Many sports analysts are placing their bets on the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their second round matchup against the Indiana Pacers, but they also feel the win will have to be a gritty one.
Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey has several notes/predictions for the impending matchup, including the prediction that Cavs star Donovan Mitchell will need to have high-scoring games in order for them to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. This includes one mandatory 40 point game. "Mitchell already has such performances in the playoffs, which ties him for 26th place in NBA history," writes Bailey. "After averaging 23.8 points in only 31.0 minutes per game against Miami in the first round, he's due for a big outing," he continues.
Bailey adds: "Even with the Pacers having Nembhard and Nesmith to throw at him, Mitchell will go nuclear at some point in this series. After all, those two have to pay attention to Garland and Jerome as well."
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Bailey also feels the Cavs will win the rebounding matchup as well. "The Cavs went 64-18 in the regular season and finished with the 19th-best simple rating system which combines strength of schedule and point differential) in NBA history. They don't have a ton of weaknesses, but if you were going to identify one, it might be rebounding.
Bailey's final thoughts? "While one explosive-scoring night won't necessarily decide the matchup, it's not hard to imagine the Cavs winning this in six when combined with all of the little advantages they have over the Pacers."
The Cavs begin their series against the Pacers tonight.
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