It just keeps getting worse for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Every time you think they’ve hit rock bottom, they dig a little deeper. They’ve now dropped two straight games to the Indiana Pacers in the conference semifinals. And if that wasn’t enough, injuries are piling up like bad news in the group chat. The latest blow is Donovan Mitchell. Their star guard’s now on the injury list too. And with Game 3 coming up in just two days, fans now wonder, how on earth do they turn this around? Sure, we don’t have the answers sitting in our back pocket. But you know who might? Former Cleveland big man Kendrick Perkins.

Both the Cavaliers and Pacers came into this series looking like serious threats. They showed their muscle power in the first round. Indiana handled the Milwaukee Bucks, without breaking a sweat, closing that series 4-1. Meanwhile, Cleveland made quick work of the Miami Heat, sweeping them 4-0. So naturally, when these two squads lined up against each other, fans were ready for some nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat drama. But so far? It’s been kind of a letdown. Cleveland, the No. 1 seed in the East, now trails 2-0 in the semifinals. And Kendrick Perkins directly pinpoints what his former team must do to crawl back into the series.

On the latest episode of the Road Trippin’ podcast, Kendrick Perkins didn’t hold back. He tackled Cleveland’s biggest issue head-on: injuries. Perkins made it clear that, no matter what, Cavs players need to hit the floor for Game 3. And yeah, he even suggested a little old-school fix to get it done. As Perkins put it, “You better go get a shot in your ass. You better go get a shot in your ass, that’s Toradol that’s what it’s called… You go get that shot, 48 hours of no pain and motherf***** you go hoop. Dog, you go hoop.” It’s vintage Kendrick. He doesn’t care what everybody thinks or say about him. He just knows how to get the job done. And he just suggested to Cleveland a controversial ring-chasing tactic without giving a damn about the world.

Sure, Perkins might sound a little biased backing his old team, but he’s not afraid to own his mistakes either. Before the Pacers faced the Bucks, Perkins had Milwaukee winning that series. Safe to say, he missed the mark. After watching Indiana’s fast-paced, fearless style, he quickly admitted he was wrong. Perkins said, “That’s how good this Pacer team is. They play agenda-free basketball. They have a bunch of dogs.” He also added, “ I know I didn’t even pick them last series. Shame on me, Shame on me.” 

But do you know what Parkins’ prophecy is about this ongoing series between the Cavaliers and Pacers?

Kendrick Perkins gives his verdict on Cavaliers vs Pacers in the semifinals

When the Indiana Pacers went into Cleveland and snatched a Game 1 win in the Eastern Conference semifinals, people took notice. But Kendrick Perkins? He’d already seen more than enough. Ahead of Tuesday night’s Game 2, the ESPN analyst made a bold prediction on First Take.  “The Pacers winnin’ this series, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they win it in five. Period,” Perkins declared, his voice firm and unapologetic. 

He made it clear this wasn’t just about pulling off one upset win. In his words, it’s a matchup nightmare for the Cavaliers. Perkins reminded everyone that this same Indiana team made a deep playoff run just last year. “This is a Pacers team that went to the Eastern Conference finals last year.” Perkins added, “They’re gonna win this series, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Cleveland only gets one game.” 

And honestly, he might have a point. The Pacers aren’t just fast and physical; they can match Cleveland’s size in the frontcourt and lock down their shooters. Only a few teams managed to pull that off against the Cavaliers this season, a squad that racked up 64 wins for a reason. But here’s the twist: even though Cleveland’s regular season dominance was real, the injuries and back-to-back losses have flipped the script fast.

Perkins sounded genuinely frustrated watching the Cavaliers crumble in Game 2, and with their current injury concerns, it’s clear they’ve got an uphill climb ahead.