Post game #2 Pacers vs Wizards

[pacers_heath]

I know McConnell isn't known for his shooting, but damn. He makes it look difficult. Go practice your shooting FFS. Why does he insist on shooting with that ridiculous form? It sometimes looks like he is shooting a basketball for the first time in his life.

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[stew]

I actually agree with you that we should be testing out our bench - especially after Brissett’s performance at the end of last season - but this coaching staff already seems to have formed fairly low opinions of both he and Goga.

Not seeing any Jackson minutes has been the most surprising in my mind, especially after all the hype and run time he got in preseason.

you cannot possibly play Craig, brisset, goga every game.
This game, Brisset got the chance in the 2nd quarter, and he didn’t played well. So it’s very difficult to put him back in the 4th when the pacers are down

[owl]

I know McConnell isn't known for his shooting, but damn. He makes it look difficult. Go practice your shooting FFS. Why does he insist on shooting with that ridiculous form? It sometimes looks like he is shooting a basketball for the first time in his life.

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It is very awkward looking but apparently he worked all off season with his dad on 3's. If it works I dont care I guess. Time will tell.

[BobbyMac]

Two one point losses on the road are not the end of the world. I'll have more to say about the team after 20 games. I do wish that Rick was playing Goga and Jackson more. I really like the interaction between Domas and Myles, this is much more like what I expected out of them. However, especially with the people we have out, I wish that when we stagger Domas and Myles, we match them with Jackson with Domas and Goga with Myles. I'm sure they would do as well as Brissett and Craig have done. It would also help with defense when Myles is out. I get frustrated a bit with Brogdon's defense. When LeVert gets back I believe that will help a lot as we can play Brodgon, Duaret, and Levert with Myles and Domas. Thus keeping Holiday as the 5th man. However I must admit that my Boys Club basketball career as a coach does not make me an expert. LOL -- Go Pacers

[CJ Jones]

We lost 2 games but they were actually entertaining. I feel like all of last year watch so boring it was unwatchable.

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Other than having more fans in the stadium, I fail to see how this is any more entertaining than what we saw at the end of last year.

[CJ Jones]

I know we are missing two starters but the fact Rick couldn’t find more then four guys worth playing (with two usually staggered) suggests he isn’t as high on our depth as KP is.

TJM doesn’t look like a natural fit for the style. Lamb…crikey are we actually playing him to INCREASE his trade value? Craig isn’t offering enough at either end.

Right now we cannot afford to take our rookie off. Which is both good and bad. Duarte, Domas, Brogdon Myles (incredible game) have actually all been terrific. The fifth spot on the floor might as well be raffled off to a fan right now.

I’d love it to have been Oshae but unfortunately he played the worst 8 mins of his career in this one. Wanamaker playing is a mystery.

Defensively we are…very accomodating, to be nice about it. Yes those shots tonight were contested, and Myles does a good job on shot releases close to the basket but everything between the offense starting and that point is too comfortable. How often do opposing guards have to pick up the dribble under pressure? How often is a pick and roll blown up because of defensive activity? How many passes are tipped? How many times are they forced into something sub-optimal late in the clock? That's not coaching, that is not having and disruptive defensive presence beyond that bloke who excels at literally the last moment defending an offensive possession.

SOS Levert and Warren, this is looking like being a deep hole early in the season.

Last year we were among the league leaders in deflections and steals with the same slow unathletic roster. This year we're a much more conservative defense. We're going under screens, we're not gambling as much, and we still suck just as bad. If Carlise can't right the ship defensively, somebody's gonna owe Bjorkgren an apology.

[CJ Jones]

It is very awkward looking but apparently he worked all off season with his dad on 3's. If it works I dont care I guess. Time will tell.

Im glad he's shooting more 3's, but he passed up a wide open corner 3 in crunch time. Instead he dribbled into the paint and forced Domas into a much tougher mid range fadeaway. TJM cannot be on the floor in late game situations if he's unwilling to take that shot.

[croz24]

I mean KP and many on here kept clamoring for an up tempo team... a team that can jack up 3s with the rest of the league... a team that can score score score... well this is the kind of **** that comes with that. Use that Hornets game as the perfect example: no team with offensive diversity and a focus on interior play, off ball movement, and a mid-range game is going to have a 24-0 run against them. There is 0 consistency game to game, quarter to quarter, when you play this form of basketball and you put yourself in position to lose to teams you should not.

Also, is it not a bit telling that ever since we brought Brogdon and Holiday on board, our defense and late game woes has been utter trash. Yes, it is difficult for any player to defend in today's soft NBA, but we lack players with passion, and players who hold others accountable. IMO the fix is fairly simple even with this joke of a roster, you have to bring in a player who is unafraid of getting in a teammate's face demanding effort.

[Guest]

Last year we were among the league leaders in deflections and steals with the same slow unathletic roster. This year we're a much more conservative defense. We're going under screens, we're not gambling as much, and we still suck just as bad. If Carlise can't right the ship defensively, somebody's gonna owe Bjorkgren an apology.

RC is conservative on defense. Those Dallas teams would be top 5 in offense but bottom 3 in defense. Same thing will probably happen here.

[BornIndy]

Turner, Sabonis, and Brogdon are at no fault for the loss, they showed up. There is no production from the bench whatsoever

[indyman37]

Well, maybe we somehow win tonight to relieve some of the frustration of first two, but it's been torture watching thus far. Feels like we're still beating our head on last year's wall.

Wasted 40 from Myles. He'll come back to earth offensively now. Domas will score but will remain mostly useless on D. The newly extended Brogdon is obviously not a point guard. Duarte looks good, but does he have potential to be great? And that's our best four. Sure, Warren and LeVert would help, but what can you really expect given their track record of being made of glass?

I wonder if RC really thought he could win with this roster? Did he really relish the idea of working with Pritchard? Is he just waiting for Pritch's eventual dismissal so he takes control over all personnel decisions?

If the very real possibility of 0-4 transpires (or 0-6 maybe), it's going to be hard to keep selling fans on running back, but with RC's breath of fresh air when the product on the floor looks like an injury-prone, limited talent, no athleticism roster. Barring Warren and LeVert returning and suddenly becoming durable players, there wil be no more defending this roster as competitive.

I really think that tonight will probably be a blowout with Miami cruising to a win. We might put up a fight if we were fully healthy, but they could actually lock us down and make the whole game feel like a 3rd quarter.

That being said, which one of our players will have a career game tonight? Maybe Domas will have a double-double with steals and blocks?

I wonder if Rick will end up transitioning to the FO before or after his 4-year contract is up. Lord knows he’d have job security with the Simon family and a few good moves.

A lackluster start might be the best case-scenario for anyone hoping for roster changes. Like it’s been mentioned on here before, we have to stop blaming the coaches at some point.

[indyman37]

you cannot possibly play Craig, brisset, goga every game.
This game, Brisset got the chance in the 2nd quarter, and he didn’t played well. So it’s very difficult to put him back in the 4th when the pacers are down

I honestly have no desire to see Goga suit up for us again. I know he has some admirers here, but I just don’t see it.

Brissett definitely seems like he’s in a weird funk. Maybe his familiarity with Bjorkgren was what made his game pop so much last season.

[indyman37]

Im glad he's shooting more 3's, but he passed up a wide open corner 3 in crunch time. Instead he dribbled into the paint and forced Domas into a much tougher mid range fadeaway. TJM cannot be on the floor in late game situations if he's unwilling to take that shot.

Do any other teams have this issue?

[croz24]

I honestly have no desire to see Goga suit up for us again. I know he has some admirers here, but I just don’t see it.

It's all fun and games for Goga... and most of this team. Need players who take losses or getting benched to heart.

[indyman37]

It's all fun and games for Goga... and most of this team. Need players who take losses or getting benched to heart.

Where’s Greg Foster when you need him?