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INDIANAPOLIS— First credit accomplishments, then identify shortcomings, and finally, work swiftly to amend the situation.
This encapsulated the Indiana Pacers’ approach as they analyzed the reasons behind their lost lead against the Knicks in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Having established a 2-0 series lead by defeating New York in both of their previous games, the Pacers appeared well on their way to a sweep when they surged to a 55-35 advantage late in the second quarter on Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Emulating their nickname and the Indy 500 event that had taken place earlier that day, they played with speed, shot effectively, and kept the Knicks on the back foot.
However, with their substantial lead, things shifted. Indiana slowed their pace, focusing on exploiting favorable matchups instead of attacking broadly on offense. They almost mirrored the frazzled demeanor of their opponents.
“There have been times when we’ve walked the ball up the court as if we were the Knicks,” remarked Indiana center Myles Turner on Monday while the team reviewed video ahead of Tuesday’s Game 4 (8 p.m. ET, TNT).
“We failed to maintain our speed. We built our reputation by being a fast-paced team, and we didn’t execute that plan.”
Turner noted they weren’t even “getting the ball inbounds quickly enough.”
New York’s 106-100 comeback victory was propelled by their strategic plays and moments when they disrupted the Pacers’ flow. This is a team that has rallied from 20-point deficits in three of their last nine games, all on the road.
Karl-Anthony Towns had an incredible fourth quarter, scoring 20 of his 24 points during that period, effectively matching Indiana’s entire output alone. Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ dynamic player, faced foul trouble; this trade-off inadvertently worked in New York’s favor.
Meanwhile, Josh Hart, who relinquished his starting position to Mitchell Robinson in coach Tom Thibodeau’s quest for an energized start, performed admirably late in the game. The versatile Hart, at 6-foot-4, didn’t attempt a shot in the fourth but hustled tirelessly, earning a plus-16 rating over those 12 minutes.
The Pacers relinquished their 20-point advantage gradually in Game 3 as the Knicks took the game, narrowing the series to 2-1.
Nonetheless, New York’s efforts would have been insufficient without some help from the Pacers, manifesting at inopportune moments.
Contrary to their displays of composure and resilience against the Bucks and Cavaliers earlier in the playoffs, the Pacers faltered on Sunday. They became stagnant and self-defeating when it mattered most—during the closing moments of quarters.
Coaches everywhere, including Indiana’s Rick Carlisle, emphasize the importance of maintaining focus at the start and end of periods, especially halves.
“It’s all about execution,” Carlisle stated. “We need to grasp the situations. If it’s a 2-for-1 shot clock chance, we must time it right and execute better. We need to respond appropriately to whatever the situation demands.”
He added: “Our aggression must improve. We need a faster tempo. Our defense and rebounding need to be more effective.”
It’s a tendency, as Pacers guard T.J. McConnell acknowledged, for teams to try to preserve a large lead instead of continuing the strategies that built it. Players begin to play conservatively, looking to exploit individual matchups. Playing at a higher speed can begin to feel reckless, even when it aligns with Indiana’s ethos.
“Our strongest asset is our speed and depth, and our capacity to sustain energy,” McConnell noted. “I don’t think we took advantage of that. When you have a lead like that, a sense of ‘comfort’ can set in. We must avoid that.”
Aaron Nesmith, a vital player in the Pacers’ series lead, sustained an ankle sprain late in Game 3, casting doubt on his availability.
In the modern NBA, there’s an ingrained tendency for teams struggling from three-point range to keep shooting. Despite ranking ninth in accuracy throughout the season, the Pacers managed only three successful shots from beyond the arc on 13 attempts in the first half.
Should this have prompted their players to focus on attacking the basket for fouls and to pressure the defense for easier shots? Not quite; the Pacers launched 12 more three-pointers in the second half, converting merely two.
“For me personally, that never crosses my mind,” Turner remarked, referring to shooting three-pointers in the closing minutes when a two-pointer could’ve tied the game. “If I see a good shot, I’m taking it. I encourage my teammates to do the same.”
By all means, continue shooting; just hope for a different outcome.
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Steve Aschburner has been covering the NBA since 1980. You can contact him via email, explore his archive, and follow him on social media.
The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
