I'm not even being hyperbolic when I say that TJ McConnell over the last couple of weeks has been playing as well as any player in the NBA. This guy never gives up his dribble and never misses in the paint his floater or finishing. He made one of the best on ball defenders of PGs in the NBA look lost. Maybe some rim protection from OG or Mitch would have made a difference on his constant forays into the paint. I think that was the difference throughout the series - we just lacked that last rim protector and he broke down our defense every time he was on the floor.

But our team, down 5 of its top 8 players and with the remaining players left showed a lot of resolve. I think we'll win a lot more than 50 next year if we have some better fortune on health - at this point its hard to have worse fortune.

Nalod wrote:Pacers finished with 47 wins. We were at 50. We had injuries all season and they a team that had far fewer.
They should have had an easier time with Knicks on paper but they did not,
Real test is ECF's. They got lucky with Milwaukee and Knicks with injuries.

Deuce is still a great defender but they compensated and adjusted to negate his talents and take advantage of his height.

As for the "Minutes Police" I have already read about Thibs AGAIN wearing out his team. On the surface its kind f what happened. OG was having the game of his life but could not keep a pace and that injury was that of over use.
Josh? Yeah, maybe that abdominal thing was the result of too many minutes? Bogs? Mitch? and Randle was not.

Blame?

Here we go again, I blame the Pacers for having a healthier and deeper team. There best player "Halliburton" really got healthy and he played to his ability. Other than smiling and arguing every call which are both obnoxious he was not a dirty player. McConnell if he was a knick we'd love him! That little **** really worked his ass off. Refs did not call his pestering on Brunson but thats not on him.

7 games series and we ran out of gas. Fees like 1999 playoffs. Miami was our toughest opponent then had a pretty clear path to finals were we ran into the juggernaut that was Spurs. Hell of a team.

Very satisfying playoff run then. Very satisfying season was this!!!

Breen we know is a knick fan but I thought Doris and JJ Reddick wrapped it up very complementary at the end of the game. I thought Pacer players were graceful in their victory as was the knicks in defeat.

Saw fans were cheering on on exit "Knicks in 8, Knicks in 8"......LOL! Gotta love that.

Pacers were 9 deep with an elite bench and we were broken and it’s probably not stated enough that we had a historically grueling first round series while they skated past an injured MIL team. Our guys were not only forced to play huge mins they played an extremely physical and draining first round series as well. That series alone made the playoffs for me. I wanted to win game 7 to shut the Pacers up but realistically speaking we hit our wall and we were going any further anyway.

Nalod wrote:Pacers finished with 47 wins. We were at 50. We had injuries all season and they a team that had far fewer.
They should have had an easier time with Knicks on paper but they did not,
Real test is ECF's. They got lucky with Milwaukee and Knicks with injuries.

Deuce is still a great defender but they compensated and adjusted to negate his talents and take advantage of his height.

As for the "Minutes Police" I have already read about Thibs AGAIN wearing out his team. On the surface its kind f what happened. OG was having the game of his life but could not keep a pace and that injury was that of over use.
Josh? Yeah, maybe that abdominal thing was the result of too many minutes? Bogs? Mitch? and Randle was not.

Blame?

Here we go again, I blame the Pacers for having a healthier and deeper team. There best player "Halliburton" really got healthy and he played to his ability. Other than smiling and arguing every call which are both obnoxious he was not a dirty player. McConnell if he was a knick we'd love him! That little **** really worked his ass off. Refs did not call his pestering on Brunson but thats not on him.

7 games series and we ran out of gas. Fees like 1999 playoffs. Miami was our toughest opponent then had a pretty clear path to finals were we ran into the juggernaut that was Spurs. Hell of a team.

Very satisfying playoff run then. Very satisfying season was this!!!

Breen we know is a knick fan but I thought Doris and JJ Reddick wrapped it up very complementary at the end of the game. I thought Pacer players were graceful in their victory as was the knicks in defeat.

Saw fans were cheering on on exit "Knicks in 8, Knicks in 8"......LOL! Gotta love that.

Notice the sweatshirt.

Alpha1971 wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:I get that we were tired and short players but how did our defensive principals and defensive rotations just completely implode.

Deuce (who I love) was abused so badly I’m no longer sure he’s a defender.

You smoking crack about Deuce or what ? He will be better next year and if the team is healthy his impact will be even better next year.

His reputation is as a great on ball defender.

In these playoffs he had some really nice offensive moments and big games/shots.

He can’t run an offense AT ALL and he is small defensively- again his #1 attribute is an ability to stay in front of ball handlers.

In the playoffs he was destroyed by Maxey and against Indy not only McConnell killed him but he was primary defender past few games on Haliburton and Hali killed him over and over.

He looked dumb, overmatched and simply did not take away any strengths from the players I noted.

Chandler wrote:i'll say it again, luck shot and horrible officiating at the end of game 3.

pacers are more lucky than good

nalod is being nalod -- which frankly is another way of being dolan

we lost more than they won. that's it. We just need to learn from this and have this motivate us.

I know, poor us and the big bad mean refs!
Yes, you do need luck. Did knicks get any luck? Any calls our way? or its all one sided and its us vs the world?
"We just need to learn from this and have this motivate us."
We? really dude, you thing this team needs motivation? Like they going to not train, work on their craft, heal, etc?
This team ran thru walls for its coach and fans, and for professional pride! Eventually they hit one they could not get thru.
You have your opinions, I have mine.
Nalod is being Nalod. Yep.

Alpha1971 wrote:I like Obi and hope he does well against Boston.

Nah - he’s a weak ass.

Panos wrote:

Nalod wrote:Pacers finished with 47 wins. We were at 50. We had injuries all season and they a team that had far fewer.
They should have had an easier time with Knicks on paper but they did not,
Real test is ECF's. They got lucky with Milwaukee and Knicks with injuries.

Deuce is still a great defender but they compensated and adjusted to negate his talents and take advantage of his height.

As for the "Minutes Police" I have already read about Thibs AGAIN wearing out his team. On the surface its kind f what happened. OG was having the game of his life but could not keep a pace and that injury was that of over use.
Josh? Yeah, maybe that abdominal thing was the result of too many minutes? Bogs? Mitch? and Randle was not.

Blame?

Here we go again, I blame the Pacers for having a healthier and deeper team. There best player "Halliburton" really got healthy and he played to his ability. Other than smiling and arguing every call which are both obnoxious he was not a dirty player. McConnell if he was a knick we'd love him! That little **** really worked his ass off. Refs did not call his pestering on Brunson but thats not on him.

7 games series and we ran out of gas. Fees like 1999 playoffs. Miami was our toughest opponent then had a pretty clear path to finals were we ran into the juggernaut that was Spurs. Hell of a team.

Very satisfying playoff run then. Very satisfying season was this!!!

Breen we know is a knick fan but I thought Doris and JJ Reddick wrapped it up very complementary at the end of the game. I thought Pacer players were graceful in their victory as was the knicks in defeat.

Saw fans were cheering on on exit "Knicks in 8, Knicks in 8"......LOL! Gotta love that.

Notice the sweatshirt.

yes. First off you do understand the fans are yelling at Reggie Miller and both are talking **** back in the day. So its not Like reggie or other "villians" are just going off. Knick fans are arrogant and protect the "Mecca" thing. Players more times than not wilt in the spot light but others embrace and enjoy the banter.

Reggie wanted to be knick. We signed Allan Houstan instead.
Does this look like hate?
https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/40109257

Sure players get on our nerves. Trae Young? I always want my team to win but when a player it getting **** from our fans and rises up and above it I think its great "theatre". Too bad you don't get it as its really quite fun. Why should I take it personally?

Fans chanted "**** reggie". did he look bent out of shape? Of course not, its part of his legend! It was a great rivalry and I cussed him when he put up the choke sign.
But.......
Fact is we did choke back in the day? Yep. Fact is in that moment he killed us.
Fake as tough guy does not create legend. Guys that deliver do. Spike and others were talking **** and he killed it.
So what did Haliburton do that so awful? smile? Act the fool?
If knicks win then he looks stupid. The sweat shirt post game? If they lost would he wear it?
Knick fans in Philly were obnoxious. Josh Hart was a bit arrogant. He was their villain. We won, he was our cool dude.
Haliburton game Six and Seven lead his team to wins. They won in MSG. You think he was "Disrespectful?" To whom?
I was watching how they acted after the game on the court when they were congratulating each other. That was professionalism.
Fans will be fans. Indy fans are obnoxious, so are many knick fans.
Nalod being Nalod does not take it as a sign of disrespect. The NBA is an entertainment business.
I respect what INdy did. I don't diminish them like a child to "luck" or blame the refs. We were down many players and pushed them.
I agree we at full strength we beat them quickly. But we did not, and still they needed Seven games.

LivingLegend wrote:

Alpha1971 wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:I get that we were tired and short players but how did our defensive principals and defensive rotations just completely implode.

Deuce (who I love) was abused so badly I’m no longer sure he’s a defender.

You smoking crack about Deuce or what ? He will be better next year and if the team is healthy his impact will be even better next year.

His reputation is as a great on ball defender.

In these playoffs he had some really nice offensive moments and big games/shots.

He can’t run an offense AT ALL and he is small defensively- again his #1 attribute is an ability to stay in front of ball handlers.

In the playoffs he was destroyed by Maxey and against Indy not only McConnell killed him but he was primary defender past few games on Haliburton and Hali killed him over and over.

He looked dumb, overmatched and simply did not take away any strengths from the players I noted.

For me, when there is a breakdown in personal - especially in the front court - the lack of defensive capabilities trickle down to the guards.

Also, it's pretty much like his first real playoffs. Ever.

Feel like he may have some room to grow here. Probably.

Indiana literally one of the best offenses out there too.