Expensive absences for the Pacers

At the beginning of November, burdened by injuries, c Pacers hit rock bottom with a series of defeats. Even heavy defeats, always more than 15 points difference. Then, from November 19 and the success against the Hornets, things took a turn for the better. The return of TJ McConnell, Andrew Nembhard and Benedict Maturin has made it more competitive, and Indiana is 3-5 over the last two weeks. It’s not a panacea, but it’s always better yes 1-13 from the start…

The biggest problem in recent days is absenteeism from meetings. For a few moments, the finalists are pushed and the gap then becomes to their detriment. Last example: 22-3 they conceded in the second quarter against Jamal Murray and the Nuggets.

“That 22-3 obviously caused us to lose”, sums up Rick Carlyle. “We lacked character at that moment, we did things we shouldn’t have done, we made mistakes. The second half was much better than the first.”

Always fatally weak weather

Against the Pistons recently, Pascal Siakam and his teammates were already outscored 25-6 in the second quarter. Two days later, it was 27-3 against the Raptors, before 10-0 and 10-2 at the start of each quarter, in the first period, against the Cavaliers earlier in the week. That’s a lot.

“We have to avoid these races.” Most of the time there are three good quarters. It’s hard when you shoot yourself in the foot and have to come back. We can’t afford it,” assures the Cameroonian. “Maybe it’s a simple lack of concentration or effort,” trying to understand Andrew Nembhardt. “In the league, teams can go on a run at any time and it’s hard to come back from there.”

And if Rick Carlisle did not hesitate, in the worst moments of the start of his troops’ season, to take the time-outs he didn’t have (causing a technical foul), now that his team is stronger, he tries not to burn his cartridges too early.

“It would be great if, like Wheel of Fortune, we could buy timeouts like vowels”slips the coach, who does not have a miracle solution to stop taking such waves and not lose so many matches. “We just have to be better. I have to train better, the players have to play better. Our margin for error is fine, that’s for sure, but we can always improve.”