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Game Thread: ECF Game 4 @ Pacers 8PM TNT
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SergioNYK
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5/27/2025  8:15 AM

AUTOADVERT
SergioNYK
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5/27/2025  8:20 AM
Hoping we get good zebras tonight but I doubt it. But we still need to follow the blueprint of game three and feature KAT! Hicks have no answer for him although I expect Carlisle to try something or someone new. JB needs to stay out of foul trouble and get the team going early. I'm curious to see if Thibs goes back to Shamet and Wright. I'm still a little surprised we haven't seen Precious.

We are ROAD WARRIORS and have proven we play better away from home. This game will very likely come down to the final five minutes as the previous three games so it's all about executing and being clutch.

I think we go back to MSG all tied up 2-2!
VDesai
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5/27/2025  9:07 AM
Bridges has a terrible +/- this series. The start of quarters has been tough. Bridges shooting has been brutal in the beginning of games. If he can start out hitting a few corner 3's, making those mid rangers, it would be a major boost.

I hate to say it, because I hate his game (think he fouls four times on every possession), but Nesmith playing or not is a tipping point. Mathurin, for whatever reason, has been absolutely horrible, and Nesmith has murdered us. If that's the lineup swap today, that could make a huge difference. I think Carlisle actually is more likely to play Shephard over Mathurin. He trusts Shephard more defensively.

I do think Wright probably gets the minutes over Payne now. Does Shamet get to crack the lineup again? I think he held up reasonably well on defense and he offers some shooting that we've been lacking all playoffs. Mikal and OG have been playing 40+ every game, it may be crucial to keep them fresh.

The biggest difference has been McBride. A confident, healthy McBride offers scoring punch and in your face defense. Having a 2nd ballhandler in the game to stop the press is also a key to keeping the Pacers from dictating the game.

Pacers were horrible in the halfcourt in Game 3. They didn't shoot well from 3, but the Knicks were able to force fewer attempts. When the Pacers were playing slower the Knicks were able to get back in the game. They did murder us in transition...we have to take care of the ball.

When KAT gets defensive rebounds we can impose our will on the game. He was terrific on the glass for much of the beginning of the year, but his impact faded in the 2nd half and playoffs...last game in addition to scoring he was gobbling up every rebound for a stretch of the 4th.
MaTT4281
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5/27/2025  9:08 AM
Just like Sunday, we're playing another game 7 tonight.

More of this please.

VDesai
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5/27/2025  9:11 AM    LAST EDITED: 5/27/2025  9:11 AM
Jalen Brunson "Foul Trouble" is literally a concept that has only existed in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Teams are obviously hunting Brunson even more defensively, but the refs are clearly emphasizing making calls on him for whatever reason. Jalen averaged 2.1 fouls per game this season and is averaging 3.5 fouls per game in the playoffs. That's a wild delta and COMPLETELY out of context for his whole career. A full 67% more fouls than he was called for during the season.
VDesai
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5/27/2025  9:19 AM
The handsy stuff that Brunson gets called for and Nesmith doesn't get called for is an incredible contrast. Clearly there is an emphasis point here. We just need to be aware of what's happening and deal...
MaTT4281
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5/27/2025  9:29 AM
Super sub.
Chandler
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5/27/2025  9:30 AM
VDesai wrote:Bridges has a terrible +/- this series. The start of quarters has been tough. Bridges shooting has been brutal in the beginning of games. If he can start out hitting a few corner 3's, making those mid rangers, it would be a major boost.

I hate to say it, because I hate his game (think he fouls four times on every possession), but Nesmith playing or not is a tipping point. Mathurin, for whatever reason, has been absolutely horrible, and Nesmith has murdered us. If that's the lineup swap today, that could make a huge difference. I think Carlisle actually is more likely to play Shephard over Mathurin. He trusts Shephard more defensively.

I do think Wright probably gets the minutes over Payne now. Does Shamet get to crack the lineup again? I think he held up reasonably well on defense and he offers some shooting that we've been lacking all playoffs. Mikal and OG have been playing 40+ every game, it may be crucial to keep them fresh.

The biggest difference has been McBride. A confident, healthy McBride offers scoring punch and in your face defense. Having a 2nd ballhandler in the game to stop the press is also a key to keeping the Pacers from dictating the game.

Pacers were horrible in the halfcourt in Game 3. They didn't shoot well from 3, but the Knicks were able to force fewer attempts. When the Pacers were playing slower the Knicks were able to get back in the game. They did murder us in transition...we have to take care of the ball.

When KAT gets defensive rebounds we can impose our will on the game. He was terrific on the glass for much of the beginning of the year, but his impact faded in the 2nd half and playoffs...last game in addition to scoring he was gobbling up every rebound for a stretch of the 4th.

I agree w a lot of this. Even if nesmith plays one has to imagine he’s not 100%. Pisses me off that they call KAT for hip checks on screens and hart for lower body contact and nesmith does that continuously up the court w Brunson for the whole world to see and no calls. He does move his feet and deserves credit for that but he fouls too

I think thibs should play shamed and who knows even precious to give Carlisle something to think about I say this fully aware of precious being inconsistent and prone to sulk. Last year he played well against the same guys

(5)(7)
Chandler
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5/27/2025  9:31 AM
MaTT4281 wrote:Just like Sunday, we're playing another game 7 tonight.

More of this please.

This should eventually be a sweatshirt

(5)(7)
VDesai
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5/27/2025  9:36 AM
I can't decide whether Precious is playable in this series. Indiana forces you to make quick decisions with the ball. Precious is completely unpredictable offensively. I think his switchability and rebounding could help, but you don't get a reliable performance from him (a little bit like C. Payne). A guy like Wright or even Shamet are basically gonna give you a a consistent effort and are generally gonna stick to what they know they can do offensively.
Chandler
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5/27/2025  9:39 AM
VDesai wrote:The handsy stuff that Brunson gets called for and Nesmith doesn't get called for is an incredible contrast. Clearly there is an emphasis point here. We just need to be aware of what's happening and deal...

Honest question. Do we need to switch w the pacers. Of course we did w the celts because if Tatum or brown had a fraction of a second advantage they’d shoot. But that doesn’t seem to be the pacers way.

Why can’t we just have KAT and Brunson play man (ie whoever is easiest for them)

IMO the best way for us to control pace is w the pressure on glass created by double bigs. Pacers have to hang back more and fight. Of course hitting shots is ideal because it’s tough to run on made baskets. But our rebounding advantage is more,reliably present than our shooting and it may force pacers to go bigger and slower.

(5)(7)
LivingLegend
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5/27/2025  9:41 AM
VDesai wrote:I can't decide whether Precious is playable in this series. Indiana forces you to make quick decisions with the ball. Precious is completely unpredictable offensively. I think his switchability and rebounding could help, but you don't get a reliable performance from him (a little bit like C. Payne). A guy like Wright or even Shamet are basically gonna give you a a consistent effort and are generally gonna stick to what they know they can do offensively.

I like the thought of starting Precious rather than Mitch or Hart -- see if we can hold water and steal maybe 5 minutes at beginning of each half but still keep Mitch coming off bench and also break-up our normal starting line-up with the horrible +/- all playoffs.

We will probably stick to same starting unit -- need to keep Pascal limited (Kat actually was guarding him to start last game and held up).
Chandler
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5/27/2025  9:43 AM
MaTT4281 wrote:Super sub.

If he really wants to break teams he needs to hit open shots and force teams to guard him. He’s had a couple of,those games recently but has looked tight against the pacers

(5)(7)
LivingLegend
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5/27/2025  9:44 AM
It's going to be crazy and ugly but somehow hopefully we bring our best defensive effort and get at least a semi awful game from refs.

Somewhere we need Mikal to wake up with a big game -- someone other than Kat/Jalen.

Mitch needs to get back to domination - feel like he dropped off in games 2/3.
LivingLegend
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5/27/2025  9:44 AM
Oh and cut down on the unforced TOs - Jalen has been super sloppy and Kat with 6 TOs last game.

Take care of the rock boys.
LivingLegend
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5/27/2025  9:47 AM
VDesai wrote:Jalen Brunson "Foul Trouble" is literally a concept that has only existed in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Teams are obviously hunting Brunson even more defensively, but the refs are clearly emphasizing making calls on him for whatever reason. Jalen averaged 2.1 fouls per game this season and is averaging 3.5 fouls per game in the playoffs. That's a wild delta and COMPLETELY out of context for his whole career. A full 67% more fouls than he was called for during the season.

Some truth here but also uncharacteristically Brunson has just committed some blatant/dumb fouls that have made things worse.

Needs to get his head right - share the ball, get off the ball more and just defend smart with understanding whistle will be tight.
Chandler
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5/27/2025  9:47 AM
VDesai wrote:I can't decide whether Precious is playable in this series. Indiana forces you to make quick decisions with the ball. Precious is completely unpredictable offensively. I think his switchability and rebounding could help, but you don't get a reliable performance from him (a little bit like C. Payne). A guy like Wright or even Shamet are basically gonna give you a a consistent effort and are generally gonna stick to what they know they can do offensively.

I have the same concerns. On the positive side he has played the pacers well. And if siakam starts to go off on OG we can’t just sit there and watch until he has 23 at the half or whatever.

Sounds corny but I think it’s one of those things where a coach needs to look in his eyes and see if he’s ready or scared

(5)(7)
DLeethal
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5/27/2025  9:48 AM
Nesmith is the ultimate wild card. He guards Brunson better than some all NBA defenders. Brunson owns everyone else on their team. Pacers were bad this year until Nesmith returned from an early season injury. He’s a massive part of this matchup. Even if he plays if he’s a step slower that’s a big boon for us.
DLeethal
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5/27/2025  9:50 AM
I don’t really see a need for Precious. I think playing the smaller reserves is more important. IMO our wings have been too big to match up with Hali, McConnell, Nesmith, Nembhard. That’s why Deuce has been so critical. Add Wright and Shamet and we can actually match these guys on defense and in speed rotation. No need for Precious unless we’re in foul trouble. KAT can actually guard Siakam well. KATs one on one defense is not the problem.
Chandler
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5/27/2025  9:52 AM
LivingLegend wrote:
VDesai wrote:I can't decide whether Precious is playable in this series. Indiana forces you to make quick decisions with the ball. Precious is completely unpredictable offensively. I think his switchability and rebounding could help, but you don't get a reliable performance from him (a little bit like C. Payne). A guy like Wright or even Shamet are basically gonna give you a a consistent effort and are generally gonna stick to what they know they can do offensively.

I like the thought of starting Precious rather than Mitch or Hart -- see if we can hold water and steal maybe 5 minutes at beginning of each half but still keep Mitch coming off bench and also break-up our normal starting line-up with the horrible +/- all playoffs.

We will probably stick to same starting unit -- need to keep Pascal limited (Kat actually was guarding him to start last game and held up).

I think it’s key to play pascal w size. He’s smart and uses his length to his advantage. I agree KAT played him well

I thought they would put Mitch on pascal since pascal went off the prior game. So I was watching the KAT pascal matchup frequently

(5)(7)
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Game Thread: ECF Game 4 @ Pacers 8PM TNT
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