NBA: *** 2024 NBA thread ***
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Compare these players in this series.
Player A:
13.3 points
4.3 rebounds
2.7 blocks
1.7 assists
43%FG
29%3pt (14 attempts)
80%FT
Player B:
13.7 points
7.3 rebounds
0.7 blocks
1.0 assists
40%FG
10%3pt (10 attempts)
92%FT
I think this is a huge reason why Pacers are ahead 2-1 in spite of people thinking they are massive astronomical underdogs who cannot possibly win a game. The media thinks one of these players far better than the other one.
Player A:
13.3 points
4.3 rebounds
2.7 blocks
1.7 assists
43%FG
29%3pt (14 attempts)
80%FT
Player B:
13.7 points
7.3 rebounds
0.7 blocks
1.0 assists
40%FG
10%3pt (10 attempts)
92%FT
I think this is a huge reason why Pacers are ahead 2-1 in spite of people thinking they are massive astronomical underdogs who cannot possibly win a game. The media thinks one of these players far better than the other one.
He made some big baskets at rim in game one and three with no whistle.
I was thinking OKC looked more exhausted at the end than rattled. The perfect example was when Toppin hammered home the tip dunk and 3 OKC players were literally standing in the lane looking up at him.
Because ESPN wants to shove them down your throat so you’ll watch their other crappy content on the network.
I’m guilty of this too. I wanted McConnell and Toppin out of the game at the start of the 4th.
And pretty much immediately after I posted both made huge plays with the inbounds steal and score and the putback dunk. McConnell was +12 and Toppin was +18 on the night. So there’s a reason I’m not a basketball coach
They were tired for sure. They’ve shortened their rotation and playing key guys heavier minutes than they did all season or thus far in the postseason and it might be showing. How they look Friday with just one day off could be very telling.
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Haliburton sitting for large stretches in the middle parts of games is probably why he has the energy to be as clutch as he is at the end of games.
Game 4 should be an absolute war. OKC has their backs against the wall. They know if they lose this game, it's pretty much all but over, so they are going to be incredibly motivated.
On the other hand, the Pacers have to view this next game as if it were game 7 because if the Pacers allow OKC to get a split, then I think it's likely OKC will win the series.
On the other hand, the Pacers have to view this next game as if it were game 7 because if the Pacers allow OKC to get a split, then I think it's likely OKC will win the series.
The EXACT point of the game I thought so too. I had a post that Toppin reminds me of Marion because of how many different things he was doing and was outworking a tired OKC.
Is there a way to disable ESPN app notifications that involve Stephen A? I follow Tyrese on there but every notification is a video of that bozo throwing shade.
The Thunder are built to be a great regular season team. They blitz teams with their 'physicality',intensity, and speed. Having a one-off game in January is a lot different than seeing the same team for 2 weeks straight. I think we're seeing the Pacers get comfortable and settled in. The Thunder are going to need to find some new answers, because 'playing harder' isn’t getting it done.
The bench has been the difference in the series. OKC 'plays 10,' but really only 7 play real minutes with 4 playing at or near 40, whereas Indy has 9 guys playing over 15 and no one over 36. In every game OKC has gassed hard in the 4Q. They can't play with the same level of intensity all game and Indy trusts their bench to be able to weather the storm and keep it close.
I'm especially optimistic because Indy is due to have a hot shooting game. I'm not sure OKC is mature enough to stay in the fight if Indy can land a haymaker in game 4.
The bench has been the difference in the series. OKC 'plays 10,' but really only 7 play real minutes with 4 playing at or near 40, whereas Indy has 9 guys playing over 15 and no one over 36. In every game OKC has gassed hard in the 4Q. They can't play with the same level of intensity all game and Indy trusts their bench to be able to weather the storm and keep it close.
I'm especially optimistic because Indy is due to have a hot shooting game. I'm not sure OKC is mature enough to stay in the fight if Indy can land a haymaker in game 4.
It's funny listening to the comparison of these two benches.
A lot of people will say they are both among the best in NBA which is probably true. I don't doubt OKC has the hardest playing bench in the league defensively...but can the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th or 11th guy on OKC's bench come in and torch you offensively? Indy's entire system is built around the idea they share the ball so much that every guy on the team can explode on any night. Anybody who watched Indy the past two years just shrugged their shoulders that Mathurin had 27 off the bench and McConnell had 5 steals, it's not really out of the ordinary.
I think the idea of comparing benches/depth and comparing intensity is more of a coin flip than people think. OKC brings absurd defensive pressure that slowly dissipates over the course of the game, Indy brings absurd offensive pressure that slowly builds greater as the game goes on.
If anything I'd say Indy has better depth and OKC's legit MVP level player is what makes the series pretty even.
Shai is the only one around 40mpg and they still are playing their 10, but that minutes distribution has changed and is problematic for them particularly, in the backcourt. Wiggins and Joe played ~45mpg combined in the regular season and that has slowly worked down to ~20mpg in the finals. Those minutes are being picked up by Shai playing 40mpg, Dort playing 32+ and Caruso playing ~30mpg vs. 20mpg in the regular season.
Now it's the finals... you want your best players on the floor no doubt. That said, they play with such defensive intenstiy on the premiter that it's no wonder they are getting worn down without giving Shai/Dort/Caruso more rest.
This one is really in the weeds, but Wiggins/Joe were also two of OKC's most available players all year from a games played perspective. One, or both, of those guys was on the court for 68.3% of OKC's minutes in the regular season. That's dropped to 44.4% of the time in the playoffs. So you're talking about a lot of minutes for other line-up combinations that didnt play together as much during their great regular season.
Just interesting stuff about minutes/lineup management, which is where Rick Carlisle is a BIG advantage on the Pacers' side against Daigneault.
