Losing it late

By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk

A reminder: Caitlin’s deep dive comes later. This is just supposed to hold you over. 

The matchups were as predicted to start: OG on Pascal. Donte on Tyrese. Andrew on Jalen. Early returns lean New York with Brunson shaking loose often, and the Knicks moving the Pacers offense away from Haliburton. Nembhard with a lot of the ball, and not many good looks. Good deny defense from Divincenzo on Haliburton in particular; and even worse? Hartenstein is hanging in on the switches out to Haliburton. 

We got a 5-0 run courtesy of Josh Hart as he showed off what he's known best for (a hard charging layup) and his most recent claim to fame (an above the break pull up three). The Pacers are hanging on by the strength of the 3-ball. A communication break down on the Haliburton/Siakam screen was the most important one to that point. All in all though, down 19-13. 

At the very least, the Pacers were winning in a couple of the margins, as they held the Knicks to one ORB in the first quarter, outscored the Knicks bench (14-1), and had won the 3-point battle to that point (12-6). Also, good minutes from IJax, who has brought a real edge to the game. All that without much from Haliburton or Siakam, who of course create a little bit, but the shotmaking is necessary fellas. 

In between quarters Haliburton said: “We're doing a good job keeping them off the glass. We just gotta hit some shots.” He continued “we like the pace, we like the way the game is going right now.” 

It started before the first quarter ended, but the Haliburton-less Pacers have brought the grit. We're talking real gumption. Every inch was a battleground. Up 31-29. Not to be outdone Hart collected one of the most brutish orbs I've seen in some time, Anunoby cashed a triple afterward, that's great hoops. More great hoops!!! Turner pursued Hartenstein to the rim and blocked his dunk by the skin and the teeth, then sprinted to the other end and got a dunk. Followed that up with a great finish on the roll. 

A fun run of play between Siakam/OG, as Siakam skirted to the rim for a finish out of the roll (on a great pass by Haliburton for sure), then scored over his former teammate in isolation, only for Anunoby to skirt loose of him on the roll on the other side. Shortly after all that, Siakam put in the early work on Anunoby and got a jump hook to go. The pace had quickened, and the Pacers were up 52-46. Haliburton & Siakam flatten things out for a screen and the Pacers star guard cashed a pull-up triple just before half, only to be outdone by a halfcourt heave from Hartenstein that found the bottom of the cup. 55-49 at the half. 

Just two ORBS for the Knicks in the first half. Big pat on the back for the Pacers holding it down. 

Siakam with 5 points on 2 shots to kick off the second half, but the Knicks also grabbed two orbs in the first two and a half minutes. Hart is maelstrom of orbs & transition rim pressure. What a player. He led the charge to bring the Knicks back even at 62. 

Hart is a maelstrom, and so is McConnell. It's punch and countersunk in game 1, and McConnell has been instrumental for the Pacers in providing a look at the point of attack on defense and driving offense on the other end. He was the straw stirring the drink for a huge 10-0 run for the Pacers to take a 78-73 lead. 

TOPPIN SNAPS OFF A BETWEEN THE LEGS DUNK. TURNER CASHES A BUZZER BEATER TRIPLE. 87-82 headed into the 4th quarter. 

We all bear witness to TJ McConnell. Unstoppable. Inscrutable. 

Okay, forgive me, I was quite enraptured with the fourth quarter and watched it end to end. 

Some thoughts: 

Nembhard handling the offense was a really great bit of point guarding and creation, and while he still made some mistakes on the defensive end (fouling Brunson off ball was a tough pill to swallow) and he's by no means a Brunson-stopper, you walk away from this game extremely happy with him as a Pacers fan. 

Siakam can get a bucket against Anunoby in a pinch, and did fairly often. Probably want to look his way more often going forward in the series. 

Josh Hart, the Knicks, 6 ORBS in the second half - that fight was incredible. 

Need more from Mr. Haliburton, and I'm sure Caitlin & I will talk about that on the pod.

It was pretty disappointing to see the referees make 1 highly questionable call, and 2 objectively incorrect calls  in the last 2 minutes to swing possession from the Pacers to the Knicks. The Pacers only got to reclaim one of those with a challenge, and unfortunately couldn't contest against the refs confusing Nesmith's hand for his foot. If a guy can't deflect a pocket pass with his hand without ref intervention? We've lost the plot. 

The moving screen? Technically moving, and by the letter of the law, a foul. However, we know how the game is called and why that foul stuck out like a sore thumb - especially with Divincenzo flopping like a madman on the play. 

However, Divincenzo was also the one who cashed a triple after the refs gifted the Knicks an extra possession late. Brunson made shots late. Brunson hit his free throws. The Knicks executed and credit to them. I just wish we could've seen the Pacers get an honest shot at executing with them down the stretch. 

Regardless, super fun game and a hell of an introduction to the series. Buckle up!!!

Have a blessed day.