Rick Carlisle Thinks This Should Make Pacers ‘Blood Boil’ Ahead Of Game 4
The Pacers have their backs against the wall in the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics and Indiana is looking for any extra motivation it can get.
Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle found some ahead of Monday’s Game 4.
Carlisle revealed when he met with the media Sunday that the NBA has plans in place for the series to come to a close at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Celtics own a 3-0 series lead and need only one more win to sweep the Pacers and advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.
“There’s plenty of reasons to be motivated for this game tomorrow,” Carlisle told reporters, per video from Alex Golden. “When you’re the head coach of an NBA team, you tend to get information on things. So, one thing I just The league is organizing the logistics for a trophy presentation on our floor tomorrow, as we have learned within the last few minutes. That is something that, in my opinion, ought to boil the blood of both our supporters and players. Just one more reason to keep the series going.
That isn’t exactly the Celtics arranging a parade route before Super Bowl XXXIX, a la Philadelphia Eagles. Though it’s common for the league to be ready in case the Celtics close out the series on Monday, Boston can’t be too happy about that information coming from the NBA getting out.
But that news certainly will give the Pacers some bulletin-board material after they look to bounce back from a terrible defeat in Game 3, as Indiana threw away an eighteen-point advantage in the second half.
The Celtics won’t use Kristaps Porzingis on the court to try to fend off the Pacers, despite rumors that he might recover from his calf strain in time for Game 4. Boston ruled out Porzingis on Sunday, but Luke Kornet (left wrist injury) and Jrue Holiday (illness), who was the game’s hero despite playing unwell, are classified as questionable.
The Pacers have not yet released their injury report. All eyes will be on Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana’s top guard, who missed Game 3 due to a hamstring injury, as the team tries to save its season..
