Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle made a questionable determination within the last seconds of Indiana’s Sport 3 loss to the Boston Celtics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday evening.
With eight seconds left and the Pacers trailing 112-111, Carlisle opted to not take his last timeout. As an alternative, Carlisle allowed Indiana guard Andrew Nembhard to race up the ground in transition with Jrue Vacation the first defender. Al Horford, Derrick White and Jaylen Brown all had been there to assist Vacation, proving the Pacers didn’t precisely have numbers in transition.
Vacation in the end bought to a spot as Nembhard went to his proper and earned a game-sealing steal with 4 seconds remaining.
When Carlisle was requested why he selected to not name his last timeout, he defended the choice by saying he had belief that Nembhard and the Pacers would get a greater shot in that second than if he was to attract up a play after a timeout.
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“Properly, with eight or 9 seconds left and also you’re in transition after a miss, I belief our gamers to be be capable to create a greater shot than calling timeout and having them set their protection,” Carlisle informed reporters after Indiana’s 114-11 defeat, as seen on NBA TV.
“It’s extra of a play basketball sort state of affairs. And we’ve accomplished nicely this 12 months trusting our gamers.”
Hindsight is clearly 20/20, however given Nembhard was getting uncontrolled the Celtics had recovered in transition, it felt like it will been a sensible stoppage.
The defeat means Carlisle and the Pacers now on the point of elimination. Indiana should earn a Sport 4 win Monday evening to be able to extend its season.
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