PG: Knicks vs Indy: Game 1 ECF

[Fat]

OG was sus this game ngl

OG opened the gates for us to take a commanding lead once Brunson went out with the 5th foul. I wouldn’t put all the dirt on him but he did have sus moments.

Thibs is the main catalyst for me. Poor coaching from multiple aspects

[K_ick_God]

0g taking that shot is the equivalent of a coach letting a QB snap the ball and run a play when all he has to do is take a knee and the game is over

That’s how stupid it is and how much Thibs needs to go

It’s the same same damn thing

Total shot in the foot and 0g is the same dude who pulled Deuce aside and told him not to shoot so fast earlier this year … suspend him for the series, do smthg dummies

[Worst_to_First]

I am very upset about the loss. Especially I was pulled out for an important call before the collapse happened and was expecting a win.

That being said, we just have to trust our captain JB when he said this is a mentally tough team. The only way we lose this is if the coaching staff prioritizes JB winning the ECF MVP over actually coaching smartly to beat a strong Pacers team.

This will be similar to the Bucks run in 2021. They threw Game 1 versus the Hawks but won the series in 6. They also dropped the first two games against the Suns before completing a back door sweep.

[knicksfan974]

No need to panic. For much of the game the Knicks played great and had the game in total control. For much of the game they looked as the better team, which I believe they are and can be. In the end a lot of things went against the Knicks and A LOT of things went like a miracle for the Pacers.

This series is not over, it's just starting! It's just one game, with many to come. Just come back with focus and prove you are the better team.

[Capn'O]

Listen
It’s better to lose like this than tied 2-2 in a game 5
The Knicks just play better on the road
We will win game 2 and sneak another on the road

Right. We've gotta respect our opponent and all of that but it's not time to despair at all. It smells like bitch in here again and I don't like it. Long damn series. Nuggets took G1 from the Thunder in brutal fashion and Thunder won in 7. We can do this but it's gonna have to be the hard way. They're not massively better than us because they grabbed our souls one game. But these two teams are close and they're VERY well coached. And they went on a wild, wild heater that we've seen from our group this very playoffs. Keep pushing.

[The KnicksFix]

Listen
It’s better to lose like this than tied 2-2 in a game 5
The Knicks just play better on the road
We will win game 2 and sneak another on the road

Knicks do better on the road traditionally but Indiana is not a team you want to have to beat on the road. Their fans are some of the best in the league.

This team is built different. One game at a time. You take the next game and re focus again on Sunday

[K_ick_God]

I'm miserable. Should be riding a high going into game 2 right now.

Totally agree. It’s beyond words what transpired. But we can recover

I don’t think we can.

But that’s me.

But I’ve watched thousands upon thousands of games.

The playoffs is about momentum and confidence. We have neither after tonight.

Yeah and who wants to see them thoroughly win games and then give them back because they have no idea what they’re doing

That’s not title material … they know it, we know it, the opponent knows it, the world knows it … only maybe Thibs won’t even care about it lol, he’ll do the same damn thing next time!

Some mistakes you can’t recover from. This is not life and death but by analogy, if you run the wrong red light, you ain’t recovering

[Parraknick]

Listen
It’s better to lose like this than tied 2-2 in a game 5
The Knicks just play better on the road
We will win game 2 and sneak another on the road

Right. We've gotta respect our opponent and all of that but it's not time to despair at all. It smells like bitch in here again and I don't like it. Long damn series. Nuggets took G1 from the Thunder in brutal fashion and Thunder won in 7. We can do this but it's gonna have to be the hard way. They're not massively better than us because they grabbed our souls one game. But these two teams are close and they're VERY well coached. And they went on a wild, wild heater that we've seen from our group this very playoffs. Keep pushing.

Exactly, if we lose this series because of this loss then we never deserved to win in the first place

[CyKnickal]

A smart coach just tells players to switch on the screen when Nesmith made two in a row. OG’s reluctance to switch immediately was the problem. It isn’t deeper than that. Knicks escape with the win if they force Nesmith to miss.

Likely never even gets to that point if he doesnt have the two weakest defenders on the team out there at the same time for a situation that was screaming for a better defensive line up (i.e up 14 with 3:44 left)

Dude think about it. Most coaches in the league would put their star player back in. We routinely have closed games with Brunson and towns all post season long. Are they weak defensively? Sure. But you’re thinking lineups when the solution was much simpler than that. Just switch. OG let Nesmith take at least 3 wide open threes when he could’ve just switched. You stop Nesmith and the game is over.

Exactly. Crying about Brunson coming back in is pure hindsight theory. Nobody was complaining when he came in and did clutch player of the year things, that's probably what Thibs was counting on but Brunson got personal and ruined the flow for everybody, especially Kat who carried them while he was sitting.

But he's not Carmelo, if anybody harps on this tonight in bed, it's him. He's an intelligent player, self aware man, he knows these Pacers are on his dick, he's gonna use that against them and cook next game and I'm looking forward to double digit assists.

But these other dudes besides Kat have to hit some **** shots.

I'm labeled as his number one enemy, but you see why I hate this Josh pairing with Thibs. He has been stuck in the starting lineup since last year all because he was dropped in out of desperation and played well enough to make a home in Thibs heart. It's our number one issue and it's why it's so hard to watch these guys play. Just over this guy and his bull hustle, give me somebody with some skills...he's just an eyesore to watch...it's like watching an amateur LA Fitness guy out there trying to play with professionals.

He's the number one reason we suck at guarding threes. He never watches his man, always looking up for rebounds, and if you pay attention, he's the worse switcher on the team, always a step slow because he's not sure if he should do it or not. The pick and roll opponents run against him and Brunson is a killer, because he always leaves Brunson hanging with his indecisiveness.

I just don't understand the point of him being in the lineup with OG and Bridges in there. His defense is so overrated, and it doesn't cover for his terrible offense. Poor Kat has to rotate and his man is always jumping over the back of Hart for rebounds....again...what is the point of Josh in the starting lineup on this team???? This **** coach is still living in last season.

[Context]

get your feelings out ya'll. i'm not scared of these mfs. we got 4 wins to get

I think thats why we're so pissed. Because we know for those last 3 minutes the Knicks started to relax. Meanwhile Halifraud couldnt wait to throw
that choke sign up.

[K_ick_God]

Thibs also missed two challenges or didn’t have any left

I believe at least two, in addition to his other mistakes

Flat out incompetent …. Taking the score for granted … Not fit to run a popcorn stand

[Capn'O]

Right CyKnickal - that's something about Brunson. He grows and adapts through a series. I thought he played a great crappy game today. He made a lot of shots but didn't control pace and made some unforced errors late. He'll be looking at that tape and finding openings and _who_ was open.

[dakomish23]

I know some of you say it's just one game, but I've seen this movie before over the last 30+ years. Pacers OKC finals. To think otherwise is to ignore recent and old history

I’m not there yet. At least 144 mins of basketball to be played.

We’ll see what this team is made of

We saw what they were made of this game.

This is sports. Mental is just as important as the physical.

Our mental has never been lower. The Pacers mental has never been higher.

If we were the Pacers fans we would be talking about Pacers in 5. But we’re Knicks fans holding on to some fleeting hope history will be different for a team that has historically been on the wrong side of it.

This is 1-0. It was soul crushing in the moment but it doesn’t add more to the IND win column.

Like I said, we’ll see what this team is made of. Maybe you’re right. Or maybe they NYK wins by 50

[Context]

Listen
It’s better to lose like this than tied 2-2 in a game 5
The Knicks just play better on the road
We will win game 2 and sneak another on the road

Right. We've gotta respect our opponent and all of that but it's not time to despair at all. It smells like bitch in here again and I don't like it. Long damn series. Nuggets took G1 from the Thunder in brutal fashion and Thunder won in 7. We can do this but it's gonna have to be the hard way. They're not massively better than us because they grabbed our souls one game. But these two teams are close and they're VERY well coached. And they went on a wild, wild heater that we've seen from our group this very playoffs. Keep pushing.

I think most of us are not "scared" of Indy because of the loss Cap. It's that we knew that the Knicks took the 14 point lead with 3 minutes for granted.
Hart said this in the post game interview. We essentially threw a game away and I think thats the energy for the most part. I feel like my energy and time was wasted unnecessarily. It shouldn't have happened. AT this point they should know better. You did all of that work to throw it away with 3 minutes to go?!

[Context]

I’m not there yet. At least 144 mins of basketball to be played.

We’ll see what this team is made of

We saw what they were made of this game.

This is sports. Mental is just as important as the physical.

Our mental has never been lower. The Pacers mental has never been higher.

If we were the Pacers fans we would be talking about Pacers in 5. But we’re Knicks fans holding on to some fleeting hope history will be different for a team that has historically been on the wrong side of it.

This is 1-0. It was soul crushing in the moment but it doesn’t add more to the IND win column.

Like I said, we’ll see what this team is made of. Maybe you’re right. Or maybe they NYK wins by 50

thats my bottom-line. I want to see a performance in back to back games. Let Indy feel the consequences of that Hali choke symbol.

[Worst_to_First]

Listen
It’s better to lose like this than tied 2-2 in a game 5
The Knicks just play better on the road
We will win game 2 and sneak another on the road

Right. We've gotta respect our opponent and all of that but it's not time to despair at all. It smells like bitch in here again and I don't like it. Long damn series. Nuggets took G1 from the Thunder in brutal fashion and Thunder won in 7. We can do this but it's gonna have to be the hard way. They're not massively better than us because they grabbed our souls one game. But these two teams are close and they're VERY well coached. And they went on a wild, wild heater that we've seen from our group this very playoffs. Keep pushing.

I think most of us are not "scared" of Indy because of the loss Cap. It's that we knew that the Knicks took the 14 point lead with 3 minutes for granted.
Hart said this in the post game interview. We essentially threw a game away and I think thats the energy for the most part. I feel like my energy and time was wasted unnecessarily. It shouldn't have happened. AT this point they should know better. You did all of that work to throw it away with 3 minutes to go?!

This exactly.

I don’t wanna b*tch anymore about this one but the margin of error now moving forward is very slim. We cannot afford to give away games and we ended up doing just that. This is wasted energy especially with us having the shorter player rotation and the one that stands to be at a disadvantage if this series drags out.

We might end up surviving Indy but the wasted energy and wear and tear on our guys might spill over to the Finals.

[Capn'O]

I am very upset about the loss. Especially I was pulled out for an important call before the collapse happened and was expecting a win.

That being said, we just have to trust our captain JB when he said this is a mentally tough team. The only way we lose this is if the coaching staff prioritizes JB winning the ECF MVP over actually coaching smartly to beat a strong Pacers team.

This will be similar to the Bucks run in 2021. They threw Game 1 versus the Hawks but won the series in 6. They also dropped the first two games against the Suns before completing a back door sweep.

Thunder just last round is another example. Now they're rollin'.

That call was a blessing, lol.

[Capn'O]

Listen
It’s better to lose like this than tied 2-2 in a game 5
The Knicks just play better on the road
We will win game 2 and sneak another on the road

Right. We've gotta respect our opponent and all of that but it's not time to despair at all. It smells like bitch in here again and I don't like it. Long damn series. Nuggets took G1 from the Thunder in brutal fashion and Thunder won in 7. We can do this but it's gonna have to be the hard way. They're not massively better than us because they grabbed our souls one game. But these two teams are close and they're VERY well coached. And they went on a wild, wild heater that we've seen from our group this very playoffs. Keep pushing.

I think most of us are not "scared" of Indy because of the loss Cap. It's that we knew that the Knicks took the 14 point lead with 3 minutes for granted.
Hart said this in the post game interview. We essentially threw a game away and I think thats the energy for the most part. I feel like my energy and time was wasted unnecessarily. It shouldn't have happened. AT this point they should know better. You did all of that work to throw it away with 3 minutes to go?!

My issue is people are acting like the series is over now. It's still very young. This could be what takes us down or it could be a bump in the road.

Make no mistake, tonight was very disappointing. We were on our way to a path for an short series and that path is all but gone for us.

[gavran]

This was the **** series.

[Worst_to_First]

I am very upset about the loss. Especially I was pulled out for an important call before the collapse happened and was expecting a win.

That being said, we just have to trust our captain JB when he said this is a mentally tough team. The only way we lose this is if the coaching staff prioritizes JB winning the ECF MVP over actually coaching smartly to beat a strong Pacers team.

This will be similar to the Bucks run in 2021. They threw Game 1 versus the Hawks but won the series in 6. They also dropped the first two games against the Suns before completing a back door sweep.

Thunder just last round is another example. Now they're rollin'.

That call was a blessing, lol.

You beat me to it.

I think OKC lost like this against Denver in Game 1 but they were able to recover from it.

If we cannot do the same, then we don’t deserve to face them in the Finals (with all due respect to Minny who is far from out of it).