Eastern Conference Finals Game 4 between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks is set to tip off in Indiana at 8 pm Eastern tonight. The Pacers are in questionable waters after a Game 3 loss and Aaron Nesmith injuring his ankle. To avoid heading back to New York with the series tied, here are the Blue and Gold’s keys to the game.
Keep true to the Pacer name, part of Indiana’s major success this season is their high pace of play. This postseason, when their offense stumbles, scoring less than 105 points, they are 0-3.
When their pace suffers, so does their 3-point shooting. In each loss during this playoff series, the Pacers have shot 31% or below from three, much lower than their almost 40% postseason average.
With a playstyle where not many players create their own shots, getting the ball moving is critical. Thankfully, shooting woes of this magnitude are not likely to be a repeat occurrence, especially in front of a home crowd.
Indiana should look to rebound from a slow second half in Game 3 with a return to their high-octane offence in Game 4.
The leading rebounder for the Pacers this postseason sprained his ankle in the third quarter of Game 3. Encouragingly, Nesmith returned to the game in the fourth quarter, but not before the Knicks had made their comeback.
Indiana’s small forward has been a huge part of their deep playoff run. In addition to his rebounding, Nesmith’s defense and three-point shooting have been critical.
In the ECFs, his defense on Jalen Brunson has forced other Knicks to bear the scoring load, putting added pressure on New York’s offense. Overall, in the playoffs, Nesmith leads all remaining players in three-point percentage at 53.5%
Should he be ruled out for Game 4, Indy will have some big shoes to fill. At full strength or not, Indiana’s odds of winning still look good.
In the first round, Indiana won in five games. They won the first two, lost the third, then won Games 4 and 5, eliminating the Bucks 4-1. The same blueprint was followed in the Conference semis against the Cavaliers.
This means the Pacers are 6-0 in Games 1 and 2, 0-3 in Game 3, and 4-0 in Games 4 and 5. Sticking to the trend so far, Indiana is likely to bounce back strong after their loss.
Expect Tyrese Haliburton to spark the Indy offense, dishing out dimes and hitting big shots. Following his lead, Indiana will be heading to New York with a 3-1 lead.
Up 2-1, in a familiar spot, Indiana looks to extend their lead once again. Look out for an announcement on Nesmith’s condition as the Blue and Gold’s success relies heavily on his contributions. Victory is not out of the question if not at full strength, however, thanks to a deep bench.
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