Celtics-Pacers Eastern Conference Finals preview, odds and prediction

Celtics-Pacers Jap Convention Finals preview, odds and prediction initially regarded on NBC Sports actions Boston

The Jap Convention Finals matchup is determined. The Boston Celtics will procedure stop on the Indiana Pacers with a berth in the 2024 NBA Finals at stake.

This is the seventh time in playoff historic previous that these teams will sq. off. All of the earlier six sequence were in the principle spherical, and the Celtics obtained four of them.

The Celtics could be well-rested getting into this sequence. They eradicated the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the 2d spherical on Might perhaps well merely 15. They can occupy had five days of relaxation sooner than Game 1 on Tuesday. The Pacers wanted to beat a 3-2 sequence deficit and collect a Game 7 on the boulevard at Madison Sq. Garden to salvage rid of the New York Knicks in the 2d spherical.

The C’s are at risk of this stage and the pressure that comes with it. They’re making their sixth conference finals appearance in the final eight years. The Pacers are in the conference finals for the principle time since 2014.

The Pacers occupy some younger gamers filling key roles, led by 24-one year-aged well-known person Tyrese Haliburton. Nonetheless this crew does occupy some foremost veterans with a entire bunch experience.

Myles Turner is in his ninth season. Pascal Siakam is in his eighth campaign and has performed 66 profession playoff games. He was one amongst the Toronto Raptors’ easiest gamers for the length of their 2019 championship speed. Backup level guard T.J. McConnell is a nine-one year faded. And head coach Rick Carlisle obtained a title as a player (1986 Celtics) and has coached 140 playoff games. He was the Dallas Mavericks head coach after they obtained the 2011 NBA Finals.

The Pacers had no disaster in Game 7 at MSG. They had no disaster on their speed to the in-season match championship game. That you just want to bet they obtained’t be scared of the Celtics, both.

Both teams are stop to pudgy strength. The Pacers ought to now not occupy any foremost accidents. The Celtics reportedly obtained’t occupy Kristaps Porzingis to originate the sequence.

This is our pudgy preview of the conference finals, alongside with a sequence prediction.

Collection agenda

The Jap Convention Finals starting up Tuesday in Boston. There’s correct one day of relaxation between every game.

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Traditional season head-to-head

• Nov. 1 in Boston: Celtics 155, Pacers 104

• Dec. 4 in Indiana: Pacers 122, Celtics 112 (In-Season Match game)

• Jan. 6 in Indiana: Celtics 118, Pacers 101

• Jan. 8 in Indiana: Pacers 133, Celtics 131

• Jan. 30 at Boston: Celtics 129, Pacers 124

Legend of the Tape

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The Celtics will collect the sequence if…

They shut down Tyrese Haliburton.

There are a gargantuan need of how for the Celtics to gather this sequence, however shutting down the Pacers’ easiest player and top playmaker is a correct technique to originate. Haliburton did no longer play well versus the Celtics in the strange season.

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The Pacers occupy lost five games in the playoffs to this level. Haliburton has averaged correct 15.6 ingredients and 7.2 assists in these defeats.

The well-known person level guard is now not an elite scorer, however he has the ability to dominate offensively if he’s no longer defended at a high stage. Haliburton dropped 26 ingredients on 10-of-17 shooting (6-of-12 from 3-level fluctuate) in the Pacers’ Game 7 collect over the Knicks. He scored 34 ingredients in Game 2 and 35 ingredients in Game 3.

Haliburton is one amongst the Pacers’ top scorers and the principle ballhandler. If the Celtics can method him unhappy and pressure him to defend, the Pacers’ offense obtained’t be as efficient. Happily for the Celtics, they occupy loads of high-end perimeter defenders to position on Haliburton, alongside with Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Jrue Vacation.

The Pacers will collect the sequence if…

They shoot lights out and collect a high-scoring sequence.

Let’s be factual: The Pacers’ defense is basically outrageous. Nonetheless they can ranking moreover as any team in the league, and that is the explanation their path to an upset in this sequence. Indiana shot 67.1 p.c Game 7 against the Knicks, which space a new playoff document for a single game.

The Pacers led the league in ingredients scored (123.3 per game), assists (30.8 per game) and discipline aim proportion (50.7) for the length of the strange season. They’ve been beautiful potent in the playoffs, too, scoring a league-easiest 114.2 ingredients per game thru two rounds. Indiana moreover leads the postseason in discipline aim proportion (50.7) and in 3-level proportion (38.1).

The Pacers’ offense is now not intently reliant on one player, both. Siakam leads the method in which at 21.1 ingredients per game in the playoffs, however Haliburton (18.8) and Turner (17.5) are able to carrying the load, too. Indiana has seven gamers averaging 10-plus ingredients per game in the playoffs (Boston has six).

The Celtics are a in actual fact correct defensive team. Nonetheless the Pacers mild managed to ranking 116.8 ingredients per game on 46.3 p.c shooting in the five head-to-head matchups for the length of the strange season. Indiana moreover performed with amazing fling, averaging 97.2 pictures per game.

If the Pacers are going to gather this sequence, they’ll ought to push the fling and ranking 115-plus ingredients per game. It be going to be a characteristic, however it be absolutely no longer an very no longer likely mission for this crew.

Sportsbooks occupy the Celtics as heavy favorites to gather the sequence.

• Celtics to gather the sequence: -900

• Pacers to gather the sequence: +600

Prediction

Celtics in five.

The Celtics occupy the brink in expertise, depth and experience. They moreover occupy dwelling court income. The Pacers could perhaps well mild no longer be taken lightly, however it be no longer easy to imagine them having fun with the kind of defense that could be required to drag off an attractive upset.