Pacers couldn't stop LeBron in Game 5 loss
All Hail King LeBron, of House James, the First of His Name, Conqueror of Courts, Patron of Posters, Shooter of Game Winners, Slayer of ‘Cers, Most Valuable of Players and the Greatest of All Time.
In the 15th year of his reign, LeBron James just did it again, hitting a game winning three to take Game 5, 98-95, on Wednesday night. I would say he did the unbelievable, but it wasn’t. I expected it. As soon as he touched the ball, I knew it was over. I have seen it all before.
LeBron’s clutch block on Victor Oladipo with the game on the line? He did it better against Andre Igoudala in the 2016 Finals. Pull up three from the top of the key to win the game? Looked cooler when he did it against the Magic in the 2009 Playoffs. 44 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists on 14-of-24 shooting? He played better in Game 2 anyways.
There’s controversy surrounding that final block by James, but even if a foul or goaltending was called, LeBron still hit the three that would have won the game. Sure, things could have worked out differently, but with the way LeBron was playing, I have a feeling he would have found a way to get it done.
But I'm not here to spread the good word about King James. His play speaks for itself. This is a Game 5 recap, so lets look at where it all went wrong for the Pacers. My three keys for the Indiana coming into the game were strong play from Oladipo, lockdown defense on Kyle Korver and a resilient effort coming back from the loss in Game 4.
First and foremost, Victor Oladipo played one of the worst games he has ever played in a Pacers uniform. Oladipo scored just 12 points on an abysmal 2-of-15 shooting, and making just 1-of-7 attempts from deep. He did manage a double-double, grabbing 12 boards, and also dished out four assists, but Oladipo’s poor shooting clearly stunted the Pacers’ efforts offensively.
Secondly, Kyle Korver torched the Pacers once more, scoring 19 points and knocking down five 3-pointers, both of which are series-highs. The Pacers couldn’t keep up with him on the perimeter, chasing him around off the ball and losing him and under screens.
Finally, one bright spot for the Pacers was their hot start, as they jumped out to a 25-15 lead in the first quarter. However, they quickly relinquished that lead when LeBron went on an 8-0 run by himself to end the quarter, and the Pacers struggled to get control of the game the rest of the way.
The Pacers frontcourt carried the team throughout the game, as Domantas Sabonis, Thaddeus Young and Myles Turner combined for 46 points on 19-of-25 shooting. Sabonis played particularly well, scoring a playoff-career-high 22 points, with eight of those coming in the fourth quarter as the Pacers rallied back to tie the game.
It was the same old story for the Pacers in Game 5, as they played well enough to keep it close but couldn’t get the job done in the end, just like their other two losses in the series.
Now, they come back to Indianapolis trailing the Cavs 3-2 and their season on the line. Will the Pacers be able to get the job done in Game 6 on Friday night, or will they be just another team conquered by King James on his path to another ring?