Pacers Look to Take 2-0 Lead Over Bucks in NBA Playoffs
The Indiana Pacers are confident in their ability to take a 2-0 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks in their first-round playoff series. The Pacers’ 117-98 victory in Game 1 was a surprise to many, given the Bucks’ strong regular season performance. However, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle believes that his team’s defensive performance was not good enough, despite holding the Bucks to 24.3% shooting from three-point range.
"We’re trying to build walls and he’s still getting there," Carlisle said of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored 36 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in Game 1. "He’s a great player and great players cause collateral problems, so it’s not a surprise. We fouled them a lot, too, and we’ve got to cut down on the fouls." The Pacers’ defense will need to be even stronger in Game 2, as the Bucks look to bounce back and even the series.
The Bucks’ poor shooting in Game 1 was a surprise, given their 38.7% three-point shooting percentage during the regular season. The team’s four other starters combined for just 14 points, with two of them failing to score. Antetokounmpo’s performance was not enough to overcome the Bucks’ lack of scoring depth. "Giannis got to the basket too much," Carlisle said. "We’re trying to build walls and he’s still getting there."
The Pacers’ victory in Game 1 was part of a trend of strong defensive performances in the first weekend of the playoffs. The Golden State Warriors held the Houston Rockets to a season-low 85 points in a 95-85 win, while the Oklahoma City Thunder blew out the Memphis Grizzlies 131-80. The Thunder’s defensive performance was particularly impressive, as the Grizzlies shot just 34.4% from the field and were 6 of 34 on three-pointers.
According to the Associated Press, Bucks coach Doc Rivers could get some help in Game 2 if guard Damian Lillard returns from injury. Lillard has not played since March 18 due to deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, but was upgraded to questionable on Monday. A year ago, he averaged 31.3 points per game against the Pacers in a first-round series that the Pacers won 4-2.
The Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton believes that his team’s defensive performance will be key to taking a 2-0 lead. "I think we’ve done a great job of showing our pressure up on the floor," he said. "We’re just trying to keep flying around, making the extra effort because I feel like the basketball gods will reward you for the harder you play." The Pacers’ Myles Turner, a two-time league blocks champion, agrees that defense will be crucial in the series. "Sometimes you’ve got to lose the battle to win the war," he said. "It’s playoff basketball, so it’s a matter of making it harder on them maybe than it was in the regular season or making it to their second or third options."
As reported by the Associated Press, the Pacers and Bucks will face off again in Game 2 on Tuesday in Indianapolis. The series will likely be closely contested, with both teams looking to make adjustments and gain an advantage. The AP reports that coaches and players have ample time to practice, make adjustments, change assignments, and switch strategies between games.
The Pacers’ performance in Game 1 was a surprise to many, but Carlisle believes that his team will face a tougher challenge in Game 2. "I think the odds of them shooting that poorly from 3 probably aren’t that high as the series goes on," Haliburton said. The Bucks will look to bounce back and even the series, but the Pacers are confident in their ability to take a 2-0 lead.
The Associated Press reports that Antetokounmpo believes that the Bucks need to be more decisive with the ball in Game 2. "We’ve just got to be more decisive with the ball," he said. "That’s pretty much it. When the ball gets to your hand, shoot the ball or create an opportunity to the advantage of the next player. If you don’t have a shot, that means you can get downhill and if you get downhill either you finish or you pass the ball."
The Pacers and Bucks series is just one of many closely contested matchups in the NBA playoffs. As the series continues, teams will look to make adjustments and gain an advantage. The AP reports that the intrigue in each successive contest explains why Carlisle has been telling his team it will be "monumentally" more difficult to take a 2-0 lead than it was to win Game 1.
For more information on the NBA playoffs, visit AP NBA.
