martin wrote:Too small of a sample size, play them together more!

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It might be safer to play these guys in second halves and to close games than it is to start halves. Something about these dudes that all have to “feel” their way into games. Mikal notoriously can’t hit a shot until he misses 4 or 5 and they just seem to crawl their way into rhythms. Brunson addressed this after last post game and said they can’t afford to feel their way into games in the playoffs and have to be ready at the opening tip. So I wouldn’t be shocked if this lineup starts producing better if you eliminate them starting halves.

Mitch was quiet but he really forces teams to adjust to him which is crazy for a guy that cant shoot, catch or pass. Pacers are having to play srubs like Bradley crucial minutes.

nycericanguy wrote:With Mitch reminding us how much of a beast he can be, Deuce, and now Wright... feels like we can really defend and have options.

Mitch was quiet but he really forces teams to adjust to him which is crazy for a guy that cant shoot, catch or pass. Pacers are having to play srubs like Bradley crucial minutes.

Someone made a good point where playing Mitch forces Indy to use a rotation spot on a goon and that disrupts their offense a little bit

DLeethal wrote:

nycericanguy wrote:With Mitch reminding us how much of a beast he can be, Deuce, and now Wright... feels like we can really defend and have options.

Mitch was quiet but he really forces teams to adjust to him which is crazy for a guy that cant shoot, catch or pass. Pacers are having to play srubs like Bradley crucial minutes.

Someone made a good point where playing Mitch forces Indy to use a rotation spot on a goon and that disrupts their offense a little bit

absolutely, love seeing BRadley come in, zero offensive game, just a big body to keep Mitch off the OReb. Would be like Pacers having a guy that forced us to bring in Sims in crucial minutes.

nycericanguy wrote:

DLeethal wrote:

nycericanguy wrote:

Dragon wrote:We won because we played the players who can defend, as simple as that. we can't outrun Indy on offense, but if we play defense then we can win games.

KAT definitely looked much better defensively with defenders around him. Deuce & Wright were huge and honestly Shamet defended his ass off too.

Might have to stagger the KAT/Brunson minutes a bit so they dont play too much together.

Because its crazy but we look better at times with Deuce out there.

Our wings are much bigger than Indiana’s. Hali, Nembhard, Nesmith are all very small and quick. Deuce has been the only guy who can keep up and fight over screens. So when you add Wright and Shamet we can actually hang with these guys on defense and in the speed / rotation department.

Wright is a keeper man. I hope he sticks next year even as just a depth piece.

Wright sold me last night, didnt look scared of the moment. just came in and hustled, defended, ran the team, and like Mitch is so great at, stayed completely within himself.

Mitch, OG, Mikal, Deuce, Wright... even Hart, this team is loaded with defenders we gotta stagger KAT & Brunson more.

The key to this team going forward might be a deeper rotation of defenders and less mins the starters and just more staggering in general. There are some killer combinations on this team but just overloading the 5 starters who don’t play well together isn’t it. Is Thibs the guy to run a deep rotation and ride the hot units on a nightly basis like Carlisle does even if it means sitting his top guns from night to night depending on flow?

ToddTT wrote:I think we could win a championship and I'd still be disgusted with this team.

Hey, new sentence!

This team is enigma personified. Nothing about this playoff run makes sense which is why we will win it all.

DLeethal wrote:

nycericanguy wrote:

DLeethal wrote:

nycericanguy wrote:

Dragon wrote:We won because we played the players who can defend, as simple as that. we can't outrun Indy on offense, but if we play defense then we can win games.

KAT definitely looked much better defensively with defenders around him. Deuce & Wright were huge and honestly Shamet defended his ass off too.

Might have to stagger the KAT/Brunson minutes a bit so they dont play too much together.

Because its crazy but we look better at times with Deuce out there.

Our wings are much bigger than Indiana’s. Hali, Nembhard, Nesmith are all very small and quick. Deuce has been the only guy who can keep up and fight over screens. So when you add Wright and Shamet we can actually hang with these guys on defense and in the speed / rotation department.

Wright is a keeper man. I hope he sticks next year even as just a depth piece.

Wright sold me last night, didnt look scared of the moment. just came in and hustled, defended, ran the team, and like Mitch is so great at, stayed completely within himself.

Mitch, OG, Mikal, Deuce, Wright... even Hart, this team is loaded with defenders we gotta stagger KAT & Brunson more.

The key to this team going forward might be a deeper rotation of defenders and less mins the starters and just more staggering in general. There are some killer combinations on this team but just overloading the 5 starters who don’t play well together isn’t it. Is Thibs the guy to run a deep rotation and ride the hot units on a nightly basis like Carlisle does even if it means sitting his top guns from night to night depending on flow?

not even sure its a deeper bench thing. Honestly just Wright over Payne and staggering Brunson and KAT more is enough. Shamet played well but he's prob just a spot minutes guy.

I didnt think we could defend at that level with KAT on the floor and the difference was no Brunson. Both is a bit much to overcome at times.

It's a wild move but KAT off the bench could make sense and let him dominate the opposing benches.

EwingsGlass wrote:

nycericanguy wrote:some of these wins have been the best wins ive seen in my lifetime. too bad g1 was also probably the worst L

Totally agree. Game 1 was awesome until it wasn’t. Then it was gut wrenching.

The DET series provided some insane moments as well.