Even if he was frustrated after the defeat in Game 1, faced with several contentious decisions made by New York, Rick Carlisle had kept his calm. There, in this Game 2, he failed to contain himself.
The Pacers coach completely exploded in the last seconds of the game, after an action by Isaiah Hartenstein 80 seconds from time. The Knicks pivot dribbles to bring the ball up, and the referees whistle him for a dribble restart.
Except that the New York player did not commit this offense. As a result, the officials reversed their initial decision and the ball was returned to the Knicks. The Pacers were then down six points, so regaining possession would have offered one last chance.
“Someone said he didn't take a dribble, but it looked like Tom Thibodeau said something and the refs changed their mind.” implies the Indiana coach. “It looked like this. I can only say what I saw. »
“Small market teams deserve equal opportunity”
That's when Carlisle exploded, not hesitating to express his anger just inches from the referees. The coach will collect two technical fouls, synonymous with expulsion. And as we saw, at the press conference, the tension had not subsided.
“It’s not much compared to everything else”continues Rick Carlisle, who points to arbitration. “Teams from small markets deserve to have the same opportunity. They deserve a fair chance no matter where they play. »
The technician also refers to an action in the third quarter where Josh Hart deliberately pushes Tyrese Haliburton in the back, and destabilizes him, without any whistle to sanction this gesture. And also to the 29 actions in Game 1 – according to Rick Carlisle’s calculations – which were in favor of the Knicks.
The Pacers have not officially communicated this report with the various errors to the NBA, but they will do so for this Game 2, including the example of this action between Hart and Haliburton.
“I always tell my players that you shouldn't attack the referees. But we deserve a real chance. There is no balance and it is disappointing”laments the former Mavericks coach.
