Cavs abandon defensive identity as Pacers exploit breakdowns in Game 1 Rout
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Although they’ve been the No. 1 offense for nearly the entire 2024-25 campaign, the Cavs continued to rave about their identity as a defense-first team. That reputation took a severe hit in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup against the Indiana Pacers, as fundamental breakdowns and poor discipline led to a 121-112 loss.
The numbers tell a damning story.
As Chris Fedor highlighted during the Wine and Gold Talk podcast: “Statistically, according to NBA.com, of the 83 shots that Indiana took, the Cavs contested 30. That is a horrendous number. The number of contested three-point shots that the Cavs had tonight, 14. 14 of the 36.”
These statistics translate to what viewers witnessed – an Indiana team getting comfortable, finding rhythm, and making the Cavaliers pay. The Pacers shot an astonishing 52.8% from beyond the arc, connecting on 19 of 36 attempts.
The defensive breakdown wasn’t just about effort – it reflected a team struggling with the unique challenges posed by Indiana’s five-out attack.
This confusion was evident from the opening minutes. Ashley Bastock described what she saw: “I felt like especially early today, they looked terrible on that end of the floor. They were falling for pump fakes, they were out of position, they were getting beat off the dribble.”
While some might attribute Indiana’s hot shooting to luck, Fedor pushed back against that notion: “At some point, like your defense plays a part in that. Your closeouts, you’re over helping your discipline.”
The Pacers’ offense is designed to stress defenses in unique ways. Their relentless pace, combined with five shooters spread around the perimeter and constant drive-and-kick action, forced Cleveland into difficult decisions. When the Cavaliers over-helped on drives, shooters like Aaron Neesmith and Andrew Nembhard made them pay with open threes.
