Hoops Rumors

Pacers reserve forward Jarace Walker likely won’t return to action during the NBA Finals, head coach Rick Carlisle said on Sunday, per Tony East of ClutchPoints (Twitter link). Walker has missed the entire series so far with a sprained right ankle. “He is doing better,” Carlisle said. “He is off crutches and he is walking with a slight limp now. So it’s very unlikely that he’ll … [Read more...] about Pacers’ Jarace Walker Expected To Miss Rest Of Finals

The NBA Finals between the Thunder and the Pacers is heading back to Oklahoma City with the series tied at two games apiece following fourth quarter heroics from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. As Tim MacMahon of ESPN writes, Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 35 points in the game’s final four-and-a-half minutes to help the Thunder overcome a two-possession deficit. “I knew what it … [Read more...] about Finals Notes: Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder Resilience, Takeaways, Pacers

The Pacers were on their way to taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals Friday night when their offense inexplicably hit a wall, writes James Boyd of The Athletic. The crisp passing and constant motion they’ve displayed throughout the series disappeared in the fourth quarter, allowing Oklahoma City to rally for a 111-104 victory and head back home with the series … [Read more...] about Pacers Notes: Game 4 Loss, Haliburton, Mathurin, Nesmith, Carlisle

The Pacers‘ offensive style of controlled chaos and freedom stems not only from the synergy between Tyrese Haliburton and coach Rick Carlisle, but also from the decades of experience Carlisle has coaching elite point guards, Jamal Collier and Tim MacMahon write for ESPN.com. As a young coach with a reputation for demanding control of his team, Carlisle found himself leading a … [Read more...] about Pacers Notes: Carlisle, Toppin, Underdog Status, Trends

In Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, the Thunder struggled to maintain the identity that made them such a powerhouse throughout the regular season and much of the playoffs, writes Joel Lorezni of The Oklahoman. If they want to head back to Oklahoma City having tied the series against the Pacers, they need to reclaim their composure. It’s a sentiment that head coach Mark … [Read more...] about Thunder Notes: Identity, Gilgeous-Alexander, Shooting, Turnovers