Indiana Pacers, TJ Warren, Jimmy Butler - Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Despite owning the 4th seed in the East last season, the Indiana Pacers continued their traditional first-round exit in the playoffs after eventual conference champions Miami Heat dismantled them in an outright sweep.
With no true homecourt advantage in the bubble, as well as Victor Oladipo far from his pre-injury self and All-Star Domantas Sabonis absent due to injury, the Blue and Gold simply didn’t have enough to topple the upstart Heat which eventually trumped all odds to reach the NBA Finals before bowing down to the Los Angeles Lakers.