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INDEPENDENCE — The NBA Defensive Player of the Year who's invaluable to the Cavaliers versus the Indiana Pacers' leading scorer.
All eyes will be on Evan Mobley and Pascal Siakam.
The matchup between the All-Star forwards is highly anticipated as the Cavs and Pacers prepare to clash in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game 1 of the best-of-seven playoff series is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
“Are we going to be able to deal with Pascal in that mid-post isolation defense?” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said after a recent practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts. “We're going to have to be tough and competitive and smart when he gets in isolation.”
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The 6-foot-8, 245-pound Siakam led the Pacers in scoring during the 2024-25 regular season (20.2) and their 4-1 first-round playoff series win over the Milwaukee Bucks (19.8).
The 31-year-old Siakam shot 51.9% from the field in the regular season (38.9% on 3-pointers) and averaged 6.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocked shots and 32.7 minutes. In Round 1 of the playoffs, he shot 55.6% from the field (44.4% on 3-pointers) and averaged 6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.4 blocked shots and 33.8 minutes.
“He makes tough shots,” Mobley, 23, said. “He gets to a spot and knocks them down. So I'm going to just try to use my length on him and make it as tough as possible and make him miss.”
Keys to the Cavs-Pacers series: 'Head of the snake': Cleveland prepares for Indiana in second round of NBA playoffs
The Cavs went 1-3 against the Pacers in the 2024-25 regular season. One of Cleveland's three losses came in the April 13 regular-season finale while many key players rested, including Mobley and Siakam.
The 7-foot, 215-pound Mobley and Siakam each played in the same game just twice this season. A brief recap of those encounters:
Mobley averaged 18.5 points in the 2024-25 regular season on 55.7% shooting from the field (37% on 3s), plus 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.6 blocks and 30.5 minutes.
In the Cavs' four-game sweep of the Miami Heat during the first round, Mobley averaged 16.3 points on 59.5% shooting from the floor (47.1% on 3s) to go along with 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks and 30.5 minutes.
On April 24, Mobley was named the Defensive Player of the Year. He beat out fellow top contenders Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors and Luguentz Dort of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Siakam is a great offensive player in the post and on the perimeter, but we know Evan's an excellent defender in the post and the perimeter,” Cavs center Jarrett Allen said. “So to see them battle this series, I'm excited. I'm going to still have [Mobley's] back whenever he needs me, but hopefully he doesn't need me a lot.”
The Cavs realize defending the Pacers' elite transition offense and five-out system will be vital. And those aspects of Indiana's strategy may call for Mobley to match up against other Pacers players at times.
“Whoever I'm on is going to be tough,” Mobley said. “So if I'm on Siakam, if I'm on
All eyes will be on Evan Mobley and Pascal Siakam.
The matchup between the All-Star forwards is highly anticipated as the Cavs and Pacers prepare to clash in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Game 1 of the best-of-seven playoff series is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
“Are we going to be able to deal with Pascal in that mid-post isolation defense?” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said after a recent practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts. “We're going to have to be tough and competitive and smart when he gets in isolation.”
Cleveland Cavaliers playoffs: Donovan Mitchell getting over Round 2 hump hinges on investment in teammates
The 6-foot-8, 245-pound Siakam led the Pacers in scoring during the 2024-25 regular season (20.2) and their 4-1 first-round playoff series win over the Milwaukee Bucks (19.8).
The 31-year-old Siakam shot 51.9% from the field in the regular season (38.9% on 3-pointers) and averaged 6.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.5 blocked shots and 32.7 minutes. In Round 1 of the playoffs, he shot 55.6% from the field (44.4% on 3-pointers) and averaged 6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.4 blocked shots and 33.8 minutes.
“He makes tough shots,” Mobley, 23, said. “He gets to a spot and knocks them down. So I'm going to just try to use my length on him and make it as tough as possible and make him miss.”
Keys to the Cavs-Pacers series: 'Head of the snake': Cleveland prepares for Indiana in second round of NBA playoffs
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The Cavs went 1-3 against the Pacers in the 2024-25 regular season. One of Cleveland's three losses came in the April 13 regular-season finale while many key players rested, including Mobley and Siakam.
The 7-foot, 215-pound Mobley and Siakam each played in the same game just twice this season. A brief recap of those encounters:
- Pacers 108, Cavs 93 on Jan. 12 in Cleveland: Siakam scored 18 points on 8-of-21 shooting from the field (0 of 5 on 3-pointers) and grabbed nine rebounds. Mobley posted a double-double with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the floor (1 of 2 on 3s) and 12 rebounds.
- Cavs 127, Pacers 117 on Jan. 14 in Indianapolis: Mobley had another double-double, scoring 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field (3 of 4 on 3s) and grabbing 13 rebounds. Siakam scored 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor (2 of 2 on 3s) and collected seven rebounds with four assists.
Mobley averaged 18.5 points in the 2024-25 regular season on 55.7% shooting from the field (37% on 3s), plus 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.6 blocks and 30.5 minutes.
In the Cavs' four-game sweep of the Miami Heat during the first round, Mobley averaged 16.3 points on 59.5% shooting from the floor (47.1% on 3s) to go along with 6.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.8 blocks and 30.5 minutes.
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On April 24, Mobley was named the Defensive Player of the Year. He beat out fellow top contenders Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors and Luguentz Dort of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Siakam is a great offensive player in the post and on the perimeter, but we know Evan's an excellent defender in the post and the perimeter,” Cavs center Jarrett Allen said. “So to see them battle this series, I'm excited. I'm going to still have [Mobley's] back whenever he needs me, but hopefully he doesn't need me a lot.”
The Cavs realize defending the Pacers' elite transition offense and five-out system will be vital. And those aspects of Indiana's strategy may call for Mobley to match up against other Pacers players at times.
“Whoever I'm on is going to be tough,” Mobley said. “So if I'm on Siakam, if I'm on
Myles Turner, if I'm on [guard Tyrese] Haliburton, I'm going to make it as tough as possible.”
The Cavs are counting on it from their DPOY.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Evan Mobley vs Pascal Siakam key matchup for Cavs, Pacers in playoffs
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The Cavs are counting on it from their DPOY.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Evan Mobley vs Pascal Siakam key matchup for Cavs, Pacers in playoffs
Continue reading...
