Slipping Away (Patreon)

By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk

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

In the first Dune movie, Gurney Halleck gruffly, and with a smile, says “I see you've found the mood.” to Paul Atreides. Paul had initially been resistant to meet the moment of their bit of sparring – which makes sense, not everyone has it in them to get physical and compete at the drop of a hat – but as aforementioned, a mood was found.

The Pacers found the mood for game 3. The system that they adhere to remained, and their secondary players who were thrust into primary positions, moved through them with energy, pace, and shotmaking. On the other side? While Tyrese Haliburton's floor bending offense wasn't present, neither was the Celtics tried and true approach of locating him for advantages on offense. The quirks and rhythms of how the Celtics were achieving success changed. Even with a hot stretch of shooting from downtown, the Celtics couldn't find the cozy confines of the paint as easily, and things got bogged down. 

All of this was opposite of four very big things: 

• Myles Turner started to return some of his promise as a finisher. Whether it was diving to the rim off rolls or cuts, or fading (much to my chagrin) on mismatches in the post for jumpers to keep the offense moving. 

• Pascal Siakam can work and worm to so many places on the court. His relentlessness and resolve as an isolation/mismatch scorer has been a major factor for the Pacers in the postseason, but he's slowly become a bigger part of their pet actions. Rick Carlisle has slowly moved more of the offense to him, and Nembhard slotted in for Haliburton in the 2-man actions with Siakam - to great effect. 

• Nembhard is really good. I've said for some time now that I thought Indiana's best prospect is the man who adorns #2. He has massive utility on defense (even if he's struggled with certain matchups and some bone headed fouls), he's been shooting the absolute hell out of the basketball, and while it's not possible to be the best driver on a team that employs TJ McConnell, Nembhard is damn good. In short: he's got the goods. Indiana, you drafted a guard who brings the ruckus in an ECF, in the second round. REJOICE. 

• TJ McConnell is incorrigible. He is without compare. The ways in which he comports himself are unique to him, and extremely difficult for defenders to sort out. Comfy and cozy in the battlegrounds. He rocks. 

All those things, and still, the Pacers lost. There’s rarely a substitute for All-NBA talent, and despite the Pacers ability to succeed for stretches without Haliburton, this game showed – maybe more than anything – how good they can be as a team; how they can stack lineups and still score. How they can win some of the margins. However, it is the Eastern Conference Finals, and the Celtics are used to this environment. Tatum can sleepwalk to 36-10-8. Al Horford can find the touch for a night and hit 7-12 from downtown. Jrue Holiday can get a burly and-1 on one end, and the crucial stop of the game on another. The Celtics found new quirks, and new rhythms. They were supposed to be here, and they’re supposed to go farther. 

The Pacers lost the 3-point battle by an astounding 33 points. They grinded for the inbetweener buckets all game, and when it was time to keep getting them, the Celtics found their form. Coming back from 3-0 in an NBA series has never been accomplished before, and it really, likely won’t be happening here. The Pacers, without their star guard, scratched and clawed as they tried to get a foothold in the series, but feet slip. 

The impossible lies ahead. The mistakes lie behind. Players to be proud of sit in the present. We’ll see where all this ends up. 

Have a blessed day.