VDesai wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

NYStateOfMind wrote:For the ref to say anything after the block didn't matter is total BS. He was holding OG down by his jersey, so how did he even have a chance to get the rebound, how about a jump ball morons.

VDesai wrote:That challenge decision was wrong and the missed goaltend was huge

Come on man OG (Mr Butterfingers) bobbled the initial pass for an easy dunk —- no way we were getting that call especially after Siakim make clean initial block and OG fell to the floor like 5 year old girl.

.
Why did Brunson even pass it? You are up 5 with the clock on your side. Just hold the ball and make them foul you. I dont know why he gave him the ball

But there is arm contact and leg contact and he holds the jersey. To not hold up the foul or at least call a loose ball foul is crazy

Agree - Brunson was brutal with the ball last night - 7 TO's, completely dominating the ball, falling all over trying to dribble the ball across 1/2 court. YES - Brunson is our leader and he put up +40 but his play style when he completely dominates the ball and at the same time is sloppy as hell is a large issue. His D was an abomination as well - same for Kat outside of a few plays.

He shouldn't have passed = probably shouldn't have ever got that deep but OG come on man - how about OG break-away clanked layup like a 5th grader first learning what a layup is (WTF?).

I thought Siakim makes a legit clean block on the ball (1) and after that there was some incidental loose ball contact that we just were not going to get. Now if the teams were reversed sure the Pacers are at the line - NO DOUBT.

Philc1 wrote:Hart sucked tonight. Yes he got 13 rebounds but his shooting sucked tonight and his perimeter defense against the pacers is a liability. Mitch needs to play more. Play Deuce more with Brunson.

The endless barrage of 3’s at the end of the 4th qtr a lot of those were shot against Hart. His lack of length and lateral quickness got exposed

Been saying for a LONG TIME - Hart is an issue. He's a bigger issue defensively than offensively which is a big statement.

If he works hard he fouls or simply pushes up so hard he gets blown by. Off the ball he has little/no concept of ball/you/man - Nembhart practically strolled thru the park backdoor to beat Hart on a huge possession last night.

All the above said - we were up I think 16 when Thibs decides to bring Jalen/Mikal back around 5 minute mark - 5 minutes later we are going to overtime 16 points GONE. Jalen immediately came in and tried to win the game with him pounding the ball into submission.

Hart though - defensively - is a real issue.

LivingLegend wrote:

Philc1 wrote:Hart sucked tonight. Yes he got 13 rebounds but his shooting sucked tonight and his perimeter defense against the pacers is a liability. Mitch needs to play more. Play Deuce more with Brunson.

The endless barrage of 3’s at the end of the 4th qtr a lot of those were shot against Hart. His lack of length and lateral quickness got exposed

Been saying for a LONG TIME - Hart is an issue. He's a bigger issue defensively than offensively which is a big statement.

If he works hard he fouls or simply pushes up so hard he gets blown by. Off the ball he has little/no concept of ball/you/man - Nembhart practically strolled thru the park backdoor to beat Hart on a huge possession last night.

All the above said - we were up I think 16 when Thibs decides to bring Jalen/Mikal back around 5 minute mark - 5 minutes later we are going to overtime 16 points GONE. Jalen immediately came in and tried to win the game with him pounding the ball into submission.

Hart though - defensively - is a real issue.

44 minutes is too much for Hart. There’s no need to not start him or take him out of the rotation but 30 minutes per game in this series is more within reason. Give Deuce more time on the court - don’t just put him in when Brunson needs a breather play them together. Even Cam looked decent last night. I would also give Achiuwa some minutes at PF.

There has to be a limit Hart’s usage because right now he is being overused against a Pacers roster he doesn’t match up well with. He is not laterally quick enough to guard their wings and PGs and he is not long like OG or Mikal.

Hart will end up being the scapegoat of this entire series if Thibs insists on him continuing to play 42-48 minutes a night.

Chandler wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:Btw. There was a play that looked like a goal tend by Myles Turner followed by a pacers 3. I kind of lost track on what happened there. It was a weird moment at the game. Anybody know what happened with that?

There was no call and no challenges available even if there were.

Thibs using his only challenge early in game and LOSING IT is just AWFUL decision making by the head coach.

Keep your challenge even if it couldn't be used on goal tending call.

LivingLegend wrote:

Chandler wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:Btw. There was a play that looked like a goal tend by Myles Turner followed by a pacers 3. I kind of lost track on what happened there. It was a weird moment at the game. Anybody know what happened with that?

There was no call and no challenges available even if there were.

Thibs using his only challenge early in game and LOSING IT is just AWFUL decision making by the head coach.

Keep your challenge even if it couldn't be used on goal tending call.

I agree but that foul sent Brunson into foul trouble for the rest of the game. I don't think Thibs could have predicted how well the team would do with Brunson on the bench. But that foul essentially spiraled into a Brunson having to sit for over half the 4th quarter.

DLeethal wrote:I don’t want to give this game one more shred of thought. Just win the next one and keep it moving. Boston and Cleveland both failed to split after getting shell shocked in game 2. We must remain poised.

Well yes obviously we need game 2 beyond all doubt.

Win game 2 - split games 3/4 in Indy and come back to Garden for game 5 + home court in best 2 of 3.

That sounds great but we simply gave a historic lead away -- we literally could have just held the ball every possession for a 24 second violation and probably won by +6 points.

VDesai wrote:Also I question why we gave a quick foul on Nesmith after the KAT missed FT when OG was literally on top of him and would have had a great contest on that shot, but Nesmith's foot was also OOB on that play and not called.

Just an avalanche of things had to occur.

Said this in a prior post - I was yelling at the TV don't foul. Even if they knock down a 3 we are tied and have the ball with ~13 seconds left. When you stop the clock and give them points via FT with zero time elapsing it's just dumb - especially when your guys choke at the line.

I would say the above ALL the time I'm not a put the other team at the line guy.

But like you said - zero time off the clock OG in great position. Make them knock down another tough 3.

Philc1 wrote:

LivingLegend wrote:

Philc1 wrote:Hart sucked tonight. Yes he got 13 rebounds but his shooting sucked tonight and his perimeter defense against the pacers is a liability. Mitch needs to play more. Play Deuce more with Brunson.

The endless barrage of 3’s at the end of the 4th qtr a lot of those were shot against Hart. His lack of length and lateral quickness got exposed

Been saying for a LONG TIME - Hart is an issue. He's a bigger issue defensively than offensively which is a big statement.

If he works hard he fouls or simply pushes up so hard he gets blown by. Off the ball he has little/no concept of ball/you/man - Nembhart practically strolled thru the park backdoor to beat Hart on a huge possession last night.

All the above said - we were up I think 16 when Thibs decides to bring Jalen/Mikal back around 5 minute mark - 5 minutes later we are going to overtime 16 points GONE. Jalen immediately came in and tried to win the game with him pounding the ball into submission.

Hart though - defensively - is a real issue.

44 minutes is too much for Hart. There’s no need to not start him or take him out of the rotation but 30 minutes per game in this series is more within reason. Give Deuce more time on the court - don’t just put him in when Brunson needs a breather play them together. Even Cam looked decent last night. I would also give Achiuwa some minutes at PF.

There has to be a limit Hart’s usage because right now he is being overused against a Pacers roster he doesn’t match up well with. He is not laterally quick enough to guard their wings and PGs and he is not long like OG or Mikal.

Hart will end up being the scapegoat of this entire series if Thibs insists on him continuing to play 42-48 minutes a night.

Hart might actually improve defensively playing only 30 minutes BUT Thibs has shown zero desire to lower his minutes.

DLeethal wrote:

Panos wrote:Why is it that none of our non-primary scorers have HUGE historic games at opportune moments? Hell, when is the last time KAT had a monster game?

Brunson has had more than you can count lol

KAT had a monster game last night and also had insane clutch game winning buckets vs DET in game 3.

KAT has absolutely played to expectations . Has won me over. Just has to stay away from some of his dumb fouls.

EwingsGlass wrote:I don't think I will ever feel warm again.

Leaving this hear. Have it on replay. They only gonna analyze the last two minutes of overtime or of the 4th quarter also... hitting refresh til they post it. Complete sham job on the reffing but we left that 3 unprotected and didn't get bailed out by poor shooting.

https://official.nba.com/2024-25-nba-officiating-last-two-minute-reports/

question for rules gurus. DO you need time on the clock to be assessed a technical. For example what happens at half time if someone just punches another player in the face? Wouldn't that be a technical of some sort you can assess at the beginning of the second half?

if so, why wasn't Haliburton assessed a technical for taunting? as I mentioned elsewhere it would have been great if there was a fraction of a second left so we could shoot the technical and then time would expire and we'd win

but even if time expired, shouldn't there have been a T???