More serious in defense, the Pacers move up the rankings

Since the Warriors occupied the Chase Center, only one team remains undefeated: the Pacers. By winning last night in the den of the Californians, occupied since the 2019/20 season, the Indiana players fueled their perfect record, now at six wins without defeat.

From this victory, Rick Carlisle will be able to retain the great collective strength of his team, embodied by the 12 or more points scored by each of the starters. Or the fact that his team did not panic in hot moments, like Myles Turner's award-winning “dagger” basket with 16 seconds remaining.

“ In the end, it comes down to being connected, playing together “, summarizes Tyrese Haliburtonaccording to whom the common experience of executives can make the difference in these situations. We can also cite the defensive performance of the Pacers, who contained the opposing attack to 105 points, including only 10 for Stephen Curry (2/13 on shots), well hampered by Andrew Nembhard and the collective defense.

Myles Turner also remarks that “ the attitude » of the Pacers has changed in this regard. “ At the start of the season, we were, myself included, focused on the attack and how we were going to score. It's one of the things we do best, we have to (Also) hang on in defense. We will continue to work. The training we had during the tournament was really good for us. These were good days for us to come together and find our identity again », develops the pivot.

A terrible “back-to-back” to come

Winners of the NBA Cup last year, the Pacers have not won a single match in this context this season. This setback had the merit of giving them a few days without playing. to better prepare for a “road trip” which promised to be perilous in the West: among the Suns, Kings and Warriors therefore. Results: three victories, to which are added those previously obtained in Philadelphia, then with the reception of the Pelicans.

“ This is an important sequence for us », agrees Rick Carlisle whose team, which had not yet won five games in a row this year, displays a very good “Defensive Rating” of 105 points conceded on 100 possessions (7th in the league) during this sequence.

“ We are not into declarations. We just try to be a little better every day. We are a humble group, coaches, players, everyone. We all like to play properly. We are almost at the same stage as last year at this time. We had a very complicated series to end the month. We had to endure it. Now we have a few hours to enjoy it “, continues the coach when talking about this victory in San Francisco.

His team had a record of 16v-14l last year, compared to 15v-15l today. Not sure, however, that it will manage to turn positive this week, because the Pacers host the Thunder on Thursday, before heading to Boston the next day. “ Find me a more complicated back-to-back this season than this one », also challenges Rick Carlisle to finish.