Pacers Have Major Disadvantage Entering Series vs Cavaliers..
The Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers are set to begin the second-round playoff series this weekend, with Game 1 coming from Cleveland. Indiana won’t have home-court advantage in this series, so they will be looking to steal a road game to set the tone in the matchup.
The Pacers took three of four games from Cleveland during the regular season, but two of those contests came in the final week of the year. The Cavaliers had already clinched at that point, offering very little in terms of game preparation.
But in the two games that were actual matchups, the two teams split the series. This should give Indiana some confidence as they head into this series against the top-seeded Cavaliers.
However, entering this contest, the Cavaliers do have a massive advantage over the Pacers. This is the offensive attack that they use, and it could cause some real issues for the Pacers.
“This year’s Cavaliers team is the 11th-highest scoring team in league history and the second-highest scoring team since 1984 with 121.9 points per game….They jumped from 20th in the league in scoring to first, from 24th in pace to 10th and from 16th in offensive rating to first, posting 121.0 points per 100 possessions.”
Much like the offense that the Pacers had on their run to the Eastern Confernece Finals last season, Cleveland has put together a special season. The Cavaliers love to run up and down the court, taking the wind out of opponents in doing so.
More Pacers news: Cavs HC Compares Pacers to Celtics Ahead of Playoff Series
If the Pacers are going to win this series, they are going to need to rely heavily on the defense to step up massively. However, the Pacers’ defense has been very inconsistent this season, potentially giving the Cavaliers an extra advantage that they can exploit.
Even with this, Indiana is entering this series very confident, and they believe that they can take down the Cavaliers. The Pacers are using the success from last postseason to help fuel themselves, and if they can put together a consistent game plan, Indiana may be able to shock the world once again.
Lakers Blockbuster Trade Idea Would Send Cavs’ All-Star Big to L.A.
fter a disappointing first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Lakers face yet another pivotal offseason.
The midseason trade that sent superstar Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Dončić left L.A. with a potent offensive weapon — but significant defensive vulnerabilities, particularly in the front court. Per the Sporting News, in the Lakers’ Game 5 loss to the Timberwolves, Dončić allowed nine blow bys on 16 drives, which resulted in 23 points for the T-Wolves.
With defense a primary need, the folks at Yahoo! Sports pitched a trade that would send Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen to the Lakers.
In exchange for Allen, the Cavs would receive: Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, L.A.’s unprotected 2031 first-round pick, and pick swaps in 2026, 2028, 2030 and 2032. Whew — that’s a lot. Let’s discuss.
Why a Trade for Cavs Big Jarrett Allen Might Make Sense for the L.A. Lakers
Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in action during the fourth quarter of the game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on March 25, 2025 in Portland, Oregon.
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Should the L.A. Lakers try to trade for Cavs center Jarrett Allen?
Adding Allen to the lineup would allow Dončić LeBron James and to focus more on their offensive roles, knowing they have a reliable defender behind them. Defense clearly isn’t Dončić’s strong suit, and historically, the Lakers have found success pairing a dominant big with a strong perimeter presence, something they did during their championship run in 2020.
Allen, an eight-year vet, was an All-Star during the 2021-2022 season, and he’s fresh from a 2024-25 campaign that saw him start all 82 games for the first time in his career.
The Cavs may be open to trading him largely due to the emergence of Evan Mobley, who is expected to receive a lucrative contract extension. With both players occupying similar roles, Cleveland might consider moving Allen to give their salary cap a bit of a boost.
The above trade scenario from Yahoo! would give the Lakers an opportunity to acquire a high-caliber center without sacrificing that many of their core assets.
A Quick Look at the Numbers
Allen is known for his defensive prowess, averaging a block and 9.7 rebounds per game during the 2024–25 season. His ability to protect the rim and haul in rebounds would give the Lakers the defensive anchor they currently lack. Allen’s efficiency on offense — he shot 70.6% from the field last year, which led the NBA — would also add value without requiring a high volume of shots.
Financially, Allen’s contract is also manageable, with two years remaining at $20 million per year. Given the Lakers’ current trajectory and the fact that James will likely be returning next season, trading for Allen could be a solid way to bulk up in the paint.
“Number one—They gotta get some more athletic ability,” former NBA superstar and current analyst Charles Barkley said about the Lakers (h/t Sports Illustrated), before calling out the team’s biggest stars. “They can’t guard anybody. So they’re gonna have to find somebody to cover for LeBron and Luka defensively. Because LeBron don’t play defense anymore. Luka can’t guard a chair.”
Maybe he’s not the ideal candidate to fortify the Lakers’ front court, but Allen may be among their more attractive options at center if they’re open to a trade. We’ll see how they choose to address the position. At the very least, he should be able to guard a chair.
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