Pacers put the pressure on OKC, force Game 7 by dialing back their press

Indiana is one win away from an NBA Championship

By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper

Turns out, the series isn't over until it's actually over. For a team that somehow picked up a reputation as frontrunners, the Pacers have been incomparably elite at finding ways to find a way, whether pulling off late-game miracle comebacks or, in the case of Game 6, amassing an unexpected 31-point lead in order to force an all-important Game 7. And yet, in turning up the figurative pressure on OKC, the Pacers did so by dialing back their very literal press, recording their lowest average pick-up point of the Finals (and second-lowest of this playoff run), as they more often waited for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to bring the ball to them before homing in on him in the half-court with full-bodied help and a higher frequency of double teams (33.3 percent) than through the first five games of the series (24.2 percent).

Given that Tyrese Haliburton only played out of nine picks as the pick-and-roll ball-handler, marking a postseason low while pushing through a calf strain and not even needing to play in the fourth quarter, the adjustments made at the defensive end were also likely made with consideration for the offense, better preserving Andrew Nembhard to defend the league MVP while also taking on more initiation reps than what was the case at the end of Game 5. Of course, with the Pacers also making the "adjustment" for OKC to go ice-cold from three, any efforts to keep their rotation of point guards on ice for the stretch run never exactly needed to manifest as a result of the all the, well, front-running.

Joining me to discuss the many tweaks that the Pacers made to keep their season alive, as well as the quirks of Haliburton's game that allowed him to still be effective even while limited, is once again Samson Folk.

Here are the relevant timestamps:

0:00 - Introductions

3:17 - How the counterculture of Tyrese Haliburton's playstyle allowed him to counter for his own limitations

11:46 - Making the "play better" and "OKC misses a bunch of shots" adjustments (seriously though, the execution defensively was much better)

19:02 - In light of Haliburton's injury and the fourth-quarter turnover spree from the backcourt in G5, tapering back the full-court pressure and ratcheting up the half-court pressure + Andrew Nembhard shadowing the ball after switching

27:34 - Dueling metaphors comparing pressure to mosquitoes and itchy sweaters

30:54 - Pascal Siakam taking on defensive possessions against Jalen Williams w/ Nesmith guarding Chet Holmgren + the potential for whichever of Holmgren or Turner breaks out to swing the series

38:55 - OKC starting Alex Caruso in place of Isaiah Hartenstein after halftime

40:31 - Preserving Nembhard to shape up around McConnell snug pick-and-rolls

44:44 - OKC trying zone & IND still not trying zone (intrigue!)

47:16 - The infinite adjustment series + why these are clearly the two best teams in the NBA

51:12 - Looking forward to watching Jarace Walker and Johnny Furphy next season + other miscellaneous observations

57:04 - Banter about Samson getting an "Agrarian Economy of Buckets" tattoo, why the zoo needs to sponsor our podcast, and bullying Caitlin to watch the Princess Bride during the offseason

1:06:51 - Thank you & Goodbye (looking forward to Game 7!!!)