PG: Knicks vs Indy: Game 1 ECF

[NYKat]

9 points with 54 secs left. If you just force them to shoot freethrows or 2s, it's damn near impossible for them to complete the comeback.

Why after seeing 3 after 3, the coach doesn't say hey put them on the line and run the clock out????? They were down to 1 timeout. Terrible game management despite the mistakes and missed free throws.

That’s Monday morning quarterbacking, to be fair, nobody could predict he would hit 5 straight threes in two minutes.

[Stannis]

Some hopium

[K_ick_God]

Oh and just for the record, we had a 4 point OT lead when JB decides to streak in for a layup off a fast break that he doesn't need to do and that is an unusual finish for him

Add it to the list

[K_ick_God]

Some hopium

I think that's the wrong year no? We lost that series I think

[NiceLikeChrist]

all the doom and gloom will be over when we win game 2 by 15. and then it'll all become laughing at the pacers blowing their load early when we win game 3 in indy

[Stannis]

Some hopium

I think that's the wrong year no? We lost that series I think

I believe it did happen in 1994 when the Knicks won the series and went to the finals:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1994-nba-eastern-conference-finals-pacers-vs-knicks.html

Knicks did lose the 1995 semi ECF though:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1995-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-pacers-vs-knicks.html

[Chanel Bomber]

A lot went wrong last night. I'm mad about a lot of things.

But I think the most egregious part was how we took shots early in the shotclock in the last 2-3 minutes when all we needed to do was to run out the clock (and defend the 3-point line but that's harder to control) to protect the lead.

The Pacers didn't have enough time to mount a comeback unless we shortened the time of the possessions. Worse, we traded 2s for 3s, which only swung the odds further in their favor.

KAT's layup with 40 seconds left in the game was a terrible mistake. Brunson also didn't manage the game well at all in the final minutes.

There was also some exceptional shot making on their side, it was really a perfect storm.

Again, one of my big picture concerns is that the Pacers are just a smarter basketball team.

[cgmw]

A lot went wrong last night. I'm mad about a lot of things.

But I think the most egregious part was how we took shots early in the shotclock in the last 2-3 minutes when all we needed to do was to run out the clock (and defend the 3-point line but that's harder to control) to protect the lead.

The Pacers didn't have enough time to mount a comeback unless we shortened the time of the possessions. Worse, we traded 2s for 3s, which only swung the odds further in their favor.

KAT's layup with 40 seconds left in the game was a terrible mistake. Brunson also didn't manage the game well at all in the final minutes.

There was also some exceptional shot making on their side, it was really a perfect storm.

Again, one of my big picture concerns is that the Pacers are just a smarter basketball team.

I’ll give you Carlisle smarter than Thibs, sure. But the Pacers aren’t smart — they just have one speed: GO!

The fact that we tried to match that speed instead of playing defense, rebounding, and slowing down half court possessions — now that’s a problem. The rebounding differential in particular needs to be way higher.

[Deeeez Knicks]

Oh and just for the record, we had a 4 point OT lead when JB decides to streak in for a layup off a fast break that he doesn't need to do and that is an unusual finish for him

Add it to the list

That was a goal tend. Refs missed a bunch of calls both ways but that one really swung things

[Stannis]

I still want to see KAT be more aggressive and we have the offense run through him more.

I thought OT should have been his time. Brunson was on 5 fouls and was gassed. I thought KAT had the hot hand. And he made some key plays like using his length to prevent the backcourt violations when the team was choking on inbounds

[whocares1]

Oh and just for the record, we had a 4 point OT lead when JB decides to streak in for a layup off a fast break that he doesn't need to do and that is an unusual finish for him

Add it to the list

Why wouldn’t he need to score lol. It was a goaltend too. Just confused with this logic.

[HEZI]

You specifically said “they were too comfortable to almost being bored”.

It’s not “my” fatigue claim lol it’s professional NBA players claim.

When has it been proven wrong?

Just because they win doesn’t mean it’s not a thing. That’s spoken like someone who clearly doesn’t get it.

Comfortable, kicked back, relaxed, let the foot off the gas. Whatever phrase you want to use but don’t ignore the point. There were no signs of fatigue and even then it took Indiana making ridiculous shots just to tie.

If you care about professional athletes opinions then the only ones who’s opinion really matters is the guys who actually played the game and none of them are saying they were tired but they do admit they got complacent. On to the next one

Yea you right. Should’ve known that a guy on the internet who’s never competed in the sport knows more than NBA legends who’ve been here before and won multiple rings or the guys on our team like KAT who’s complained about being exhausted during the season or Mikal who’s complained about too many minutes being tough on the body, or previous Thibs players who’ve said similar things like Jimmy Butler. That’s my bad

You are so bad at this

[Capn'O]

A lot went wrong last night. I'm mad about a lot of things.

But I think the most egregious part was how we took shots early in the shotclock in the last 2-3 minutes when all we needed to do was to run out the clock (and defend the 3-point line but that's harder to control) to protect the lead.

The Pacers didn't have enough time to mount a comeback unless we shortened the time of the possessions. Worse, we traded 2s for 3s, which only swung the odds further in their favor.

KAT's layup with 40 seconds left in the game was a terrible mistake. Brunson also didn't manage the game well at all in the final minutes.

There was also some exceptional shot making on their side, it was really a perfect storm.

Again, one of my big picture concerns is that the Pacers are just a smarter basketball team.

They goad you into playing their frenetic pace. We need to play smarter, not harder.

[gavran]

Oh and just for the record, we had a 4 point OT lead when JB decides to streak in for a layup off a fast break that he doesn't need to do and that is an unusual finish for him

Add it to the list

Was thst the same play the Knicks were up 6, but then the refs decided to steal 2 points, that led to a 3 on the other end? Are we at the point where we blame the player for making the shot?

[whocares1]

I still want to see KAT be more aggressive and we have the offense run through him more.

I thought OT should have been his time. Brunson was on 5 fouls and was gassed. I thought KAT had the hot hand. And he made some key plays like using his length to prevent the backcourt violations when the team was choking on inbounds

At that point in the game you’re not running plays for bigs. I know people think this is only a Thibs thing but the issue is that any teams down big is trying to force turnovers. Knicks need ball handlers late in that game. Someone besides Brunson that will come get the ball and dribble out shot-clocks. Having only one handler that can dribble in traffic makes it far too easy to trap him.

[Buttah304]

A lot went wrong last night. I'm mad about a lot of things.

But I think the most egregious part was how we took shots early in the shotclock in the last 2-3 minutes when all we needed to do was to run out the clock (and defend the 3-point line but that's harder to control) to protect the lead.

The Pacers didn't have enough time to mount a comeback unless we shortened the time of the possessions. Worse, we traded 2s for 3s, which only swung the odds further in their favor.

KAT's layup with 40 seconds left in the game was a terrible mistake. Brunson also didn't manage the game well at all in the final minutes.

There was also some exceptional shot making on their side, it was really a perfect storm.

Again, one of my big picture concerns is that the Pacers are just a smarter basketball team.

I wouldn’t say they are a smarter basketball team. What I truly feel is that they are better at staying true to themselves. No matter what they will stick to their core principles: Screens from Turner for Tyrese, some slipping for 3s, Siakam mid range game, some nice back door cutting, getting out in transition and getting into their offensive sets very quickly off live-ball misses. Now does that mean they are smarter? I guess it’s possible because it does speak to maximizing your potential as a team, and as we’ve seen from the Knicks our play style waxes and wanes. Are they shooting threes or not, do we have a balanced offense or not, are we getting out in transition or playing like we’re stuck in the mud, are we consistently switching or are we letting old habits creep back in. Sometimes it also feels like we lose focus and dont execute on the margins. Maybe they does speak to being smarter, or at the end of the day we’re just a little flawed in areas you don’t want to be. I will tell you this, I am extremely eager to see what version of the Knicks shows up tomorrow night. A win is not only on the table, but a statement W is possible to give these Pacers something to dwell on during their flight back home.

[MrDollarBills]

9 points with 54 secs left. If you just force them to shoot freethrows or 2s, it's damn near impossible for them to complete the comeback.

Why after seeing 3 after 3, the coach doesn't say hey put them on the line and run the clock out????? They were down to 1 timeout. Terrible game management despite the mistakes and missed free throws.

That’s Monday morning quarterbacking, to be fair, nobody could predict he would hit 5 straight threes in two minutes.

A 43% 3 point shooter getting wide open looks in the NBA is going to convert. He's been shooting like nearly 48% in the playoffs headed into last night.

Leaving him open is an absolute failure on all avenues.

[j4remi]

Oh and just for the record, we had a 4 point OT lead when JB decides to streak in for a layup off a fast break that he doesn't need to do and that is an unusual finish for him

Add it to the list

The replay showed it was a clear goaltend. Brunson's shot hit the backboard before Turner hit it. Then Indy hit a three in the transition that came from the block. So it was a five-point swing on that one play. Knicks shoulda been up 6 and Indiana hadn't scored yet (I'm guessing they'd have called timeout). Instead, Indiana trailed by one and took all the momentum from there.

[rajajackal]

The one valid reason I can see for OG going at KAT during that timeout is if the players had been instructed to milk the clock on offense.

KAT had just scored a layup with 17 seconds left on the shotclock - a terrible decision knowing that the Pacers needed more time to achieve their comeback. Within 4 seconds we lost a point as Nesmith scored a 3 (in contrast to KAT's 2) on the following possession, with OG completely blowing the coverage.

Realistically, OG was awful on defense in the last minute, and blew a wide-open layup earlier in the 4th. And he completely fell asleep on that 3 by Nesmith, he had no business being so far deep in the paint. So he was the last person to have a go at a teammate for their defense in the ensuing timeout.

The reason I suspect it may have been about offense was that Brunson also got involved. But frankly he was also terrible in the final minutes of the game, on both ends of the court.

Two concerns for me:
- The group's togetherness is being tested.
- The Pacers just look like the smarter basketball team with Carlisle and Haliburton.

i hate this mf haliburton but down the stretch before every possession on either side he huddled up his guys and led them. credit to that, we could use some on-court leadership

[K_ick_God]

Oh and just for the record, we had a 4 point OT lead when JB decides to streak in for a layup off a fast break that he doesn't need to do and that is an unusual finish for him

Add it to the list

Was thst the same play the Knicks were up 6, but then the refs decided to steal 2 points, that led to a 3 on the other end? Are we at the point where we blame the player for making the shot?

That's fair. I missed that part. Still going for quicker scores when you're up late is something we did on several occasions and it killed us.