NBA Thread

[ACamp1900]

Been trying that with the wife since ‘16. She just must not be as big of an animal rights activist as I am…

 

[Irish#1]

Haliburton is certifiably HIM. I don’t know how he keeps doing this but it’s mind blowing. Team of destiny shit.

I'm beginning to think maybe they are.

Holy cow, what just happened? Thunder's D in the first half was off the charts creating 19 first half turnovers. Pacers had more turnovers than buckets made. Haliburton was clutch again, but IMO, this win goes to the Pacers D for keeping the game from getting out of reach. I suspect OKC will come out breathing fire in Game 2. I think they only lost back to back games once or twice this year.

 

[Irish#1]

Weird, our wives must be close friends and compare notes

Pretty sure all wives do. How else do you explain the same traits and similarities?! lol

 

[Katzenboyer]

I said it during last year's ECF - Carlisle coached circles around Mazzula, but the Cs won that series because they simply had the overwhelming talent advantage (especially after Halliburton went down).

Last night was an absolute clinic by RC. Bravo to him and this Pacers team; they're really easy to like and I'm hoping they're able to finish the job.

 

[GoldenAura]

 

[Irish#1]

 

[GoldenAura]

Pacers are just two wins away from glory.

 

[rikkitikki08]

The thunder were gassed at the end of game 3, frankly the pacers have been doing this to teams since January. Still 2 games away. Pacers have a chance to break them on Friday

 

[Irish#1]

Long way to go, but this win was huge. If OKC had won, it’s over IMO. Entire team stepped up

 

[MacIrish75]

It was pretty cool seeing all those former Pacers in the house and Reggie sitting courtside.

 

[rikkitikki08]

It was pretty cool seeing all those former Pacers in the house and Reggie sitting courtside.

And wearing a mark jackson jersey. You just have to love Reggie

 

[Irish#1]

It was pretty cool seeing all those former Pacers in the house and Reggie sitting courtside.

You know what was even more cool? Reggie sitting next to the Big O. Oscar does not make many public appearances. To see him come to a Pacers game was shocking.

 

[Irish#1]

Teams that win game 3 go one to win the title 80% of the time according to Dan Patrick. Because of OKC's talent, I'm still skeptical, but if the Pacers can find a way to grab game 4 as well, I'll feel better.

 

[NDRock]

Teams that win game 3 go one to win the title 80% of the time according to Dan Patrick. Because of OKC's talent, I'm still skeptical, but if the Pacers can find a way to grab game 4 as well, I'll feel better.

Great win. Still feels like OKC is the better team if both play their A game. Looks like this thing is going at least 6. Hope the Pacers can pull it off.

 

[Irish#1]

Great win. Still feels like OKC is the better team if both play their A game. Looks like this thing is going at least 6. Hope the Pacers can pull it off.

I would agree with that, but the whole idea is to defend the team so they don't play their A game, right? Except for a few backdoors by OKC, I think the Pacers defended really well last night. They also wore down OKC. It showed in their missed shots and FT's in the 4th. OKC will be ready tomorrow. I'm curious to see if a day in between games is enough for them to recover. They're a young team, so one would think so.

 

[RDU Irish]

And wearing a mark jackson jersey. You just have to love Reggie

I thought I saw Reggie lining his kids up for a pic with Haliburton after the game. Pretty sweet to see a legend fanboying like that.

+260 was too juicy for the home team win - wish I threw more at it. Not like the came in down 0-2.

 

[ab2cmiller]

My mind went to thinking about Slick Leonard and wishing he would still be around to see this. I saw where his wife Nancy was in attendance earlier at one of the playoff games. Together they saved the Pacers.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Pacers are just two wins away from glory.

I checked the math. This is correct.

Forget all the ratings and small market garbage. This is good hoop we're getting.

 

[pumpdog20]

Life long Bulls fan, but cheering hard for the Pacers.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Can't count the Pacers out, but the spread has jumped a couple of points with Haliburton being hurt.

I have to suspect he's going to play and gut it out. The sense of urgency for both sides should make Game Six fun to watch.

 

[gregm83]

Need more minds:
Hali should not play. Calf strains and achilles injuries are very high- 35% increase following calf tightness or strain in NBA players 2013-2020

My buddies are all like he should play in any compacity. He was a negative on the court Monday. Certainly could be worse Thursday. No way he is going to play.

 

[Irish#1]

I'm not sure if he should play or sit. Either way I'm not sure the Pacers can pull it out. Game 4 was the key IMO. Still pulling for them, but it won't be easy. Particularly every time SGA pushes off and gets the foul called. Always puzzled me why refs will call a push off if the player uses their hand, but of they use their forearm it's not called. Either way it's a push off.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Need more minds:
Hali should not play. Calf strains and achilles injuries are very high- 35% increase following calf tightness or strain in NBA players 2013-2020

My buddies are all like he should play in any compacity. He was a negative on the court Monday. Certainly could be worse Thursday. No way he is going to play.

Agree with everything. Unfortunately I don't agree with the last sentence. He will play. He probably shouldn't.

Haliburton will feel pressure to play, even if he knows that it could hurt the team.
Carlisle will feel pressure to play him, even if he knows it could hurt the team. If the face of the franchise says he can play, he will play,

Haliburton had a difficult enough time at the beginning of the series trying to create space, it now will be virtually non-existent. Defense is a whole other concern.

 

[Irish#1]

Agree with everything. Unfortunately I don't agree with the last sentence. He will play. He probably shouldn't.

Haliburton will feel pressure to play, even if he knows that it could hurt the team.
Carlisle will feel pressure to play him, even if he knows it could hurt the team. If the face of the franchise says he can play, he will play,

Haliburton had a difficult enough time at the beginning of the series trying to create space, it now will be virtually non-existent. Defense is a whole other concern.

Carlisle doesn't strike me as the type to feel pressure to play him. My thought is a more likely scenario is he will let Haliburton start, but pull him quickly if he sees he's more of a liability. Wil he replace Hali with TJ or Shepard and let Nemhard run point?

 

[Irish#1]

 

[Irish#1]

Start of the game going 0-8 had me worried, but they responded. Pacers have been playing good defense, but they took a page out of OKC's playbook and stepped it up with the trapping and double-teams. Thunder have responded all year and during the playoffs. Pacers will have to replicate G6 to win it.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

If you don't know, now you know.

These Pacers are a resilient bunch.

 

[gregm83]

never stop never stopping

 

[Irishokie]

Indiana’s defense looked like OKC’s defense last night. Y’all caught fire from 3 after the slow start

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Indiana’s defense looked like OKC’s defense last night. Y’all caught fire from 3 after the slow start

Yes.

I am told that no defense has been played in the NBA this millennium, however, so last night was a groundbreaking night for the league. I think they have a future.