The Pacers emerged from their Game 1 loss to the Celtics like a toothless threat to upend Boston, lacking the firepower to earn a tough road win.
The eight-point third quarter confirmed all of the widely held biases that the Pacers, by just making the playoffs without Victor Oladipo, are an earnest, feel-good story with no chance to actually win. The try-hard gang is admirable, but no threat to Boston.
However, in the Pacers locker room, the story sounded different. The third quarter collapse was simply a matter of poor shooting.