The contrasting attitudes of the media and fans on both sides were so stark, those unaware might have thought the Cavaliers were sixth and the Pacers third.
The Eastern Conference's fourth-seeded Heat Team ultimately clashed with the Eastern Conference's fifth-seeded Magic Team.
To outsiders, their matchup seemed to be filled with the most suspense.
In the Western Conference, the Western first-seeded Lakers faced the eighth-seeded Warriors; the second-seeded Hornets faced the seventh-seeded Nuggets; the third-seeded Spurs faced the sixth-seeded Mavericks; and the fourth-seeded Utah Jazz were up against the fifth-seeded Phoenix Suns.
In terms of excitement, perhaps only the "Mavs-Spurs Battle" held some interest. To the media, the rest of the matchups seemed to have little to no suspense.
Including the Jazz and Suns' game.
