Underrated part of Andrew Nembhard’s game deserves more love

May 7, 2025 - By 4idiotz

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Article Summary

Andrew Nembhard’s defensive contributions have been critical to the Indiana Pacers’ success, and he proved it once again in their Game 1 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA playoffs. Nembhard, a pesky perimeter defender, made things difficult for All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who shot just 13-for-30 from the field and 1-for-11 from three-point range in the loss.

Original Post

By now, it should be a surprise to nobody to see Andrew Nembhard step up and be a playoff hero for the second consecutive year. However, Nembhard plays his best basketball when the lights are at their brightest on both sides of the ball, and it is about time he gets his respect for what he does on the defensive side.

Pacers fans are well aware of Nembhard’s defensive contributions. He is pesky and is arguably the Pacers’ best perimeter defender. He was solid last year, but he took it up another level this season, and if it were not for one of the NBA’s most controversial rules, Nembhard would have been in legitimate consideration for a defensive award.

Nembhard’s defensive value was on display in the Pacers’ Game 1 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, and as they look to pull off the upset, the team will rely on him even more from here on out.

Andrew Nembhard did a fantastic job against Donovan Mitchell in Game 1

The Cavaliers ended the regular season with 64 wins and entered the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the East. Most of their success is because of Donovan Mitchell, who earned his sixth consecutive All-Star selection this year. In order for Cleveland to go on a deep playoff run and return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2018, they will rely heavily on Mitchell. For the most part, this is a good strategy as Mitchell is one of the best shooting guards in the NBA. However, this did not work out too well for the Cavaliers in Game 1, and that is mostly because of Nembhard.

In the loss, Mitchell scored 33 points, which is phenomenal on the surface. However, he shot just
13-for-30 from the field and 1-for-11 from three-point land. Nembhard was Mitchell’s primary defender, and
it is clear that he made things difficult for the Cavaliers star.

It is important to note that the Cavaliers were without Darius Garland, who is dealing with a
toe injury. Once he returns, it will take a bit of pressure off Mitchell and make things easier for the
Cavaliers overall. However, even so, Nembhard is proving that he is a force on the defensive side of the
ball and can contain even some of the NBA’s top scorers.

For the rest of the series, Nembhard will be crucial to Indiana’s success, not just for his offense, but
also for the value he brings defensively. The Pacers are far from a perfect defensive team, but they have
improved drastically, and a lot of that can be attributed to Nembhard’s development. Nembhard has the
potential to be a top defender in the NBA if he is not one already, and he deserves his flowers.

What This Means for You

Nembhard’s defensive skills are crucial to the Pacers’ success, and he proved it once again in Game 1 against the Cavaliers.
Players like Nembhard, who excel on both defense and offense, can be game-changers in the NBA playoffs.
The Cavaliers will need to find a way to counter Nembhard’s defense if they hope to advance in the playoffs.
The NBA playoffs often come down to matchups, and having a versatile player like Nembhard can give a team a significant advantage.