Pacers Can’t Rely on Miraculous Comebacks to Win NBA Finals
The Indiana Pacers can no longer depend on dramatic comebacks to carry them through the NBA Finals. They need to start games stronger and finish them even better.
After a missed opportunity to take Game 1, Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault expressed how the Pacers’ style is tough to prepare for, especially since the teams don’t face off frequently due to the Pacers being in the Eastern Conference. Following their Game 2 loss, which ended in a 123-107 Thunder victory, the Pacers have left questions about their overall consistency.
“Another bad first half,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said after the loss. “It was a big problem. We just played poorly. A little bit better in the second half, but you can’t be a team that’s reactive and expect success or consistency.”
The Pacers have relied heavily on their ability to mount comebacks, but that strategy is not sustainable, especially in the high-stakes environment of the playoffs. Against the Thunder, they trailed by as much as 23 points, and while their resilience has been commendable, Carlisle knows this cannot be the formula for a championship run.
“We’re going to have to be a lot better on Wednesday,” Carlisle added.
So far in the series, the Pacers have led for just 1 minute and 53 seconds out of the 96 minutes played, and their largest lead has been just three points. Constantly playing from behind is draining, and against a team like the Thunder, it’s even more challenging.
The Thunder’s physicality was evident again in Game 2. They dominated the paint for the second consecutive game, and they effectively neutralized Tyrese Haliburton, limiting him to just 17 points, 12 of which came in garbage time during the fourth quarter when Oklahoma City had a comfortable lead.
As for how the Pacers handled the Thunder’s physical style, Carlisle was blunt: “Not well.”
The Thunder’s defense, the best in the league, has consistently stifled opponents, including during their wins against Denver and Minnesota in the playoffs. Carlisle acknowledged that the Pacers struggled to get the ball into the paint against the Thunder’s defensive scheme, which focuses on keeping opponents away from the rim.
Haliburton also addressed the difficulty of attacking Oklahoma City’s defense. “Our offense is built from the inside-out, and we have to do a better job getting downhill,” he said. “They collapse and make plays from there. They’ve got great point-of-attack defenders and rim protectors. We can improve a lot there.”
Carlisle, however, wasn’t quick to point to Haliburton’s performance as the issue. “There’s a lot more to the game than just scoring,” he said. “People shouldn’t judge him or any of our guys based only on points and assists. Our team is an ecosystem that has to function together.”
As the series heads to Indianapolis for Game 3, Pacers forward Pascal Siakam emphasized that the team must shift focus. “We’re not happy with how the game went today,” he said. “We’ve just got to turn the page and focus on Game 3.”
While the Pacers may have stolen home-court advantage with their Game 1 victory, the series could just as easily be 2-0 in favor of the Thunder. Carlisle likened a playoff series to a book, with each game representing a different chapter, and the Pacers need to find a way to improve if they want to avoid an early end to their championship dreams.
“If we don’t start the next chapter better, the book is going to close quickly on our title hopes,” Carlisle said.
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