In the Pacers’ Game 2 loss to the Celtics, Rick Carlisle gave an explanation for why he benched his starting lineup early.
Rick Carlisle’s explanation for benching his starters early: With a 13-point hole, the Pacers began the second quarter of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Though it was far from a settled scoreline, the notion of a comeback appeared like an uphill task, especially on the road in Boston. Thus, it came as a bit of a surprise when Doug McDermott, a reserve player who hasn’t played meaningful minutes since the playoffs began, started the fourth quarter for the Pacers. Later on, he took the position of many other starters, extending the look of bench players—among them McDermott, who played the full quarter.
Inquired about his decision to substitute his starters early in the 126-110 defeat, Carlisle defended it as not a sign of surrender. He clarified that he wanted to give some players who hadn’t seen much action a chance, highlighting McDermott, Jackson, and Smith’s contributions. Despite the loss, Carlisle emphasized that it wasn’t about giving up but rather about injecting energy into the game with fresh players. The Pacers had their highest scoring quarter in the fourth, but it still fell short of Boston’s output. Notably, Pascal Siakham didn’t play much in the final stretch due to fatigue. As for trivia, Rick Carlisle, originally drafted by the Celtics in 1984, can you name the first overall pick from that year? Scores and Upcoming Events:
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics secured a 126-110 victory over the Pacers in Game 2, extending their series lead to 2-0. Game 3 will take place in Indiana on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
Tonight, PWHL Boston will face off against Minnesota in Game 3 of the Walter Cup Finals at 7 p.m. The series is currently tied 1-1.
Additionally, the Red Sox will kick off a three-game series against the Brewers at home tonight at 7:10 p.m.
(Answer: The number one overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft was Hakeem Olajuwon, who led the Houston Cougars to victory over Rick Carlisle’s Virginia Cavaliers in the NCAA Final Four that year.)