Looking back, it was probably a big mistake.
That 25-point halftime lead the Pacers built over Cleveland on Thursday, the one that brought a level of bedlam to Bankers Life Fieldhouse not heard since the 2000 NBA Finals, ultimately brought out their worst tendencies — the same tendencies that have haunted them all season.
Riding high against the defending champions, the Pacers relaxed. They became stagnant and uncertain and inaccurate at the offensive end, and failed to find the fortitude to stop the Cavaliers' landslide at the other end. That their 119-114 loss happened against the best team in the Eastern Conference, regular season records be damned, and one led by the NBA's best player, Most Valuable Player voting be damned, made it more understandable, but all the more frustrating.