The dreams of a thrilling Celtics vs. Knicks matchup in the Eastern Conference finals crumbled Sunday evening when the sixth-seeded Pacers throttled New York in Game 7 of their series at Madison Square Garden, 130-109.
In the coming days the Celtics will smartly talk about all the ways that Indiana can create problems for them. But the truth is the Pacers reached this point by sliding past the Bucks and Knicks, teams whose rosters were absolutely decimated by injuries.
Now, the path is cleared for the Celtics to reach the NBA Finals without facing Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler, Jalen Brunson, Damian Lillard, or Tyrese Maxey.
If there is a concern for the Celtics, it is that they are playing a mostly healthy team for the first time during these playoffs, and Kristaps Porzingis’s return from a calf strain remains unclear.
Boston went 3-2 against the Pacers during the regular season, with an extra game added due to their quarterfinal matchup in the In-Season Tournament. But these teams met just once after the Pacers’ significant roster alterations, with the Celtics taking a 129-124 win Jan. 30 following the addition of forward Pascal Siakam.
Here are some keys to the series:
THE PACERS’ AWFUL DEFENSE
This season, the Pacers surrendered 117.6 points per 100 possessions, giving them the NBA’s 24th-ranked defense. No other team in the bottom 10 even reached the playoffs. The Celtics, meanwhile, owned the league’s top-ranked offense.
And in the regular-season meetings between these teams, all of this seemed apparent. The Celtics scored at least 112 points in all five games and poured in a whopping 155 during a November win, the second-most points in franchise history.
The Pacers simply do not provide much resistance on the perimeter, and Boston’s slashers should have little trouble finding clear lanes to the paint, where either layups or kick-outs to open 3-point shooters will be available.
Backup forward Isaiah Jackson is one of the few defensive bright spots for the Pacers. Indiana’s defense was 6 points per 100 possessions better with Jackson on the court during the regular season, and it has been 8.2 better during these playoffs. Guard T.J. McConnell’s metrics are not as notable, but he can be a pest with his ball pressure, and center Myles Turner is a strong rim protector.
But the Pacers’ only real chance in this series is turning to a high-powered offense that will have to somehow do a bit more than Boston’s.
WHICH HALIBURTON WILL SHOW UP?
The Pacers’ offense starts with All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton. Last fall, Haliburton appeared to be on the rise to superstardom. He was the breakout performer in the inaugural In-Season Tournament, when he averaged 26.7 points and 13.3 assists, while shooting 52.4 percent from the field and 42.5 percent from the 3-point line during Indiana’s seven tourney games.
But he was sidelined by a hamstring injury in January and was simply not the same player after he returned. His mobility, shooting stroke, and confidence all appeared to take a dent. Haliburton averaged 17.3 points per game and shot just 30.3 percent from the 3-point line after the All-Star break.
Against the Knicks, though, he showed some signs of his early-season form. He had not topped the 30-point mark since his injury but did it twice against New York. The problem for Haliburton is the Celtics can throw waves of elite perimeter defenders in his direction, most likely starting with Jrue Holiday.
PORZINGIS’S RETURN
Three weeks have passed since Porzingis suffered a calf strain in Game 4 of the Celtics’ opening-round series against Miami. He was seen doing a light workout prior to Game 4 of the conference semifinals against the Cavaliers last week, and Sunday he was seen working out on an exercise bike at the Auerbach Center.
The Celtics have not given a specific target date for Porzingis’s return, but they will be massive favorites in this series even if he doesn’t play a minute. But they would probably need him in the Finals, and the team would prefer to get him live game action before that point.
Nevertheless, this favorable draw should allow the Celtics to proceed as they see fit and err on the side of caution. Maybe that means bringing back Porzingis when the series shifts to Indiana to play 10-15 minutes and regain his rhythm. The biggest key will be avoiding a setback that could sideline him for the rest of the playoffs.
ON THE REBOUND
The Pacers gathered just 70 percent of all available defensive rebounds during the regular season, ranking 26th in the NBA. So there will be chances for Boston to crash the offensive glass, potentially helping it overcome a poor 3-point shooting night.
SETTING THE PACE
The Pacers’ playing style has been altered a bit during these playoffs. Indiana averaged 102.16 possessions per 48 minutes during the regular season, second most in the NBA. But that figure has plummeted to 93.06 in the postseason, a figure that would have ranked last in the regular season by more than two possessions.
This is partly due to having a seven-game series against the slow-paced Knicks, but it’ll be interesting to see in this series if this trend is the result of a tactical adjustment by Indiana coach Rick Carlisle. Generally, the fewer possessions in a game, the better chance there is for a team to pull off an upset.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.