Three Pacers who will annoy Celtics fans in the Eastern Conference Finals

It’s official. The Boston Celtics shall be taking up the Indiana Pacers within the Japanese Convention Finals. Indiana put a beatdown on the New York Knicks (RIP, bozos) in Sunday’s Sport 7 to earn the prospect to battle Boston for a visit to the NBA Finals.

With nothing to do however watch for Sport 1’s tip-off tonight, I figured I’d get followers who might not have had the prospect to look at a lot of the Pacers up thus far caught on top of things on what’s been occurring in Indiana.

I for one have fairly loved watching the Pacers get rid of groups I don’t like. Seeing them take out the Milwaukee Bucks (bonus RIP, bozos) after which the Knicks needs to be what it looks like when a mob boss sees their henchmen “whack” somebody.

They’ve been in a position to get themselves thus far by using their high-powered offense, which is spearheaded by Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. Everybody is aware of about these guys, however what in regards to the others?

Who’re the fellows which might be going to ship your blood strain by the roof over the subsequent two weeks?

I’ve obtained you lined. Let’s have a look.

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Myles Turner

Myles Turner is a reputation that the majority followers ought to be accustomed to. The large man has been a staple of the Pacers’ squad since being drafted by them again in 2015. Actually, he’s the lone remaining piece of the 2019 workforce that was the final to face Boston within the postseason.

Turner was really nearly a Celtic again in 2020. When Gordon Hayward’s contract expired and he hit free company, there have been discussions between Indiana and Boston that will’ve seen Turner swapped with Hayward. In the end, Danny Ainge pressed the Pacers for too steep of a worth and Hayward wound up with the Charlotte Hornets.

The large man has constantly seen his identify featured in commerce rumors, however the Pacers are certainly grateful that he’s nonetheless with them. All through Indy’s playoff run, Turner has been improbable.

He’s been their third-leading scorer at 17.5 factors per recreation. Nonetheless, the true key has been his potential to stretch the ground. It’s no secret that Turner can sink threes, however he’s been doing so at an unreal clip. His 45.7% three-point proportion is over 10% increased than his profession mark of 35.4%.

To me, there are only a few issues extra infuriating than watching a man shoot nicely above his common in opposition to the Celtics. That, paired with the entire “might’ve had him” angle to this, can have followers punching air sooner or later right here.

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Aaron Nesmith

One other man who Cs followers have loads of expertise with is Aaron Nesmith. The previous Celtics lottery decide has discovered himself a pleasant residence in Indiana, after being dealt away as a part of the Malcolm Brogdon commerce in 2022.

He’s a first-rate instance of the “love him he’s in your workforce, however hate him if he’s on the opposite bench” kind of participant. Nesmith is likely one of the premier hustle guys within the NBA. There’s a purpose why his nickname is “Crash.” His chaotic-hustle playstyle is one thing that can certainly frustrate Celtics followers, particularly contemplating the dangers that come together with it.

All it’s going to take is one in every of these “no regard for human life” hustle performs to get Boston’s fanbase doing the “Arthur” fist meme.

Nesmith can be a defense-first man. Indiana used him to attempt to decelerate Knicks star and MVP candidate Jalen Brunson within the second spherical. It’ll be no shock when he’s tasked with defending Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown within the convention finals. When that inevitably occurs, there’ll certainly be tons of clamoring for further foul calls from the spectators.

The previous Celtic hasn’t been overly spectacular on offense to this point, however did have an ideal 8-8 efficiency in Sport 7 Sunday. If he pops off for an offensive explosion, it’ll be a irritating look ahead to certain.

Heading into the sequence, it looks like Nesmith is a fairly polarizing determine amongst Celtics followers. There’s actually a contingent of them who’re already aware about the hazards of his chaotic hustle, however it’s not everybody. I personally have been blissful to see him play nicely in opposition to the Knicks and Bucks (once more, RIP, bozos).

Make no mistake, I cannot be blissful to see him play nicely in opposition to the Cs.

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T.J. McConnell

You knew he’d be on this checklist. T.J. McConnell, very similar to Nesmith, is a first-rate “hate him when he’s in opposition to your workforce” man.

Once more, I’ve gotten loads of pleasure whereas watching the Pacers take out the trash this spring and McConnell has been an enormous participant of their rubbish disposal. He is available in off the bench and raises hell.

If you happen to’re not accustomed to McConnell, you’ll be in two weeks. He performs with an incredible quantity of grit, serving as a pest to the opposition’s finest guards.

The six-foot-one guard has supplied Indy with a stable scoring punch this spring. In 13 postseason appearances, he’s averaged 10.8 factors and 5.3 assists per recreation.

McConnell really performed a key position in one of many Pacers’ two wins over the Cs this season. Again in January, he stepped up after Haliburton injured his hamstring to guide Indy to a comeback win at residence.

This Japanese Convention Finals gained’t be his first playoff run-in with the Cs. He was a part of the 2018 Philadelphia 76ers workforce that Boston bounced in 5 video games. Although the sequence didn’t go very lengthy, McConnell nonetheless managed to alter the power in a potential-closeout Sport 4.

He crammed the stat sheet with 19 factors, seven rebounds, and 5 assists to assist the Sixers dwell to struggle one other day.

McConnell’s irritating playstyle will definitely rub Celtics followers the flawed means on this sequence.

Although this sequence feels prefer it ought to be a coronation of the Celtics because the East’s finest, these guys will definitely work as laborious as they will to make it a bumpy trip to the NBA Finals.