The Indiana Pacers have submitted 78 instances of incorrect or non-calls to the NBA, citing disadvantageous officiating in Games 1 and 2 against the New York Knicks.
Rick Carlisle identified 29 questionable refereeing decisions in Game 1 and 49 plays in Game 2 that were either incorrectly called or not called. The Pacers have submitted these clips to the NBA office for review as part of the league’s protocol.
Carlisle expressed frustration with the officiating, implying that small-market teams like the Pacers are at a disadvantage. The Pacers were penalized by officials in Game 2, particularly in the final minute when Carlisle was ejected after receiving two technical fouls.
“Small-market teams deserve an equal shot…a fair shot, no matter where they’re playing,” Carlisle said.
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The Pacers’ concerns about officiating are not the only issue they need to address. They must also examine their defensive strategy, as they allowed the Knicks to shoot 65% in the second half of Game 1 and 67% in the third quarter of Game 2.
Tyrese Haliburton acknowledged that officiating was not the sole reason for their losses, saying, “We just didn’t play good enough…we just got to be better.”
As the series moves to Indianapolis for Game 3, the Pacers must also find a way to effectively guard Jalen Brunson. T.J. McConnell was somewhat successful in slowing Brunson in Games 1 and 2, but Carlisle replaced him with Andrew Nembhard in the final minutes of Game 2. Brunson scored 10 of his 29 points with Nembhard as his primary defender, highlighting the need for the Pacers to adjust their strategy.
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Despite the challenges, the Pacers remain confident in their coach and their team’s abilities. McConnell expressed trust in Carlisle’s decisions.
“Rick is a Hall of Fame coach…we trust that the rotations he plays are the right ones.” The Pacers will look to bounce back in Game 3, seeking a fair shot at victory.
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