The matchups for the first round of the NBA Playoffs in both the Eastern and Western Conferences were set in stone as of April 15.
Besides the first-place Pacers in the Eastern Conference facing off against the eighth-place Cavaliers, the other three series in the Eastern Conference were as follows: The second-place Pistons against the seventh-place Bucks; the third-place Heat versus the sixth-place Bulls; and the fourth-place Wizards versus the fifth-place Brooklyn Nets.
Of course, the biggest attraction was LeBron James entering the playoffs for the first time in his career, only to come up against his "bane," Su Wan.
With Indiana coining the series as "Destiny's Battle," the media had dubbed it the same.
Su Wan: My goodness, I've become the villain!
Before the start of the series, media personalities evaluated the matchup, and except for those from Cleveland, the vast majority thought that Su Wan and the Pacers would be the ones to advance.
