The Cleveland Cavaliers completed their four-game sweep of the Indiana Pacers, winning a tight game this afternoon, 106-102and Twitter was full of reactions.
Falling to the No. 2 seed, losing 4 of 6 heading into the playoffs, and miserable defense in the last month headlined the Cavaliers entry into the postseason. But eight days later, the Cavs win four in a row and will likely wait a week for either the Milwaukee Bucks or Toronto Raptors.
Although none of the wins were in dominant fashion, the Cavs showed toughness at home, holding on, despite late Pacers’ runs. In Game 3, Cleveland showed resiliency, coming down from 25 at halftime, on the shoulders of LeBron’s herculean effort.
In Game 4, it was a full-team effort, as the Cavaliers sent Paul George and the Pacers packing for the offseason. This series has been all about LeBron James and the switch he flips when he goes into postseason mode.
King James averaged 32.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game on 54% shooting. Kyrie Irving was sensational as well, putting up 25.3 points per game. On the other hand, Indiana didn’t have the firepower to be able to stay with the Cavs. Although all the games were close, it never felt like the Pacers would threaten to win multiple games or the series.
Paul George was carrying the Pacers, despite his post-game comments, averaging 32.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game. He got some help from Lance Stephenson, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the defending champions.
Let’s take a look at some reactions from around the league, regarding the Cavaliers’ sweep. ESPN’s Jay Crawford — who’s also a Cleveland native — had this to say:
Sweep complete. 4 down. 12 to go. #ALLinCle @cavs
— Jay Crawford (@JaycrawfordCLE) April 23, 2017
Singer Rihanna, who’s supposedly a LeBron James fan, had to chime in on their sweep:
https://twitter.com/rihanna/status/856231362700947456
Indy Star’s Stephen Holder might have summed up the series in one tweet:
I've rarely watched a game that's been this close throughout yet felt like one team had zero shot at winning. #pacers #cavs
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) April 23, 2017
Fox Sports Ohio’s Sam Amico went on to sum up the Cavaliers’ season and playoffs’ run here:
In 20 years of covering sports at all levels, I've never seen team more confusing than these #Cavs. Also, they just completed 1st-rd sweep.
— Sam Amico (@AmicoHoops) April 23, 2017
Then there’s Skip Bayless, who gives a compliment, but then takes it right back:
I predicted the Cavs would sweep the Pacers. But my pick was more about how bad the Pacers are than how invincible the Cavs are.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 23, 2017
Jeff Teague really needs to get out of the Eastern Conference, he just can’t seem to catch a break:
Jeff Teague has now lost 12 straight playoff games to the Cavaliers. 0-12 lifetime.
— FearTheSword (@FearTheSword) April 23, 2017
Colin Cowherd continues to push his case for LeBron as MVP, with the LeBron Song:
Lebron hits the KEY three, gets the KEY steal and the final KEY rebound. Almost like he's clutch. pic.twitter.com/7IhVI9qZeH
— Colin Cowherd (@ColinCowherd) April 23, 2017
Lakers’ fans might have been the happiest about the Cavaliers’ sweep:
Did Paul George just play his final game with the Pacers? pic.twitter.com/g9XzKHgcOb
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) April 23, 2017
Many people took this angle and ran with it on Twitter:
Don't let the fact you just got swept distract you from the fact Paul George will be a Cavalier next year, Indiana.
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) April 23, 2017
Will that Paul George shot be his last moment as an Indiana Pacer?
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) April 23, 2017
The craziest thing is that George isn’t even a free agent until the summer of 2018.
Lance Stephenson might have been the second-best player for the Pacers, but this tweet sums up his relationship with LeBron:
Next: 30 worst NBA playoff teams of all time
The Pacers are packing for the offseason and Cleveland will await the winner of the Bucks/Raptors’ series.