For the third time in a row, the Pacers lost. The spectacle in the losses against the Pistons and the Grizzlies was painful and the trip to Toronto did not allow us to regain some color. The defense sank again despite Tyrese Haliburton's good game (30 points). Really, Indiana has been struggling lately.
“What we are doing on the floor at the moment, collectively, is embarrassing,” confirms the playmaker. “After a discussion at the break, I think we started the second half better, but it has to be done over 48 minutes. All teams are playing hard right now and have energy. There's no reason we can't match that and do better. »
Not with such a permeable defense. Detroit and Toronto are not scary teams offensively, but yet, in the three losses in a row, the Pacers have conceded 129 points on average!
“Everyone will say that there are only four successes behind to be at 50% victories. But it’s not as easy as that”
Rick Carlisle's troops had ridden a lenient schedule to win three matches in a row at home, facing weak teams: Washington, New Orleans and Portland. It was only a short parenthesis and this relapse, as we reach the quarter of the season, must now provoke a reaction.
“We are at 9 victories for 13 defeats. You might think the sky is falling, but that's not the case.”reassures Tyrese Haliburton, who still sounds the alarm. “However, we need to understand that there is an emergency. Everyone will say that there are only four successes behind to be at 50% victories. But it's not that easy. »
The local All-Star assures that he must “be a better leader” And “do everything better and stronger” because, he announces, “I am not ready to waste a year of my career, nor the season of this team and this franchise”.
The next two matches – against Brooklyn and Chicago – will be perfect opportunities to bounce back because the two opponents have the same record (9-13) as the Pacers, who occupy 10th place in the Eastern Conference. It would be wise to regain a little confidence since, then, the end of December will be terrible with in particular duels in Phoenix, Golden State and Boston (twice), as well as the receptions of the Bucks or the Thunder…
