Pacers steal Game 1, could be problem for the Cavs | The Kevin O’Connor Show

Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor and fantasy analyst Dan Titus discuss how Indiana took Game 1 against Cleveland with a fourth quarter run behind the play of Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard. Hear the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

Halliburton and Nemhard, unbelievable for Indiana.

They combined for 45 points on 16 of 25 from the field, 19 assists to only one turnover for those two combined.

W, zero resistance from the Cavs, Dan, what, what stood out to you from that Indiana backcourt?

Andrew Nemard, I mean, we gotta have a conversation from what he did last season in the postseason and what he’s continuing to do now.

Um, this kid is on the rise and it’s not even what he’s providing offensively, it’s the defense.

I mean, the way he just locked up, uh, Donovan Mitchell tonight for 7 minutes, he guarded Mitchell the most, held him to 1 of 8 shooting, 0 for 3 from the three point line.

Um, this guy just continues to just be a solid contributor, and, and I mean that really just speaks to all of the Pacers.

This is their identity.

I just feel the balance between Halliburton and Nemhart offensively, with both of those guys being able to be creators or off ball players just makes them like so real, so tough to defend because of the the 4th quarter.

Cleveland was switching on ball screens when when Halliburton or Nemhard were being screened by Turner.

A lot of the time it was a switch.

And there was this instance in the 4th quarter I remember where Mitchell got switched on to Turner, and obviously that’s a bad matchup for Cleveland, and so DeAndre Hunter, who was defending Nimhard, kind of rotated over, tried to switch that to provide some sides off of Turner, but meanwhile, Halliburton, on the other side of the floor, all while that scram switch is happening, he’s whipping a crosscourt pass of Nemhart who’s got a wide open three pointer, and they just execute at such a high level.

They don’t turn it over ever, and they’re so efficient.

Like it’s a, it’s a problem for Cleveland, man, with those guys playing at that level offensively, and their defense, Indiana is top 10 since the NBA Cup in the middle of December.

Like they are legit, dude, they are legit, and I do feel like they’re being overlooked to your point.

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