Carlisle was given two technical fouls and had to leave the game. He was angry about some of the calls made by the officials, particularly when they changed their decision about a possible double-dribble violation. This call could have been crucial for the Pacers to have a chance at winning the game.
According to McConnell, Rick has been a successful coach for a significant amount of time and we have confidence in his lineup decisions. I wholeheartedly back him. I am prepared to step in whenever needed and am willing to be on the bench to support my team.
Carlisle stated that he chose not to present the documents because he believed that we would receive a fair and unbiased hearing this evening. However, the situation did not feel this way to him. He expressed the importance of not focusing on the officials, but rather ensuring that we receive fair treatment.
However, in the most recent minute of the Knicks’ 130-121 win against the Pacers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, coach Rick Carlisle deviated from the previously implemented plan. This resulted in the Knicks taking a 2-0 lead in the series.
Another concern the Pacers need to consider is defending against Brunson. Reserve guard T.J. McConnell was moderately successful in containing Brunson in the first two games. However, with seven minutes remaining and the Knicks leading by only two points, Carlisle substituted McConnell with starter Andrew Nembhard.
Tyrese Haliburton expressed that the officiating should not be solely blamed for our loss. He acknowledges that our performance was not up to par as he rebounded with 34 points after only scoring six in the previous game. He emphasized the need to improve as a team.
In the second half, Jalen Brunson came back to the game after sitting out the entire second quarter due to a problem with his right foot. This caused the atmosphere to become unfriendly for the Pacers, and Carlisle claimed that it influenced the officials to show bias towards the popular Knicks.
Brunson was responsible for 10 of his 29 total points during the critical moments of the game while Nembhard was defending him. ESPN’s Stats & Information research has revealed that Brunson has been successful in scoring 33 points in the first two games against Nembhard. Despite McConnell having a positive plus/minus of 10, Carlisle ultimately chose not to bring him back into the game because it went against the team’s usual playing style this season.
The Pacers need to review their defensive footage. In Game 1, they lost their lead after allowing the Knicks to shoot 65% in the second half. In Game 2, the Knicks continued their strong shooting with 67% in the third quarter, erasing a 10-point lead by outscoring Indiana 36-18 thanks to Brunson’s return. This turned the game in the Knicks’ favor.
Carlisle stated that teams in smaller markets should have an equal chance to succeed and should be treated fairly regardless of their location.
In Game 1, the Pacers were incorrectly penalized with a kicked ball violation and the mistake was not corrected. This ultimately resulted in the team losing three crucial points.
McConnell backed the choice made by his coach.
During Game 2, Carlisle became extremely frustrated. He mentioned that the Pacers noticed 29 questionable calls that they felt were unfair during Monday night’s game, but they chose not to submit them for review to the league office. However, he stated that they will be sending another recording from Wednesday’s game for review this time.
The Indiana Pacers chose not to publicly or privately address officiating after suffering a Game 1 loss to the New York Knicks where crucial calls went against them.
