ECF Playoff Game Thread: Pacers @ Knicks, Game 5, May 29th 8pm

[H_20]

Is KAT playing tonight?

[Jeff Van Gully]

Because it took him until game 3 of the ECF, after losing 2 games at home and down 0-2 for him to give Shamet and Wright a chance.

that doesn't address my question. it just sets up the major tangent you wanted to go on. i'm sure he can speak for himself if he wants.

JVG, I didn't answer because I'm trying to not talk too much about Thibs mistakes. We have an elimination game to avoid so I was doing my best to keep it positive. Since you asked I think its not that he hasnt made any adjustments but I think he's missed some obvious ones. They have picked Brunson
up full court every game. Why not do the same for Halifraud? Disrupting Halifraud is the key. In my mind that is the most basica defensive adjustment you can make.

understood. and i agree that tone is ideal for now. i quoted you, but the question was really for TKKnicks1.

but to your point, i'd like to believe we can have real conversations about ball without being disrespectful or in bad faith. we shouldn't have to go into avoidance mode just to survive GTs. symptoms of bigger community issues.

appreciate your decency.

[Jeff Van Gully]

I saw a post on the Timberwolves board titled “Everyone who’s calling to blow it up after two WCF losses obviously was not a fan through the bad times” and it resonated with me a little bit. 95% chance we lose the series but we’re one of the last 3 teams still playing basketball and remember where you came from don’t take it for granted when you tear these guys down

the Ls sting. but i'm going to appreciate this season and journey, for sure.

[3toheadmelo]

We not going out sad. Brunson with a 40 piece tonight.

[LFGK]

I saw a post on the Timberwolves board titled “Everyone who’s calling to blow it up after two WCF losses obviously was not a fan through the bad times” and it resonated with me a little bit. 95% chance we lose the series but we’re one of the last 3 teams still playing basketball and remember where you came from don’t take it for granted when you tear these guys down

the Ls sting. but i'm going to appreciate this season and journey, for sure.

Season isn't finished, 1 win from a game 6, who's to say Indi doesn't have an off night game 6 if it gets there?

[GettinitDone]

I think we take this game, and who knows we win G6 too without KAT

[Garbagelo]

I wanna see OG+Mikal double team on Hali from opening tip

Don't even want him to make it past half court

Need him to put up Ntilikina type stats

[Wildcat]

Vibes going into the postseason were low. Each time the Knicks underperform kills the vibes even more. We've had exciting moments, absolutely, but how much longer are they going to stomp our (my) enthusiasm? Knicks may have the better talent, but we're not a better team.

[sol537]

Is KAT playing tonight?

Yes. Whether he'll be effective on that bruised knee is another story.

[mpharris36]

Wright is being wildly overrated by a fandom that’s desperately scrambling for answers. He’s played valiantly in his minutes and I tip my cap to him but he’s not Jrue Holiday or something

Ben Sheppard also isn't very good...but he simply is asked to play 12-15 mins a game and press the **** out of brunson and make life difficult.

[knicksfan974]

Hart on Hali
OG on Siakam
JB on Nembhard
Mikal on Nesmith
KAT on Turner

Stop switching on screens and go over the screen on defense and double team on mismatches. Team needs to hustle back on defense.

Agree. The Pacers run screen plays to create mismatches and these have been killing the Knicks time and time again.

[sol537]

Vibes going into the postseason were low. Each time the Knicks underperform kills the vibes even more. We've had exciting moments, absolutely, but how much longer are they going to stomp our (my) enthusiasm? Knicks may have the better talent, but we're not a better team.

I take solace in the fact that OKC will smoke whoever comes out of the ECF like they did to Minny. OKC is just on another level right now (like Boston was last season and we saw what BOS did to IND and DAL).

[sol537]

Hart on Hali
OG on Siakam
JB on Nembhard
Mikal on Nesmith
KAT on Turner

Stop switching on screens and go over the screen on defense and double team on mismatches. Team needs to hustle back on defense.

Agree. The Pacers run screen plays to create mismatches and these have been killing the Knicks time and time again.

I would put OG on Hali to fight through the screens better than Mikal. Mikal can somewhat hang with Siakam... probably better than he's been hanging with Hali. If we can hold Hali to 50% of his output of the last game, then we've got a shot. OG/Wright/Duece are the only ones able to throw him off his game a bit.

[robillionaire]

Wright is being wildly overrated by a fandom that’s desperately scrambling for answers. He’s played valiantly in his minutes and I tip my cap to him but he’s not Jrue Holiday or something

Nobody did that. He's merely balances out our defense which needed a boost.

Yeah I agree with that, and he’s going to have his opportunity to continue to play well in that role but that’s all we should expect, he’s not going to completely supplant someone like Mikal or Josh hart or save the team from elimination, but he can do his part defensively in his bench minutes which can be valuable, everyone else needs to do the same and step up

[Enzo954]

Hart on Hali
OG on Siakam
JB on Nembhard
Mikal on Nesmith
KAT on Turner

Stop switching on screens and go over the screen on defense and double team on mismatches. Team needs to hustle back on defense.

Agree. The Pacers run screen plays to create mismatches and these have been killing the Knicks time and time again.

Carlisle has his guys executing that to perfection and has Thibs looking like a deer in headlights. It's so frustrating to watch.

[Iron Mantis]

Compared to the "defense" being playing by guys like Brunson and Hart... Wright's 20 minutes of hounding defense would feel like having Jrue Holiday out there.

Exactly.

That was the "Wright is the Savior lol" Hyperbole I was talking about.

We are down 3-1 and no one has been able to stop Hali. But in the sample size we've seen, Wright has shown that he can defend well and fight over screens....how could it hurt to give him the assignment?

Oh I see.....Since Wright is not Jrue we should just go ahead and and give Hali the same defensive looks that he has figured out so he can easily pick apart our defense and pack us up tonight.

[LFGK]

Go through the screen man they can win tonight

[mpharris36]

just win tonight and at least make Indy sweat a bit...losing in 5 would be a bad look. Can't lose all 3 at home and then say hey positives. Win at all costs.

[Fat Kat]

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[Jeffrey]

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I'm okay with Zarba and Williams. Tiven, I don't really remember and thats a good thing.