PG: Knicks vs Indy: Game 1 ECF

[robillionaire]

To find a silver lining in the worst possible situation, we had the game won and it took a historic collapse and rim magnets for us to lose, and if we win game 2 we can tell ourselves we are the better team and really should be up 2-0 to regain some confidence to win one in Indiana. That’s all I got

[rajajackal]

i can't believe we let obi toppin specifically beat us

[robillionaire]

Also in overtime to me it looked like Brunson was clearly goaltended on when we were up 4 and it would have given us a 6 point lead and because they didn’t call it they got a 5 point swing on the other end

[HEZI]

After every loss it’s change the lineup, change the rotation and seek some quick fix that just isn’t there. But its always just as simple as the players have to be better and play better

That’s all it is. We had the game in the bag to win.

And gave it away. Mostly just mental mistakes and losing focus

[Strick]

To find a silver lining in the worst possible situation, we had the game won and it took a historic collapse and rim magnets for us to lose, and if we win game 2 we can tell ourselves we are the better team and really should be up 2-0 to regain some confidence to win one in Indiana. That’s all I got

Yep 100%

The only other spin zone I can think of would be maybe they needed to let one slip to see the other side of a comeback. We have made the right decisions down the stretch and have seen the outcome, now we know what can happen when you do the polar opposite of that.

[G_K_F]

Now we know how Boston fans felt after game 1 and game 2. The fact is we went up by 16 at one point in the 4th quarter so logic says we were the better team. But ya that's what Boston fans thought throughout the series as well. I still got Knicks in 6.

This is the reverse of the Boston series. The Pacers are now in our role from that series. I wouldn’t be surprised if- actually I’ll go as far as envisioning - to see another double digit lead in the 4th in game 2 dissipate and we lose the game to go down 2-0.

Some people seem to think that the Pacers - who have the best efficiency and scoring in the entire playoffs - are just going to go back to normal after this game. They don’t seem to think the Pacers are going to have supreme confidence after this win at home. If I’m the Pacers my belief is if I can win this game like they did yesterday then I can win any game against anyone. And half the playoffs is about confidence. The other half is about execution. The Pacers have done both these playoffs. They have played extremely well the entire playoffs, whether you want to say it was against injured teams or not. Their confidence is at an all-time high. Ours isn’t.

This is not just another game 1 loss. It’s a historical loss. Literally the first of its kind in the nature of which it happened. Acting like it’s some regular ass game 1 loss is absurd. It affects your psyche as a person, as a player. For them to come back and win the series they will have to be one of the most mentally tough teams of all time and I don’t see a team consisting of Towns, Bridges and others having that mental fortitude to do it. I hope I’m wrong but momentum is telling me otherwise.

[robillionaire]

Also wtf is going on with Brunson being in foul trouble in every game now lately when that’s very unlike him

[mpharris36]

how do you explain this?

[HEZI]

After every loss it’s change the lineup, change the rotation and seek some quick fix that just isn’t there. But its always just as simple as the players have to be better and play better

That’s all it is. We had the game in the bag to win.

It's even simpler - score more than the other team. We don't even have to play better. Just score more than the Pacers each game. Mr. Dolan, if you are reading this, please send me a couple of million for dispensing that sage advice.

We put up 135 points and only lost because of some mental errors like turnovers, missed free throws and a few bad defensive rotations.

Time to panic, fire the coach, change the rotation, implement a new strategy, sell the team, move the team to Seattle and all that other stuff

[3toheadmelo]

To find a silver lining in the worst possible situation, we had the game won and it took a historic collapse and rim magnets for us to lose, and if we win game 2 we can tell ourselves we are the better team and really should be up 2-0 to regain some confidence to win one in Indiana. That’s all I got

There was def some magnet sht on that hali buzzer beater. Craziest bounce I’ve ever seen

[Garbagelo]

If we are to assume that both the Cavs and Bucks were damaged goods.... we should beat the Pacers easily
But knowing this team has an issue with handling success, we have a penchant to give away games and get out to bad starts

Wouldn't be shocked to go 7 and lose even if we look like the superior team on paper

I posted this in the last game thread and got hate on for it

Welp now you see this point come to light in full fruition. Getting out to bad starts and giving away games are 2 sides of the same coin.

[ctorres]

We need to win this series cause we won’t hear the end of it with hali doing that choking celebration

We need to beat the brakes off of them tomorrow. Like seriously. Nothing less than a dominant effort from start to finish.

If we lock in defensively from tip off we can easily beat them by 20+. They are not even in the same league as us when it comes to talent.

I don't know man.

Nesmith and Nembhard are younger and might be on par with OG and Mikal. They were my biggest concern going into the series.

Deuce and Mitch may be as good as the Pacers' bench at least.

Still, if we found a way to beat Boston (even without Tatum), we should find a way to beat Indiana.

[captvict]

Too bad the Knicks had to give up Donte DiVencenzo in that trade....might have been the difference off the bench...

[robillionaire]

That’s all it is. We had the game in the bag to win.

It's even simpler - score more than the other team. We don't even have to play better. Just score more than the Pacers each game. Mr. Dolan, if you are reading this, please send me a couple of million for dispensing that sage advice.

We put up 135 points and only lost because of some mental errors like turnovers, missed free throws and a few bad defensive rotations.

Time to panic, fire the coach, change the rotation, implement a new strategy, sell the team, move the team to Seattle and all that other stuff

I’d understand overreacting to a loss this painful but it’s been the same song and dance any time we lose any game all year long. Game 3 and 5 against Boston. The pistons losses. Game 1 of the regular season. Etc. And they have always bounced back. We’re in the conference finals, at some point just accept the situation is what it is and let the team do what it’s gonna do

[ctorres]

Also wtf is going on with Brunson being in foul trouble in every game now lately when that’s very unlike him

Some of the fouls look very amateurish. You would think that by now, Jalen knows better.

He should be going into the 4th quarter with no more than 2 fouls.

[god shammgod]

not that it's gonna change or that even we should at this point, but the starting lineup hasn't worked since december. they started this game bad in the 1st and they were bad to end it too. that's worthy of talking about. it's something they're gonna have to address in the offseason. maybe for now they should just play them together a little less.

[B8RcDeMktfxC]

We need to beat the brakes off of them tomorrow. Like seriously. Nothing less than a dominant effort from start to finish.

If we lock in defensively from tip off we can easily beat them by 20+. They are not even in the same league as us when it comes to talent.

I don't know man.

Nesmith and Nembhard are younger and might be on par with OG and Mikal. They were my biggest concern going into the series.

Deuce and Mitch may be as good as the Pacers' bench at least.

Still, if we found a way to beat Boston (even without Tatum), we should find a way to beat Indiana.

Imo Boston find ways to lose.

[cgmw]

Also wtf is going on with Brunson being in foul trouble in every game now lately when that’s very unlike him

Some of the fouls look very amateurish. You would think that by now, Jalen knows better.

He should be going into the 4th quarter with no more than 2 fouls.

That one on MJ McConnell

[sol537]

not that it's gonna change or that even we should at this point, but the starting lineup hasn't worked since december. they started this game bad in the 1st and they were bad to end it too. that's worthy of talking about. it's something they're gonna have to address in the offseason. maybe for now they should just play them together a little less.

Or they could address it now like most sane coaches would haha

[dakomish23]

KAT was 11-17. Can't ignore him for long stretches just b/c we have a clutch closer. IND still moved the ball

yeah, I'm not sure when's the last time i saw this team run a play

Why don't we run more screen plays for Mikal, similar to what Golden State did for Klay?

Do we weven runs plays for MIkal or Kat?

Do we even run plays?

Brunson settled for foul hunting when we know the IND defense isn’t good enough to stop us when we run our offense. We were getting a crap ton of shots at the rim & WIDE open 3s. The ball’s going to be in his hands no matter what b/c he’s the floor general. But I need him to run the offense, even if it’s for him to get a look every time. Don’t settle for FTs