Grang33r wrote:I wasn't able to watch tonight, besides the Pacers i am a Bills fan and attended tonights playoff game, but seems like it was a close game. Just basing on box score, what stands out the most is Jarace Walker 18 minutes, 10pts and 9 rebounds. Thats impressive. Sheppard didnt get anything going offensively it seems like but 4 rebounds, 4 assists in 20 minutes and a game high +12.
Pacers gotta get through this next upcoming 6 or so game stretch somehow breathing and then make a serious run when the schedule gets a bit easier.
In the 4th, it seemed like there was more standing around off ball. Didn't seem like the Pacers were running their cutters, or (other than Buddy) moving to the open spaces on the perimeter. Particularly when the ball went into Siakam. I gotta think that the team (as a whole) is still figuring out how to play together? There were times in the 4th when Nemhard was attacking from the right top of the key (as usual) and all 4 of the other Pacers were on the left side of the floor. They were able to double & strip Nemhard because the Suns were able to cover all 4 of the other Paces with 3 defenders.
Parts of the game looked good, (though our shots were just not going down even when we got 'normal' looks for our team). The team looked more like last year while Ty was out, trying to figure out how to play without him driving the attack. I suspect, as I said in another post, that the next month to 6 weeks is going to be a bit rough due to our 'unplanned' offense, as the team figures out how to play together. I still think the end of the season & the playoffs are this teams real opportunity to show out.
That is to take nothing away from the Suns,... they played a good game, got in front, and did more than enough to keep a cushion to the final whistle. They are a tough team when we are playing our best. Tip of the hat to them tonight.
Edit: Just went and looked,.. the trade happened on the 17,... @ Kings on the 18th, @ Blazers on the 19th, and @ Suns on the 21st. Hopefully, they all got to go to dinner during their travel day on the 20th, so they could meet & be introduced to Pascal.... Not really realistic for them to do anything other than just 'go play'. Hoping things settle a little bit over the next 5 day, 4 home game run.