Basketball, She Wrote

How the Pacers ran (and wandered) over the Knicks

Added 2024-05-13 19:22:22 +0000 UTC

By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper

The Pacers lead by as many as 43 points, and the Knicks didn't score 50 points until there was 6:23 to play in the third quarter. As such, in evening the series 2-2 with a 121-89 blowout win, the Pacers didn't just look to deplete their depleted opponent, adding 15.1 points per 100 possessions in transition, they also wandered, collapsing from the four-man on defense to shadow the ball and clutter driving lanes. In fact, by halftime, the Pacers hade 32 points in the paint compared to 41 total points from the Knicks. Overall, they were quicker both to and with the ball in nearly every facet, which proved to be a lethal combination on a night when the Knicks shot 7-of-37 from three. The question is, how much of this can be attributed to the fastness of the Pacers versus the fatigue of the Knicks?

For answers, Samson Folk is back to discuss the dominant defensive performance and to what degree the Pacers stopped the Knicks, as well as scheme changes and the combination effort from both the starters and the bench.

Here are the relevant timestamps:

0:00 - Introductions

0:28 - What led to the fast start?

2:15 - T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin outrunning the Knicks

4:28 - Impact of assigning Andrew Nembhard to Donte DiVincenzo

5:03 - Collapsing from the four-man

6:51 - Pascal Siakam's change in role

10:00 - Toppin also playing the role of roamer

11:41 - How O.G. Anunoby would impact the roamer

15:51 - Would the Pacers assign Haliburton to Anunoby?

20:03 - Siakam's mismatch against Hart and the potential for cross-matching

25:58 - Depleting the depleted Knicks with hustle