System Failure - Pacers Squander Golden Opportunity

Why the Pacers were stymied by switches in Game 5 loss 

By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper

Turns out, the series isn't over until the series is actually over. After finding answers for most of the coverage changes from the Bucks through the first four games, the Pacers came up empty all too often against Milwaukee's attempt to flatten out the offense with switches. Whether downsizing with small-ball lineups or cross-matching Brook Lopez onto Aaron Nesmith and going switch-to-blitz when the mammoth big man was involved as the screener defender, the Pacers were held to 102.2 points per 100 possessions in Game 5, scoring only 0.750 points per chance out of picks with Tyrese Haliburton as the ball-handler, as the star guard also recorded just 10.9 drives per 100 possessions while continuing to battle back soreness.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the floor, Indiana got more than they bargained for from Bobby Portis on face-up shots jump-shots, as well as a scoring flurry from Patrick Beverley, providing a stark contrast to how the Pacers were struggling to manufacture points outside of their system, despite having access to more talented scorers.

To breakdown everything that went wrong and how to potentially fix it, Samson Folk is back once again to discuss where the Pacers go from here.

0:00 - Introductions

3:09 - Which end of the floor was more disappointing?

9:22 - The offense being like opening and closing browsing windows

13:06 - The need to play with more force and forward momentum

19:25 - How much blame should be assessed to rotation decisions?

28:10 - Not feeding the ball inside enough

30:14 - Threading the needle between force and intention

33:39 - Attacking scram switches through role players

43:42 - Solves for Aaron Nesmith against Brook Lopez as a roaming big

46:00 - Brief aside on the mic'd up fan

56:00 - Thanks for listening to us talk about this game