Pacers (25-52) at Celtics (47-30) Game #78 4/1/22

[liam]

Just don't understand Ime not playing Nessie.

this !!! he played well in the raps game. Hopefully, he gets some more burn.

There can be only 8!

[Silas]

Just don't understand Ime not playing Nessie.

this !!! he played well in the raps game. Hopefully, he gets some more burn.

There can be only 8!

It was 9 before Rob went down.  It can be done...

[smokeablount]

TPs to all of you guys on the game thread!

[radiohead]

Save for his 5 turnovers, JB played rock solid this game. The 7 assists were a team high! He also had a very efficient shooting night.

[colincb]

I will like to give Derrick white some props for this game- after shooting a 3 of the back board- he hits a clutch one. then he not only handles the ball in crunch time. I even saw tatum look for him to give him the ball. the way he just drives the ball is a thing of beauty. - I enjoy watching him.

His getting to the line will come in mighty handy in the playoffs.

I'd rather have the ball in his hands in the clutch than Smart.

[nickagneta]

good to see them hold on to win a close one.

The only thing to take from this -- at least they didn't lose another close one.

that and good to see Jaylen get untracked in this game.  even though it was the Pacers, they shot as well as any top team so this was a solid effort to close this out.

Jaylen has been untracked for a while. Not including tonight he was averaging 28.3 points per game over the last 6 games with shooting splits of 55.7/52.3/74.3

[Goldstar88]

Haliburton had a pretty ridiculous game. In 26 mins of play he had 30pts on nearly perfect shooting. 10-11 from the field, 6-6 from 3pt and 4-4 from the line. Good thing he fouled out.

[0003323344]

This game was way too close for comfort against an inferior Indiana team. Obviously they miss TL and Haliburton had a career game but I'm worried hero ball is going to rear it's ugly head again. I've seen glimpses of it the last few games.

[86MaxwellSmart]

C's cruising into the playoffs....not trying to kill themselves on defense, when there is no point really. hopefully they can turn the killer D back on after a week off after the season.

[SHAQATTACK]

Team looks same as early in season again , struggling without the defense and confidence Williams brings . Back to being a 5th seed without our real center …same as years past .

[LilRip]

just watched it on delay. This  team is pretty different without TL. They miss his shot blocking and they miss him as a lob threat. Theis tries but it’s not the same.

C’s look like they’re trying to figure it out and the other players are good enough to get wins but this team went from “contender” to just “good” post injury. The team went from embarrassing teams to now just beating teams.

[jambr380]

Haliburton had a pretty ridiculous game. In 26 mins of play he had 30pts on nearly perfect shooting. 10-11 from the field, 6-6 from 3pt and 4-4 from the line. Good thing he fouled out.

Yeah, Hali was ridiculous, but he was bound to miss a few shots at some point. Also, Lance came in and totally changed the dynamic of the game - IND might have needed his toughness every bit as much as Hali's shooting. I have no idea why Lance hasn't been in the league for the last two years. Back in the day, I always thought that he would have been a solid, cheaper Smart replacement had we traded him.

[jambr380]

just watched it on delay. This  team is pretty different without TL. They miss his shot blocking and they miss him as a lob threat. Theis tries but it’s not the same.

C’s look like they’re trying to figure it out and the other players are good enough to get wins but this team went from “contender” to just “good” post injury. The team went from embarrassing teams to now just beating teams.

Seems more like a team problem than a Theis problem, though. That's two very good games in a row for Theis and it's not like he hasn't hung is whole career on defense. This particular game was more like playing DET and having them go off from deep (and the FT line!), rather than just plain sucking.

Glad to get the W and thankful we have Theis to fill in the void.

[Neurotic Guy]

Team looks same as early in season again , struggling without the defense and confidence Williams brings . Back to being a 5th seed without our real center …same as years past .

Sure looks like that in the first 2 games without Rob (not counting the Toronto game).  Not showing anything close to the dominance they were exhibiting.  I'm not convinced they can't be better than they've been these past 2 games.  For one thing, Marcus thinks he can (and should) shoot again.  It'll be a good sign when he's back to passing up the 3.  Unfortunately, 2 games in a row he hit a couple of early 3's which seems to change his mindset entirely.   

[Who]

Team looks same as early in season again , struggling without the defense and confidence Williams brings . Back to being a 5th seed without our real center …same as years past .

Sure looks like that in the first 2 games without Rob (not counting the Toronto game).  Not showing anything close to the dominance they were exhibiting.  I'm not convinced they can't be better than they've been these past 2 games.  For one thing, Marcus thinks he can (and should) shoot again.  It'll be a good sign when he's back to passing up the 3.  Unfortunately, 2 games in a row he hit a couple of early 3's which seems to change his mindset entirely.

Smart is like Charles Oakley. If you are the opposition, you hope they hit an outside shot or two early so they fall in love with it and stop doing the things that hurt you the most - offensive rebounding for Oak.