Prokorov wrote:This was an awesome win and super enjoyable game. We did it in all phases... offense, defense, transition, rebounding, threes, finishing, and communicating on all of those pick and rolls (we barely switched them). we withstood their runs and pulled away and held the lead. just great all around vs. a playoff team coming in playing well. my thoughts...
1) Joe Harris obviously found his shot, but I though his defense was unreal... and not like "good for joe" but good for anyone. he can switched on Trae multiple times, held his own, forced turnovers, deflected/blocked a shot and really helped on the glass in a few contested situations. Usually we want Joe to just hang in on D, but he was a huge boost defensively today.
2) All that talk from ESPN that Harden needed to score tonight...no... just... NO espn. 1st half atlanta was double teaming him out near mid court trying to get it out of his hands early. he made the high IQ play to push to one side and swing it back... that got Joe and blake a ton of open threes on "hockey assists". Blake was kinda cold but joe was on tonight and alot of those threes was harden taking the smart patient play of the hocket assist there. second half they switched on him and he cooked with the step back three and getting in the lane and then kicking out to shooters. i thought harden played perfet based on how atlanta defended him.
3) The effort on the glass was playoff level. you can tell someone has been in their ear and they responded as a team. props to Nash for sure. I also wonder if vets like milsap and aldridge were harping on this too. id assume their presence helps there not just on the floor.
4) I LOVE that we are utilizing 4 to 8 minute streches 1 or 2 times a game of MULTIPLE dog defenders. The Carter/Bembry/Brown lineup infuses energy. We went 1-7 to start that quarter but add 2 points to our lead because those guys created havoc and got stops and to the line.Bembry and carter both got deflections/steals as soon as they got in. Brown was great all night, helped keep Trae young quiet. I said it in the offseason, these guys will help big time. we have stoppers now, even if they are low minute role guys. last year this game is close. last year maybe we lose the pacers game. these guys help grind it out. help us maintain leads and prevent bad teams from coming hanging with us.
5) Patty Mills was big late. 2 threes to keep it at 14-16 points when they started to hit some shots and try and come back. Another huge addition.
6) uniforms and court are hot fire
7) Maybe some more good news on the Horizon as eric adams stated he is going to revisit the vaccine mandate on January first. he already spoke about being optmistic Kyrie will play. im fair certain he is going to change it so athletes can play with 2 negative tests.
things are looking up.
I'm glad that I wasn't the only one who noticed how hard Joe was competing on defense. This was by far one of the best games I've ever seen Joe play on both ends. Someone got in his ear
And God yes. The attention to the defensive boards was top tier.
You have to put Mills in with the Bembry/Brown/Carter dog unit. Patty competes hard on both ends. Hard hat, lunch pail, and boots.
It may be idealistic of me, but I can't help but think that those uniforms also gave the team some extra umph. They looked awesome out there
Please consider donating blood:
https://www.nybc.org/2025-2026 Indiana Pacers C: J. Valanciunas /T. Bryant
PF: K. Kuzma /J. Robinson-Earl
SF: T. Evbuomwan /J. Howard
SG: T. Hardaway Jr. /V. Williams Jr.
PG: C. Payne /G.Vincent
