EwingsGlass wrote:1) OG was awesome. Hope the hammy is ok.
2) iHart with another iconic block to seal the deal.
3) Josh Hart is my kind of *******. He made Siakam his bitch.
4) Precious needs more playoff reps. I don’t get the criticisms. Maybe too many fouls but man he plays with effort. Respect.
5) Deuce needs some more minutes. He isn’t getting comfortable quickly and it’s showing up in his offensive decisions. It’s hard to take the Nova guys off the court but I think Deuce can deliver with a little more time.
6) Donte is a game changer when he gets hot.
7) Brunson is getting pushed and pulled all night without major complaint. Clutch leader in the playoffs. 4th quarter points leader. Boss.

Good point. Precious does better with more minutes? Seems he starts cold then gets the rhythm and the flow right. Just a fan observation.

Chandler, You might be right, If he was warned AND DDV sold it the ref was did what refs do.
I don't get annoyed by announcers anymore because they get **** wrong all the time. Even Clyde but he is family so who cares.
I hated Reggie back in the day but come to soften on him as I see his whole career win perspective, not just his villainous antics in the garden.
The "Malice in the Palace" documentary made me a bit sympathetic as he had stayed in indy and that year was it for them. His last chance to win. He had a brilliant career and that event just derailed them.

Also its been written that if Allan Houston does not sign as a 25 year old free agent from Detroit that the knick were ready to sign Reggie. Reggie wanted to play in NY. Instead he pledged his love for indy and the rest is what it is. But he wanted to be a knick and live in NYC.

VDesai wrote:Deuce is struggling vs McConnell defensively and thats why I think he cant get into games with his shooting. We need to give that a different look. See if Donte or Hart can take McConnell and put Deuce on Nembhard or Hali or Sheppard. Its wild to see him struggle on D since that is his calling card, but his chances are limited on offense if he cant help defensively

His first real playoff experience. Must be biting on all the subtle fakes. TJ has come to play

I expect Deuce to have a big game soon. He is ready for this

Swishfm3 wrote:I thought Brunson "injury" was a nut shot and they were just calling it foot soreness because they didn't want to say he got punched on the balls.

For those that watched the Pelican/Laker game when Zion hurt his hamstring, this looked very similar. I'm hoping that it may just have been muscle spasms...maybe from dehydration? Anything other than that, I wouldn't expect OG back this series.

I did think similar but he kept playing. Usually a nut shot puts you out then you ok. I think something happened and they X-rayed or would not be surprised if they have an MRI in the building and ran the foot thru it. Jalen ankles and feet have him hobbling here and there and if something just elevated they can't risk ruining him. Just my take.

The Zion play was kind of similar that both were playing great. OG was doing it on both ends. He is no Josh Hart. Few are.
Hammy tears can be nasty. Bad ones require surgery and where it happens matters. Used to kill careers if way high and near the hip. I had one like that it took months to get me back on the tennis court and I felt it for two years after. Like the Doc said, what degree the strain is and where it is matters. OG had stepped up and was having an great game on both ends!!!

Chandler wrote:

VDesai wrote:Can we talk about how good Donte has been this series - especially 2nd half of games. Philly I think schemed to take him away from his spots. As a result Josh had to hit shots (which he did). Indy doesnt seem to play with as much focus defensively and Josh has been able to draw attention with his drives. Donte has found spots and the right elbow and in the corner where he is pretty fire. Great efforts in these 2 games and usually his shooting isnt quite as good at home.

Past few seasons i did not trust julius or rj would hit their shots

Now i totally expect donte, Jalen, og’s shot to fall, and if the game is tight i add josh to that list who hit another clutch 3 yesterday

These guys have had moments and in the playoffs its noted. Good point.
Randle has had some nice clutch shots were he carries the team. What I saw in January was Randle was moving the ball much faster. They were just getting the "feel" for each other. OG in the corner was more predictable then RJ. DDV vs Grimes outside shooting really opened it up. If Jules was feeling it he too was deadly from the 3.

Josh last year really shot it well and this year its been less consistent over the longer sample. He had some open looks yesterday but passed it out. When the clock is down he takes it. He is clutch, so we have some "moments" to relish.
DDV had it going and he knew to feed him.

At the same time Precious who used to shoot the 3 in Toronto was left alone a few times and he did not even think it.

Chandler wrote:

VDesai wrote:Deuce is struggling vs McConnell defensively and thats why I think he cant get into games with his shooting. We need to give that a different look. See if Donte or Hart can take McConnell and put Deuce on Nembhard or Hali or Sheppard. Its wild to see him struggle on D since that is his calling card, but his chances are limited on offense if he cant help defensively

His first real playoff experience. Must be biting on all the subtle fakes. TJ has come to play

I expect Deuce to have a big game soon. He is ready for this

Looked like TJ was yapping to someone in the crowd at some point. Two dudes were kind of laughing and two honey's in front of them were enjoying it. I think TJ might have been putting them in their place and they were cool with it? I could not see his face but no security was involved and the dudes were not animated or appear to be dumbasses.

fishmike wrote:

VDesai wrote:Pacers have to be demoralized in a game where they shoot 55 pct, Brunson misses a quarter, OG misses a quarter, Hali scores 30, Obi scores 20, they are up 10 at the half and lose.

Tell me how this team does it. They are incredible.

great post... it's really hard to respect the Pacers. Just zero killer instinct. Look at how tough the Knicks were on the road in Phili (I know their homecourt is trash). You just see none of that from the Pacers.

I REALLY want to win this series. I think somehow making the ECF with what's left of this squad is a great season. We have learned so much. Brunson a true 1a and closer. Josh and Donte are legit big game players. OG is a phucking menace... We have a friendly roster, extra pics and only 1 guy (IHart) in danger of not coming back.

I see us reloading w/ Randle and maybe a high end bench guy if they go a different direction w/ Bogs (I did like how he was looking and his expiring is worth keeping around). Looking more and more like we have a bigtime squad brewing here

I think you gotta roll it back, because what piece fits better than Randle. A more mobile 4 who can stretch the floor and guard multiple positions defensively? I mean who is that person?

Randle gives the team another look. If the rest of the group wears you out, he beats you up. He is Brandon Jacobs. But he is underrated as a shot creator both for himself and others and he is a beast on the defensive glass.

I love Bogs off the bench because he can give you shooting and scoring on nights when others don't have it. I think he was starting to understand the scheme defensively. He is playoff tested and has been an 18-20 pt scorer on contenders. He is a real piece.

We have 2 drafts picks and Rokas. Keep Hartenstein and draft a replacement for Precious if there is no way to re-sign him.

VDesai wrote:

fishmike wrote:

VDesai wrote:Pacers have to be demoralized in a game where they shoot 55 pct, Brunson misses a quarter, OG misses a quarter, Hali scores 30, Obi scores 20, they are up 10 at the half and lose.

Tell me how this team does it. They are incredible.

great post... it's really hard to respect the Pacers. Just zero killer instinct. Look at how tough the Knicks were on the road in Phili (I know their homecourt is trash). You just see none of that from the Pacers.

I REALLY want to win this series. I think somehow making the ECF with what's left of this squad is a great season. We have learned so much. Brunson a true 1a and closer. Josh and Donte are legit big game players. OG is a phucking menace... We have a friendly roster, extra pics and only 1 guy (IHart) in danger of not coming back.

I see us reloading w/ Randle and maybe a high end bench guy if they go a different direction w/ Bogs (I did like how he was looking and his expiring is worth keeping around). Looking more and more like we have a bigtime squad brewing here

I think you gotta roll it back, because what piece fits better than Randle. A more mobile 4 who can stretch the floor and guard multiple positions defensively? I mean who is that person?

Randle gives the team another look. If the rest of the group wears you out, he beats you up. He is Brandon Jacobs. But he is underrated as a shot creator both for himself and others and he is a beast on the defensive glass.

I love Bogs off the bench because he can give you shooting and scoring on nights when others don't have it. I think he was starting to understand the scheme defensively. He is playoff tested and has been an 18-20 pt scorer on contenders. He is a real piece.

We have 2 drafts picks and Rokas. Keep Hartenstein and draft a replacement for Precious if there is no way to re-sign him.

I think if we didn't have the 14-1 stretch with Randle healthy there would be more doubt, but we showed we have another level to play with him and that the pieces all fit brilliantly with him in tow. I'm glad we got that stretch of play because if not, I think everyone would be talking about us being better without him.

DLeethal wrote:

VDesai wrote:

fishmike wrote:

VDesai wrote:Pacers have to be demoralized in a game where they shoot 55 pct, Brunson misses a quarter, OG misses a quarter, Hali scores 30, Obi scores 20, they are up 10 at the half and lose.

Tell me how this team does it. They are incredible.

great post... it's really hard to respect the Pacers. Just zero killer instinct. Look at how tough the Knicks were on the road in Phili (I know their homecourt is trash). You just see none of that from the Pacers.

I REALLY want to win this series. I think somehow making the ECF with what's left of this squad is a great season. We have learned so much. Brunson a true 1a and closer. Josh and Donte are legit big game players. OG is a phucking menace... We have a friendly roster, extra pics and only 1 guy (IHart) in danger of not coming back.

I see us reloading w/ Randle and maybe a high end bench guy if they go a different direction w/ Bogs (I did like how he was looking and his expiring is worth keeping around). Looking more and more like we have a bigtime squad brewing here

I think you gotta roll it back, because what piece fits better than Randle. A more mobile 4 who can stretch the floor and guard multiple positions defensively? I mean who is that person?

Randle gives the team another look. If the rest of the group wears you out, he beats you up. He is Brandon Jacobs. But he is underrated as a shot creator both for himself and others and he is a beast on the defensive glass.

I love Bogs off the bench because he can give you shooting and scoring on nights when others don't have it. I think he was starting to understand the scheme defensively. He is playoff tested and has been an 18-20 pt scorer on contenders. He is a real piece.

We have 2 drafts picks and Rokas. Keep Hartenstein and draft a replacement for Precious if there is no way to re-sign him.

I think if we didn't have the 14-1 stretch with Randle healthy there would be more doubt, but we showed we have another level to play with him and that the pieces all fit brilliantly with him in tow. I'm glad we got that stretch of play because if not, I think everyone would be talking about us being better without him.