On to the next one (Patreon)

By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk

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

The “break in case of emergency” Obi Toppin glass was broken early, and to great effect. Not only do we see the energy plays creating a difference, we get this big, sexy, live dribble lefty read to Nesmith for a layup. McConnell steals a point to wing pass and feeds Tyrese for a fastbreak dunk, then steals the inbounds in the backcourt! GUMPTION! HEART! HUSTLE! After starting out flat, the fellas are breaking loose. Ball pressure is starting earlier, it’s maintaining throughout possessions, and the Pacers actually look pretty good in rotation. A simple Haliburton + Siakam pick n’ roll gets a switch, a ball reversal gets to McConnell and a high-low is completed. Up 29-19!

Somehow, this series now has a SECOND loud guy screaming his way onto the broadcast. My god. Very guttural. 

Pacers take a 9 point lead into the first break. 33-24. 

Halfway through the first quarter and the Pacers have slightly extended their lead. Nesmith is doing more with the ball in his hands as a driver and shooter. We got the big McConnell flurry of drives, and the Nesmith & Siakam + bench lineup survived their minutes. 

Both teams are locked into the defensive end. The Bucks finding success with a lot of switching, and heaps of scramming at the back end. If the Pacers don’t make the high-low read fast enough, they lose it. A big moment, though? Haliburton beats Portis on the switch and takes it to the bucket for an and-1. Huge play, in addition to the half self–oop, half missed shot and pursuit that Tyrese converted on earlier. The Pacers star has big numbers, big volume, and he’s guiding his team extremely well. 15-5-4 & +14. 

The second half starts and the forwards are pouring it on. Toppin & Siakam have brought their shotmaking bags and checked them in. Everyone was waiting for a bit more of the offense to flow Siakam’s way, and it did – there was a tremendous sequence featuring an evasion of a double team, second initiation and a post bucket –  but Toppin is throwing pipe bombs into the Bucks defense. The Bucks roll along with some bash-bash-buckets, but the end of the third quarter is defined by the Pacers little guys - Nembhard & McConnell. Not only did we get that patented stepback from Nembhard and a great steal on his way to an and-1 bucket, but we also got a courageous dive to the rim from McConnell. They also ran a screening play for the last action of the quarter – the Bucks went under – and McConnell hit a triple to put the Pacers up 15. Pandemonium in the building. 12 minutes away now. 

The fourth starts and McConnell is still slicing deep into the heart of the Bucks paint. He somehow plays a game of rugby with Portis under the rim and still spins his way loose for a fall away jumper. He has 20 points, 7 assists and 4 steals on 87.5-percent shooting. 

TJ is running wild on the Bucks. 

Siakam corrals a hit ahead and finds Sheppard for a triple. Up 104-84 with 8 minutes left. This is inspiring stuff from Toppin & McConnell in particular, but the connectivity on defense is a cut above what it’s been over the course of the series. 

They hold on, and they do it in front of fans. 

For the first time in 10 years, your Pacers are a second round team. Looking forward to covering some of it for you. 

Have a blessed day.