It s not accidental, why was the Cavaliers eliminated 1-4? Four major failures were exposed, and the biggest "sinner" was found

In the NBA playoff Eastern Conference semifinals on May 14, 2025, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the number one in the Eastern Conference, lost to the Indiana Pacers 105-114 at home, and were eliminated 1-4 in the total score, while the Pacers reached the Eastern Conference Finals for two consecutive years. The defeat was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the Cavaliers and also sparked widespread discussions among fans and the media.

First of all, the Cavaliers' defeat this time, and injuries have become an important factor that cannot be ignored. Core player Garland is absent from many games due to injury. As a key figure in the team's offensive organization, his absence has greatly affected the team's tactical system and overall strength. Although Mitchell made an injury, he made 8 of 25 shots in G5, 4 of 13 three-pointers, 15 of 21 free throws, scored 35 points, 9 rebounds and 4 steals, and his personal data was very impressive, but he was unable to support the Pacers' strong offensive.

Secondly, poor performance of role players is also the key to the Cavaliers' loss. Throughout the series, some role players failed to stand up at critical moments to provide enough support to the team. Garland's form continued to be sluggish after returning. He played in G5 for 33 minutes, made only 4 of 16 shots, including 0 of 6 three-pointers, scored only 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 5 mistakes. The positive and negative values ​​were the lowest in the team -18, far from meeting the team's expectations for him, and he failed to assume the responsibility of the team's core.

Furthermore, the defensive problem is another pain point for the Cavaliers' loss. In this round of the series, the Cavaliers have many loopholes on the defensive end and cannot effectively limit the Pacers' offense, giving their opponents too many opportunities to score easily. Pacers players can easily break through the Cavaliers' defense or get a lot of open shots from the outside. For example, Halliburton often finds the offensive rhythm in the game, hitting more three points in a single quarter, leading the team to a climax of counterattack.

Then, insufficient tactical adjustments have also become a major shortcoming for the Cavaliers. Faced with the Pacers' team attack, the Cavaliers seem to be not timely and effective in tactical adjustments and responses. The coach failed to make timely changes based on the situation on the field, which led to the team gradually falling into a passive position during the game. When the Pacers played a small lineup and accelerated the offensive rhythm, the Cavaliers did not make targeted defensive arrangements in time, causing the team's defense to become in chaos.

In this series, Garland was considered by many people to be the biggest sinner of the Cavaliers' loss. Judging from the data and on-field performance, his sluggish performance in the series is indeed difficult to satisfy. When the team needed him the most, he failed to stand up, with low shooting percentage and poor offensive efficiency, and did not play the role he deserved in organizing the team.

This loss was a painful lesson for the Cavaliers. They need to reflect carefully in the following offseason, adjust their lineup and tactics, and at the same time strengthen the players' injury management to ensure that the players can stay healthy. Only in this way can the Cavaliers achieve better results in future games and regain their former glory.