NBA Playoffs: Indiana Pacers vs Boston Celtics series preview and prediction

The Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics have taken two vastly different paths to get to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers have had to sweat out tough games against the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks, while the Celtics have had a pretty easy time advancing in the NBA playoffs.

The Pacers are looking to reach their first NBA Finals since 2000, while the Celtics are hoping to make it back for the first time since 2022. We’ll take a look at the series from a few different angles and predict a winner. All statistics are sourced from Basketball Reference.

Boston’s dynamic duo of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum continue to put opponents in a bind. Their offensive and defensive skill gives the Celtics a huge advantage, and virtually makes them matchup-proof. Center Kristaps Porzingis is expected to be out for the first couple games of the Eastern Conference Finals, according to ESPN.

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Indiana’s frontline brings an intriguing mix of size and defensive ability to the table. Myles Turner might be in a better position to put his stamp on the series if Porzingis isn’t able to return to the lineup. It’ll be interesting to see who the Pacers feel the most comfortable guarding Brown and Tatum—Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith bring different strengths to the table.

It’s difficult to give anyone but Boston the edge when their frontline features two perennial All-Stars. With that being said, the Pacers have the ability to present different issues and looks that Boston will have to account for.

NBC Sports Boston wrote about how Derrick White has played the best basketball of his career during the 2024 NBA playoffs. They noted that he’s only the fourth player in NBA history to make 20 or more threes in a three-game span, which he did earlier this postseason. Jrue Holiday’s steady veteran presence has also been invaluable for Boston.

It may not be his innate nature, but Tyrese Haliburton will need to continue to look for his own offense rather than deferring to teammates in the Eastern Conference Finals. When he played more aggressively against the Knicks, the Pacers’ offense become unlocked. The NBA’s website has covered this theme in his style of play throughout the playoffs.

Haliburton might be the most talented starting backcourt player in the series, but Boston probably has the more well-rounded guard unit. Indiana’s All-Star is going to have his hands full navigating the pressure that White and Holiday will apply throughout the course of the series.

The Boston Herald wrote a story in April about how Mazzulla’s improvement on the bench has been a key factor in the Celtics’ elite regular season. He received a lot of criticism last season for how he didn’t make adjustments against a feisty Miami Heat team, and he’ll be under the microscope once again in this high leverage situation.

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Carlisle has had the good fortune of going up against teams with key injuries in the first two rounds of the postseason. Once again, he’ll have the chance to take advantage of a Celtics team who will likely be without Kristaps Porzingis for some length of time. It’ll be interesting to see if Carlisle tests Al Horford on pick and rolls early and often.

Even though Mazzulla has made notable progress this season, Carlisle’s experience over 22 seasons as a head coach may give him a slight edge over his younger counterpart. Sporting News gave Carlisle a lot of credit for Indiana’s success, saying that he played to the strengths of his best players.

Boston’s depth will be tested if Porzingis is not available for an extended period of time. Al Horford should slide into the starting lineup, and backup big man Luke Kornet seems to have carved out a role ahead of Xavier Tillman. Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard will be counted on to space the floor.

Isaiah Jackson had a solid impact against the Knicks in the second round, while reserve point guard T.J. McConnell is known for his physical style of play. McConnell told The Guardian in 2023 that he aims to make life miserable for his opponents. He might quickly become a target for Celtics fans on when Indiana is on the road.

A lot will depend on whether Porzingis can play in this series, but both teams have key reserves that can impact the series. It wouldn’t be surprising if multiple bench players take turns getting hot from three point range.

Pacers reserve forward Obi Toppin could be a player that swings games in this series. He’s athletic enough to beat Boston down the floor, and has the ability to make shots from the outside. Toppin will need to stay within himself, and not try to take the game over. The New York Post called out his unnecessary showboating against his former New York mates in the last round.

It feels like the Celtics have been gearing up for this moment for the last several months. With that said, Indiana can provide resistance, especially if their hot shooting from the Knicks series carries over to the Eastern Conference Finals. At the end of the day, though, Boston’s ability to clamp down on the perimeter defensively should carry them into the NBA Finals.

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