I agree with the Star, the worst thing the Pacers can do is start point fingers at each other.
INDIANAPOLIS — During his rookie season, TJ McConnell experienced the low point of "The Process," former Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie's master plan to unapologetically tank in an effort to secure top draft picks and (eventually) turn the team into a title contender.
McConnell, an undrafted rookie out of Arizona, joined a team with limited talent, little experience and no expectations. The result was one of the worst seasons in NBA history: a 0-18 start to a 10-win campaign.
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) draws the offensive foul from Brooklyn Nets guard Garrett Temple (17) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. The Nets defeated the Pacers 106-105. (Photo: Michael Conroy, AP)
McConnell knows what it feels like when seemingly everything is going wrong and a team is letting game after game slip away. He knows how deflating and defeating it is when the losses start to pile up, but he also knows how to fight through the slump and come out stronger on the other side.
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He's applying the lessons learned in Philly to keep the Pacers — currently on a six-game losing skid — on the same page as they prepare to host East-leading Milwaukee on Wednesday.
"The key is to stick together," he said. "We can't start pointing fingers. ... We've just got to stay together and make that play.
"All we can do is come in every day, get better, watch film, correct what we didn't do to make that one play down the stretch."
Facing the hottest team in the NBA isn't the easiest way to get back on the right track. The Bucks have the best record in the Association and have won 14 of their past 15 games.
Pacers coach Nate McMillan said reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has continued to play at an MVP level, and the pieces around him have maintained their high-level of play as well.
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Antetokounmpo didn't need to carry the load offensively during Milwaukee's last meeting with Indiana. He scored just 18 points, but added 19 rebounds and nine assists.
The All-Star team captain is listed as a game-time decision after missing Monday's game for the birth of his first son, Liam Charles Antetokounmpo.
When asked whether he had any fatherly advice for Antetokounmpo, McMillan said to enjoy the time with his family.
"Take all the time you need. ... Don't rush to return," McMillan said with a smirk.
On a serious note, McMillan said the Pacers are doing some self-reflection to diagnose the source of the losing streak.
During the film review of Monday's loss to the Brooklyn Nets, players couldn't help but feel they let a win slip from their grasp. The Pacers led by four with less than a minute remaining, but two defensive breakdowns allowed the Nets to steal the game in the final seconds.
"We're looking at tape and saying to ourselves, 'We should've won that game last night. Why didn't we?,'" McMillan said. "Not getting the stops that we need to. Not executing offensively, something that we can improve on and we have to."
While McConnell is doing his best to keep his teammates upbeat, Victor Oladipo said he's starting to become more of a vocal presence, adding that he's getting more comfortable every game since he returned seven games ago after recovering from a ruptured quad tendon.
As the Pacers head into the All-Star break, knocking off the best team in the league would be an ideal way to springboard into the second half of the season.
"I've been on all kind of teams: Really bad ones, really good ones and the really good ones want to end the first half of the year before All-Star break on a good note," Oladipo said. "The really bad ones don't really care." https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...id/4718355002/
INDIANAPOLIS — During his rookie season, TJ McConnell experienced the low point of "The Process," former Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie's master plan to unapologetically tank in an effort to secure top draft picks and (eventually) turn the team into a title contender.
McConnell, an undrafted rookie out of Arizona, joined a team with limited talent, little experience and no expectations. The result was one of the worst seasons in NBA history: a 0-18 start to a 10-win campaign.
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) draws the offensive foul from Brooklyn Nets guard Garrett Temple (17) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. The Nets defeated the Pacers 106-105. (Photo: Michael Conroy, AP)
- More: Insider: Pacers' problem isn't Victor Oladipo's shooting but team-wide defensive failures
- More: Indiana Pacers break down late against Brooklyn Nets, lose 6th game in a row
- More: This is the 2019-20 Indiana Pacers schedule
McConnell knows what it feels like when seemingly everything is going wrong and a team is letting game after game slip away. He knows how deflating and defeating it is when the losses start to pile up, but he also knows how to fight through the slump and come out stronger on the other side.
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He's applying the lessons learned in Philly to keep the Pacers — currently on a six-game losing skid — on the same page as they prepare to host East-leading Milwaukee on Wednesday.
"The key is to stick together," he said. "We can't start pointing fingers. ... We've just got to stay together and make that play.
"All we can do is come in every day, get better, watch film, correct what we didn't do to make that one play down the stretch."
Facing the hottest team in the NBA isn't the easiest way to get back on the right track. The Bucks have the best record in the Association and have won 14 of their past 15 games.
Pacers coach Nate McMillan said reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has continued to play at an MVP level, and the pieces around him have maintained their high-level of play as well.
Get the Doyel on Demand newsletter in your inbox.
Get the latest from Gregg Doyel, delivered right to your inbox.
Delivery: Varies
Your Email
Antetokounmpo didn't need to carry the load offensively during Milwaukee's last meeting with Indiana. He scored just 18 points, but added 19 rebounds and nine assists.
The All-Star team captain is listed as a game-time decision after missing Monday's game for the birth of his first son, Liam Charles Antetokounmpo.
When asked whether he had any fatherly advice for Antetokounmpo, McMillan said to enjoy the time with his family.
"Take all the time you need. ... Don't rush to return," McMillan said with a smirk.
On a serious note, McMillan said the Pacers are doing some self-reflection to diagnose the source of the losing streak.
During the film review of Monday's loss to the Brooklyn Nets, players couldn't help but feel they let a win slip from their grasp. The Pacers led by four with less than a minute remaining, but two defensive breakdowns allowed the Nets to steal the game in the final seconds.
"We're looking at tape and saying to ourselves, 'We should've won that game last night. Why didn't we?,'" McMillan said. "Not getting the stops that we need to. Not executing offensively, something that we can improve on and we have to."
While McConnell is doing his best to keep his teammates upbeat, Victor Oladipo said he's starting to become more of a vocal presence, adding that he's getting more comfortable every game since he returned seven games ago after recovering from a ruptured quad tendon.
As the Pacers head into the All-Star break, knocking off the best team in the league would be an ideal way to springboard into the second half of the season.
"I've been on all kind of teams: Really bad ones, really good ones and the really good ones want to end the first half of the year before All-Star break on a good note," Oladipo said. "The really bad ones don't really care." https://www.indystar.com/story/sport...id/4718355002/
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