DuckVader wrote:Bridges' defense is overrated
He offered zero deterrence and simply allowed Hali to get right all night long.
He looked like he was on meds —- maybe drank a bottle of Vicks cough syrup.
jaydh wrote:Uptown wrote:OG's balance is terrible...
he's been playing hurt
His balance is terrible whether it’s playoffs, regular season or summer time where he probably falls in lakes.
LivingLegend wrote:Josh Hart is such a problem and I don’t give a crap about his meaningless double/double.He guarded nobody, he pushed/hacked and played undisciplined all night.
Jalen guarded one 2 possessions the entire night both with under a minute to play. Otherwise he just got in the way or screwed defense up. F Thibs for going away from switching.
F Thibs for not playing Wright/Shamet and even Precious over Hart & Invisa-Mitch.
While I’m being critical by my calculations Mitch basically gave us 2 or 3 good games this year - per usual.
Mikal OMG. Duece come on man guard TJ.
Outside of 2 egregious TO’s Wright may have been 2nd best player on court tonight.
Kat I thought was valiant and OG played as tough as he can without falling down.
I don’t say this much but Thibs and love affair with Josh is a KILLER.
Brunson is a HUGE issue going forward as he ages, gets slower, more injuries and can’t guard paper bag - SERIOUSLY.
Pacers guards and forwards are too fast for Hart. 36 minutes for Hart but only 19 for Mitch who has been a defensive beast.
I do think part of the problem is Bridges is largely playing pick and roll defense with Towns as his partner. Hard to look good doing that. I think he and OG look worse on defense because they play with Brunson and Towns.
Philc1 wrote:We don’t take enough 3’s
Shamet or even Wright for Hart - hell even Deuce who was getting cooked.
DLeethal wrote:I agree with SVG … we should be pressing Hali the same way they press Brunson. We play soft ass D on him
Why not Wright and Deuce just rotating to apply full court pressure on him and you can switch post half court if required— instead we get Mikal casually escorting him up the court while on flip side Jalen is mugged before receiving inbound.
DLeethal wrote:ToddTT wrote:Losing sucks. Losing to a massive douche is salt in the wound.
Yea, but this team clearly isn’t ready. Can’t skip steps. This is not a Finals team. Indiana actually looks like one.
we will probably lose the series of course. But I continue to think we are the more talented team. This is on the coaches. I am still dumbfounded that the Pacers and Celts can hide weak defenders but we can't. And the Pacers and Celts can exploit our weak defenders but we can't seem to exploit theirs (for the most part).
KAT may be a liability on defense but he is not a dummy by any means. Wondering if adding a coach like Malone in some capacity would benefit things. Get KAT more effective on D, Leverage his passing more.
LivingLegend wrote:DuckVader wrote:Bridges' defense is overrated
He offered zero deterrence and simply allowed Hali to get right all night long.
He looked like he was on meds —- maybe drank a bottle of Vicks cough syrup.
Pacers ran double screens all night to get the switch.
Uptown wrote:We running plays for Bridges like he's Alan Houston...
Choked on this one - lol.
ToddTT wrote:Losing sucks. Losing to a massive douche is salt in the wound.
Not sure if hate Hali or Pops more now.
Chandler wrote:DLeethal wrote:ToddTT wrote:Losing sucks. Losing to a massive douche is salt in the wound.
Yea, but this team clearly isn’t ready. Can’t skip steps. This is not a Finals team. Indiana actually looks like one.
we will probably lose the series of course. But I continue to think we are the more talented team. This is on the coaches. I am still dumbfounded that the Pacers and Celts can hide weak defenders but we can't. And the Pacers and Celts can exploit our weak defenders but we can't seem to exploit theirs (for the most part).
KAT may be a liability on defense but he is not a dummy by any means. Wondering if adding a coach like Malone in some capacity would benefit things. Get KAT more effective on D, Leverage his passing more.
We are 100% more talented. But Indiana has years of chemistry build up. It’s the same team they had last year and the year before. They are just way better now. Same way Cavs got way better over the years. Knicks can do that too, although I don’t advocate for keeping this core intact if they can’t play defense.
DLeethal wrote:ToddTT wrote:Losing sucks. Losing to a massive douche is salt in the wound.
Yea, but this team clearly isn’t ready. Can’t skip steps. This is not a Finals team. Indiana actually looks like one.
Indy doesn’t look great at all but we need more skill and D. Holy crap our skill level is yuck.
EwingsGlass wrote:LivingLegend wrote:DuckVader wrote:Bridges' defense is overrated
He offered zero deterrence and simply allowed Hali to get right all night long.
He looked like he was on meds —- maybe drank a bottle of Vicks cough syrup.
Pacers ran double screens all night to get the switch.
That’s what I’m saying … he’s playing the 2 man defensive game with Towns as his sparring partner. Of course that’s gonna look ugly.
LivingLegend wrote:DLeethal wrote:EwingsGlass wrote:Team looks ill prepared for this Pacers squad. Gotta give Carlisle the nod on preparedness. They are really sticking it to us.
They look like a team that belongs here. We honestly look like a team that found dumb luck to get here. We play moronic basketball and have no identity besides pulling games out of our ass we have no business winning.
This +100.
All year it’s been the same thing.
There is a discipline issue, an accountability issue and a basic dribble/pass/shoot skill issue.
We have a we-don't-have-a-point-guard issue. Hali sets up his teammates. JB is a scorer who hold the ball until he can try to score.
We have a lack-of-athleticism issue. No one can get to the rim with authority. All our front court gets their layups blocked constantly: OG, Hart, Towns.
We have a we-don't-have-a-sniper issue.
DLeethal wrote:Panos wrote:OG is an offensively stunted player. How is he so strong and so bad down low?
He is NOT a $40m player. Sorry.
I’m fine with OG. He’s close to his pay grade. The big problem is Towns and his salary when he can’t even share the floor with Brunson.
You can’t have your top 2 players horrible on the court together and be a legit finals team. I’m still on the KAT for Durant train.
CLose to his paygrade? Seriously? He gets paid more than Brunson!
DLeethal wrote:Wright looks to me like the closest thing to a Hali stopper we have on the roster. But I’m kind of shocked we haven’t even tried OG on him after OG shadowed Cade for 6 straight games.
Yes on Wright but OG mostly tied up with Siakim who simply makes Mikal look like 5th grader in post.
Our team just doesn’t defend and hasn’t all year….collectively & individually.
LivingLegend wrote:DLeethal wrote:ToddTT wrote:Losing sucks. Losing to a massive douche is salt in the wound.
Yea, but this team clearly isn’t ready. Can’t skip steps. This is not a Finals team. Indiana actually looks like one.
Indy doesn’t look great at all but we need more skill and D. Holy crap our skill level is yuck.
They look like a legit TEAM. 29 assists 11 turnovers. Knicks were 17/17. Fast break points … bench points. Their two stars having monster games. They are impressive and play like a well oiled machine.
Philc1 wrote:DLeethal wrote:Wright looks to me like the closest thing to a Hali stopper we have on the roster. But I’m kind of shocked we haven’t even tried OG on him after OG shadowed Cade for 6 straight games.
If you give Wright minutes that means less minutes for Hart
You sir are the $1M winner tonight.
