Game Thread 10/22: Pacers vs. Timberwolves

[boomershadow]

Coming off a dominant offensive performance, the Pacers (2-1) embark on a three-game road trip, which commences on Monday night in Minnesota against the Timberwolves (1-2).

Monday begins a pivotal early stretch for the Pacers, who play five of their next six on the road before a difficult three-game homestand where they host three of the NBA's best teams in Boston, Houston, and Philadelphia.

Butler was back in the lineup for the Wolves' season opener, scoring 23 points in a loss in San Antonio. He followed that up with a spectacular showing in their first home game, racking up 33 points on just 12 shots in a win over Cleveland. Butler sat out Saturday's game in Dallas on the second night of a back-to-back (he is coming off meniscus surgery and has only been practicing for one week), but is expected to play against the Pacers on Monday.

Wheat Hotchkiss
https://www.nba.com/pacers/preview-pacers-timberwolves-181022

[Tom White]

What do we know about the availability of Domas and Leaf? Anyone know?

Also, this is a really tough stretch in the schedule. The team could come out of the next 6 games and find themselves with a losing record on the year.

[ducler]

Read on Twitter

[basketballwacko2]

Turner has 2 fouls already! 5 min in the 1st.

[Scoot McGroot]

Real poor defense with little communication has doomed this second half.

Also, still a whole lot of hesitancy to take the open 3 with guys preferring to hold the ball or drive into traffic. Tyreke ignored the open 3 most of the second half so far. Turner has stepped up into long 2’s a couple times.

[Topofthekey]

What's with this Pacer aversion towards shooting the 3pt

It's almost like they are putting in an effort to NOT shoot the 3

Does Nate not want his players to shoot 3pts, or do the players themselves not want to shoot it

[Miller4ever]

It seems the players are coached to attack the space in front of them instead of shoot.

[Pacers_Freak]

It seems the players are coached to attack the space in front of them instead of shoot.

Or.... if you take out Bogey's 4-5 (he's obviously not scared to shoot) we were 4-21 from deep. That's 19%. If you aren't hitting 3s your confidence in your shot drops so you try and attack the rim.

[Pacers_Freak]

Thought it was a really flat performance. Looked to me it looked like we were playing the 2nd night of a b2b which we obviously weren't. Minnesota is a good time with Butler and to be honest they looked better without Wiggins on the floor. On to the next one. Hopefully Wednesday brings forth better results.

[gmc5032]

The Pacers are off to an average start. Beating badly the teams that they should beat. Losing to teams that they need to beat to be elite.

[Wizop]

The Pacers are off to an average start. Beating badly the teams that they should beat. Losing to teams that they need to beat to be elite.

I'd worry a lot more if we had lost at home to the Bucks and TWolves. we're going to have to play much better on the road to meet expectations, but I'm sure the players see that too.

[Scoot McGroot]

It seems the players are coached to attack the space in front of them instead of shoot.

Or.... if you take out Bogey's 4-5 (he's obviously not scared to shoot) we were 4-21 from deep. That's 19%. If you aren't hitting 3s your confidence in your shot drops so you try and attack the rim.

Absolutely fair assessment. The problem they had last night was it was more of indecision than anything. Not being confident at the 3 and then driving 2 or 3 steps and picking up the dribble then shooting indecisively because they didn’t know what else to do.