Game 31 : Indiana Pacers (15-15) @ Boston Celtics (15-17) - 7:30 PM

[ducler]

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[Pacers Forever]

Splendid Couldn't guard Theis and Williams 6-9 and 6-8 respectively shooting. Celtics 51 and 40% from the field vs. Pacers 39 and 33% shooting. You could really see that the Celtics challenged all our drives to the basket and Pacers were letting the Celtics make several unchallenged shots tonight. The Pacers offense couldn't seem to get movement against the Celtics defense and settled for too many 3 point hail marys. Frustrating but I knew before this game Celtics were the better coached, talented team, and would end their losing streak tonight.

[Wizop]

Interesting that Sumner's minutes are coming at the 3.

Sent from my phone.

[Topofthekey]

That play where Payton Pritchard sneaked past McConnell and cut to the basket for an assist and bucket from Tatum is quite emblematic of McConnell's weakness as a player

Defensively, he pays too much attention to the ball handler even when he's not the one guarding them, and not enough attention to what's developing around him. I remember seeing careless lapses like this from him a several times already this season

It's cool that he's forcing turnovers and generating easy points for the team, but then he gives up easy buckets like that right back

But it's nice to see Sumner getting some meaningful playing time. I hope it continues. He's one of the few plus players in this game

[Scoot McGroot]

Splendid Couldn't guard Theis and Williams 6-9 and 6-8 respectively shooting. Celtics 51 and 40% from the field vs. Pacers 39 and 33% shooting. You could really see that the Celtics challenged all our drives to the basket and Pacers were letting the Celtics make several unchallenged shots tonight. The Pacers offense couldn't seem to get movement against the Celtics defense and settled for too many 3 point hail marys. Frustrating but I knew before this game Celtics were the better coached, talented team, and would end their losing streak tonight.

For the most part, it wasn’t that Theis and Williams beat us. It was that Kemba beat us, and in the attempt to recover, when Sabonis or Turner crashed over, they then left Theis and Williams open for quick passes on the attack from Kemba. It was either let Kemba score an open layup, or attack and risk the quick hitter to those guys.

Kemba is so emblematic of what we miss without an Oladipo. Brogdon absolutely cannot cover these smaller quicker guards. Levert and Warren won’t be helps in that regard either. Oladipo was a nice complement for Malcolm as he could guard the smaller quicker guard and Malcolm could take the bigger stronger guy. Alas, Kemba smoking Malcolm all night just broke down the rest of the court when we tried to help.

[Wizop]

Aaron doesn't seem the answer for defending guys his size either. I'm still a Sumner fan but not at the 3. LeVert will push everyone down by playoff time.

Sent from my phone.

[Tom White]

Kemba is so emblematic of what we miss without an Oladipo. Brogdon absolutely cannot cover these smaller quicker guards. Levert and Warren won’t be helps in that regard either. Oladipo was a nice complement for Malcolm as he could guard the smaller quicker guard and Malcolm could take the bigger stronger guy. Alas, Kemba smoking Malcolm all night just broke down the rest of the court when we tried to help.

I know some people had their problems with Oladipo, but it seems since he was traded the season has really gone to heck (trying to put it nicely).

I also find myself questioning whether the team chose the right coach. Label me as not overly impressed, so far.

[Scoot McGroot]

Kemba is so emblematic of what we miss without an Oladipo. Brogdon absolutely cannot cover these smaller quicker guards. Levert and Warren won’t be helps in that regard either. Oladipo was a nice complement for Malcolm as he could guard the smaller quicker guard and Malcolm could take the bigger stronger guy. Alas, Kemba smoking Malcolm all night just broke down the rest of the court when we tried to help.

I know some people had their problems with Oladipo, but it seems since he was traded the season has really gone to heck (trying to put it nicely).

Well, in all fairness, Oladipo was a fine player, and we temporarily traded him for nothing of on court impact, due to Levert's unfortunate diagnosis. We'll see what happens when Levert returns, but regardless, we'll be starting 3 guys that range from 6'5 to 6'8" in Brogdon, Levert, and Warren, and then two giants in Sabonis/Turner. We don't really have a guy that matches up well with smaller, quicker guards. Justin is a really good defender, but isn't totally quick enough to keep up, though he works so hard to do so.

I also find myself questioning whether the team chose the right coach. Label me as not overly impressed, so far.

Hard to say. Obviously, it's still really early, and it was a short offseason with no minicamps, no rookie league, and super short training camp, and in person meetings are limited due to Covid restrictions, so it really is a hard year to change things up. The normal avenues to allow you time and practice to install things just haven't been there. And otherwise, it's been real hard to really build your team and lineup with Levert/Warren out for so long, and a midseason deal of your former All-Pro guard in Oladipo. Obviously, time will tell. There's a lot to like. There's some things to worry about, too.

[Pacers Forever]

I agree that McConnell has had too many careless turnovers lately and isn't guarding his man closely as you said. Also I've seen Brogdon getting torched by his man lately and wondered why. Thanks for bringing to light his defensive deficiency as it's killing us as well as Turner being out of position of rebounding. Another thing that I see is I hate how Sabonis and Turner end up in poor defensive position and recover too late on pick and rolls.

On the coaching I agree it's way too early to make judgement on Nate. I don't like that the practice time is limited. I don't like his lack of using players to develop them. I think Goga needs minutes every game as he's got raw talent and size. Also would get Sumner and JaKarr a couple minutes. I do remember he was supposedly gonna use a deep rotation. Secondly, I don't like the team he's decided to coach/was given. I'm not a fan of so much young talent listed on the Pacers team. Bowen, Martin, and Lecque do nothing for me and I'd rather have veteran minimum guys like JaKarr who have enough talent to play at the NBA level when called upon. I like A. Holiday when he plays smart and in control. Stanley learning in the G league is the only player we should have on a NBA contract in G league in my opinion. I would applaud Pritchard if he made some moves to try to improve the team needs. My only untouchables are Sabonis, J. Holiday, McDermott, Goga, LeVert, and Warren. I would definitely want fair value for Lamb, Turner, and Brogdon if moved. Otherwise I don't dislike Turner and Brogdon just wondering if we could re-shape the team better. I'm just venting

[Topofthekey]

Kemba is so emblematic of what we miss without an Oladipo. Brogdon absolutely cannot cover these smaller quicker guards. Levert and Warren won’t be helps in that regard either. Oladipo was a nice complement for Malcolm as he could guard the smaller quicker guard and Malcolm could take the bigger stronger guy. Alas, Kemba smoking Malcolm all night just broke down the rest of the court when we tried to help.

I know some people had their problems with Oladipo, but it seems since he was traded the season has really gone to heck (trying to put it nicely).

Well, in all fairness, Oladipo was a fine player, and we temporarily traded him for nothing of on court impact, due to Levert's unfortunate diagnosis. We'll see what happens when Levert returns, but regardless, we'll be starting 3 guys that range from 6'5 to 6'8" in Brogdon, Levert, and Warren, and then two giants in Sabonis/Turner. We don't really have a guy that matches up well with smaller, quicker guards. Justin is a really good defender, but isn't totally quick enough to keep up, though he works so hard to do so.

I also find myself questioning whether the team chose the right coach. Label me as not overly impressed, so far.

Hard to say. Obviously, it's still really early, and it was a short offseason with no minicamps, no rookie league, and super short training camp, and in person meetings are limited due to Covid restrictions, so it really is a hard year to change things up. The normal avenues to allow you time and practice to install things just haven't been there. And otherwise, it's been real hard to really build your team and lineup with Levert/Warren out for so long, and a midseason deal of your former All-Pro guard in Oladipo. Obviously, time will tell. There's a lot to like. There's some things to worry about, too.

Maybe Sumner, he's shown some potential in being able to defend opposing PGs

The main problem with that is Sumner is still more or less a no name scrub type of player, so he has to be more careful with how he defends them, so that he doesn't foul

Bjorkgren should try developing him as a defensive player

[Pacers Forever]

I know some people had their problems with Oladipo, but it seems since he was traded the season has really gone to heck (trying to put it nicely).

Well, in all fairness, Oladipo was a fine player, and we temporarily traded him for nothing of on court impact, due to Levert's unfortunate diagnosis. We'll see what happens when Levert returns, but regardless, we'll be starting 3 guys that range from 6'5 to 6'8" in Brogdon, Levert, and Warren, and then two giants in Sabonis/Turner. We don't really have a guy that matches up well with smaller, quicker guards. Justin is a really good defender, but isn't totally quick enough to keep up, though he works so hard to do so.

I also find myself questioning whether the team chose the right coach. Label me as not overly impressed, so far.

Hard to say. Obviously, it's still really early, and it was a short offseason with no minicamps, no rookie league, and super short training camp, and in person meetings are limited due to Covid restrictions, so it really is a hard year to change things up. The normal avenues to allow you time and practice to install things just haven't been there. And otherwise, it's been real hard to really build your team and lineup with Levert/Warren out for so long, and a midseason deal of your former All-Pro guard in Oladipo. Obviously, time will tell. There's a lot to like. There's some things to worry about, too.

Maybe Sumner, he's shown some potential in being able to defend opposing PGs

The main problem with that is Sumner is still more or less a no name scrub type of player, so he has to be more careful with how he defends them, so that he doesn't foul

Bjorkgren should try developing him as a defensive player

Oladipo once was a great player for us. I was glad he was showing glimpses of his old self this season. I hated that he made it clear he was looking for a new opportunity. So we were gonna lose him and got LeVert turning a negative into a future positive. That's why I said the Pacers need to trade the right piece(s) to get that quick guard and improve the team weaknesses they have created in the roster. Sumner does have quicks but still raw due to lack of playing time. I think he can be a good roll player if they would give him a chance to grow on the court.

[Scoot McGroot]

I know some people had their problems with Oladipo, but it seems since he was traded the season has really gone to heck (trying to put it nicely).

Well, in all fairness, Oladipo was a fine player, and we temporarily traded him for nothing of on court impact, due to Levert's unfortunate diagnosis. We'll see what happens when Levert returns, but regardless, we'll be starting 3 guys that range from 6'5 to 6'8" in Brogdon, Levert, and Warren, and then two giants in Sabonis/Turner. We don't really have a guy that matches up well with smaller, quicker guards. Justin is a really good defender, but isn't totally quick enough to keep up, though he works so hard to do so.

I also find myself questioning whether the team chose the right coach. Label me as not overly impressed, so far.

Hard to say. Obviously, it's still really early, and it was a short offseason with no minicamps, no rookie league, and super short training camp, and in person meetings are limited due to Covid restrictions, so it really is a hard year to change things up. The normal avenues to allow you time and practice to install things just haven't been there. And otherwise, it's been real hard to really build your team and lineup with Levert/Warren out for so long, and a midseason deal of your former All-Pro guard in Oladipo. Obviously, time will tell. There's a lot to like. There's some things to worry about, too.

Maybe Sumner, he's shown some potential in being able to defend opposing PGs

The main problem with that is Sumner is still more or less a no name scrub type of player, so he has to be more careful with how he defends them, so that he doesn't foul

Bjorkgren should try developing him as a defensive player

I meant more specifically in the projected starting lineup (Brogdon, Levert, Warren, Turner, Sabonis), but yeah, I think Sumner and Aaron Holiday would ideally cover that role overall on the roster right now. McConnell is interesting in that role for 15-ish minutes a night where he can just blitz and use ALL of his energy, but he mentioned after the Knicks game that when he played 46 minutes, he didn’t have the energy to blitz all the time and had to pick and choose his moments.

[Topofthekey]

Yes. McConnell is good, and I love watching him play, but like dessert he's best consumed in moderation. A backup role playing anywhere between 8-16 mpg sounds about right for him. Bjorkgren is leaning too much on McConnell. He needs to develop Aaron as a backup ball handler a bit more