http://www.indystar.com/articles/4/138945-5894-179.html
Biggest mistake is making it look too easy
Contrary to popular belief, the Indiana Pacers did do something wrong during Saturday afternoon's serial spanking of the Boston Celtics: They made it look too easy.
Tell me, how are the Pacers supposed to work up the proper amount of fear and respect before meeting the Celtics again Tuesday night? The biggest challenge for coach Rick Carlisle and his staff now will be looking through the game video and finding flaws.
Yeah, Al, we noticed you didn't stand completely at attention during the national anthem . . .
Something.
Because that wasn't a playoff game, at least not in the strict, Eastern Conference, grind-it-out sense of the term. That was a glorified layup line.
Winning Game 1 of this series wasn't hard. Getting ready to play at the same level in Game 2, that's going to be hard.
"I've been through a lot of playoff games in 20 years, as a coach and a player, and generally, if you win by a comfortable margin the first game, the next game will be a war," Carlisle said. ". . . Oftentimes, there's a natural letdown, so we're going to have to fight that."
One day before the playoffs began, Larry Bird said his biggest concern going into this series was a letdown after Game 1. It was a prescient thing to say; who knew the Pacers would blow out the Celtics on Saturday? But as the game unfolded, the Pacers winning almost too easily, you could see the worry etched on Bird's face as he stood in the tunnel near the team's bench.
Intellectually, the Pacers know they can't get too giddy. They know that NBA playoff lore is packed with tales of teams who've come back from heinous blowout losses and won the next game. They know all these things, especially after winning Game 1 of their first-round series in 2001 and 2002 and losing both.
But human nature has a way of inserting itself at the worst times.
"We couldn't possibly (become complacent) because we've never gotten out of the first round since I've been here," Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal said. ". . . This series is far from over. We realize the importance of Game 2 because then they've got to beat us four out of five. So we'll probably get their best effort."
If the Pacers were not at the top of their game through the first quarter-and-change, the Celtics helped them light a fire. It all began with 8:01 left in the second quarter, when Celtics reserve Brandon Hunter came in the game and promptly threw O'Neal to the floor.
This wasn't your basic, run-of-the-mill shove, the kind you often see in an Eastern Conference playoff game. This was worthy of playoff hockey.
What made it more interesting, though, is the way Carlisle reacted after the game. In essence, he accused Hunter of playing like a thug, and suggested Boston coach John Carroll sent Hunter onto the floor with the expressed purpose of getting O'Neal.
"I disagree with that kind of basketball," Carlisle said forcefully.
Now, Carlisle had a point -- to a point. It was a low-down dirty maneuver that seemed designed to do little more than provoke O'Neal. And, to that end, it worked. O'Neal got a technical foul, acknowledging later he needs to be smarter in the future.
But some of Carlisle's words had a decidedly political edge. That's how it is in the playoffs. Don't think the Celtics are above the game-playing? Even now, Boston management is petitioning the NBA to suspend Ron Artest for coming onto the floor during the altercation.
Whether Hunter's strong-arm maneuver was a tactic or just an involuntary muscle reflex, it backfired. The Pacers went on a monster run and put the game away by halftime.
After the O'Neal technical, Ricky Davis got the crowd engaged with his foray into public relations. After making the free throw, Davis eyed the fans and very clearly mouthed the words -- well, I can't use the words. Let's just say the gist of his statement was, "I beseech you fine citizens to be as quiet as possible in the future."
It wasn't the kind of thing that should get Davis fined -- he didn't say this during a TV interview -- but it further confirmed the long-held suspicion that Davis is a professional knucklehead.
For one day, anyway, the Pacers had no regrets. Al Harrington broke out of his playoff funk. Artest shut down Paul Pierce. The Indiana front line did what everybody expected, destroying Boston in the paint. And Fred Jones, who just keeps getting better, served notice he might just be a factor this spring.
There was just that one mistake.
Winning too easily.
Tuesday, we find out if they'll pay for that error.
Biggest mistake is making it look too easy
Contrary to popular belief, the Indiana Pacers did do something wrong during Saturday afternoon's serial spanking of the Boston Celtics: They made it look too easy.
Tell me, how are the Pacers supposed to work up the proper amount of fear and respect before meeting the Celtics again Tuesday night? The biggest challenge for coach Rick Carlisle and his staff now will be looking through the game video and finding flaws.
Yeah, Al, we noticed you didn't stand completely at attention during the national anthem . . .
Something.
Because that wasn't a playoff game, at least not in the strict, Eastern Conference, grind-it-out sense of the term. That was a glorified layup line.
Winning Game 1 of this series wasn't hard. Getting ready to play at the same level in Game 2, that's going to be hard.
"I've been through a lot of playoff games in 20 years, as a coach and a player, and generally, if you win by a comfortable margin the first game, the next game will be a war," Carlisle said. ". . . Oftentimes, there's a natural letdown, so we're going to have to fight that."
One day before the playoffs began, Larry Bird said his biggest concern going into this series was a letdown after Game 1. It was a prescient thing to say; who knew the Pacers would blow out the Celtics on Saturday? But as the game unfolded, the Pacers winning almost too easily, you could see the worry etched on Bird's face as he stood in the tunnel near the team's bench.
Intellectually, the Pacers know they can't get too giddy. They know that NBA playoff lore is packed with tales of teams who've come back from heinous blowout losses and won the next game. They know all these things, especially after winning Game 1 of their first-round series in 2001 and 2002 and losing both.
But human nature has a way of inserting itself at the worst times.
"We couldn't possibly (become complacent) because we've never gotten out of the first round since I've been here," Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal said. ". . . This series is far from over. We realize the importance of Game 2 because then they've got to beat us four out of five. So we'll probably get their best effort."
If the Pacers were not at the top of their game through the first quarter-and-change, the Celtics helped them light a fire. It all began with 8:01 left in the second quarter, when Celtics reserve Brandon Hunter came in the game and promptly threw O'Neal to the floor.
This wasn't your basic, run-of-the-mill shove, the kind you often see in an Eastern Conference playoff game. This was worthy of playoff hockey.
What made it more interesting, though, is the way Carlisle reacted after the game. In essence, he accused Hunter of playing like a thug, and suggested Boston coach John Carroll sent Hunter onto the floor with the expressed purpose of getting O'Neal.
"I disagree with that kind of basketball," Carlisle said forcefully.
Now, Carlisle had a point -- to a point. It was a low-down dirty maneuver that seemed designed to do little more than provoke O'Neal. And, to that end, it worked. O'Neal got a technical foul, acknowledging later he needs to be smarter in the future.
But some of Carlisle's words had a decidedly political edge. That's how it is in the playoffs. Don't think the Celtics are above the game-playing? Even now, Boston management is petitioning the NBA to suspend Ron Artest for coming onto the floor during the altercation.
Whether Hunter's strong-arm maneuver was a tactic or just an involuntary muscle reflex, it backfired. The Pacers went on a monster run and put the game away by halftime.
After the O'Neal technical, Ricky Davis got the crowd engaged with his foray into public relations. After making the free throw, Davis eyed the fans and very clearly mouthed the words -- well, I can't use the words. Let's just say the gist of his statement was, "I beseech you fine citizens to be as quiet as possible in the future."
It wasn't the kind of thing that should get Davis fined -- he didn't say this during a TV interview -- but it further confirmed the long-held suspicion that Davis is a professional knucklehead.
For one day, anyway, the Pacers had no regrets. Al Harrington broke out of his playoff funk. Artest shut down Paul Pierce. The Indiana front line did what everybody expected, destroying Boston in the paint. And Fred Jones, who just keeps getting better, served notice he might just be a factor this spring.
There was just that one mistake.
Winning too easily.
Tuesday, we find out if they'll pay for that error.
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