Cavs player getting beheaded at center court by Tyrese Haliburton

I understand cheerleading for your team to get some calls in the next game. Another classic couching tactic. Rick Carlisle bitched after the first game against NYC last year about not getting calls about small market bias - which was ridiculous because MIL and DEN literally just went to the finals and won. I hated when Rick did that, so complaining about physicality and basically calling your team soft is even worse. 

I'd say these guys going on the injury list is all part of the mind games coaches use to get an edge, but I also thought there was a 100% chance Darius Garland would play Game 1. I want everyone healthy and on the court, not because I'm a great person, but because I get so tired of the injury excuse. Cleveland is a great team with a ton of depth, they shouldn't have to resort to crying about officiating. 

I expect Cleveland to be out for blood in Game 2. I was beyond confident the Cavs would defend home court, but after the news is out that Cleveland doesn't have the stomach for playoff basketball with the most overrated player and most overlooked team in the NBA, I think the Pacers take another on the road. Why not? Pacers aren't afraid of anyone, and I don't think the Cavs are ready for anyone who is ready to play playoff basketball.