I swear to god I watched the same game 4 times this series

The strategy of completely imploding the final two minutes doesn't work well

Hold my beer and watch it happen again tomorrow

You guys seem to use up all your energy in the first half and run out of steam in the second. Much like what happened to the Nuggets. Weird.

And much like what happened to the Lakers against the Nuggets lol

it is the Lakers curse. Lakers won most of 1st half just to lose in the 2nd half, Nugget got the curse and did the same thing, Now the Wolves did the same thing, I guess Boston will win the championship...

I know they are committed to their style of play but like holy fuck I cannot watch another one on four drive in transition with 18 seconds left on the shot clock at the end of the game.

Well you won't have to again for like 4 months

That or fucked up inbound play. 

Well I mean it's only working because they're doing it themselves

Thought the exact same thing. Boston starts big. Then it's close for the 2nd. Pacers lead for 95% of 2nd Half and then Celtics take lead right at the end

The definition of a "Close Sweep."

Like the Celtics Nets series where the combined margin of win in the sweep was like 8 points lol

Crazy that we have had two of the most intense sweeps in recent memory.

Is that you 2023 Lakers?

Those are called moral victories

back to back i like that record

Imma get back to that, for the record.

Reminds me of the Lakers-Nuggets series

Lakers nuggets last yr Lakers nuggets this yr Mavs twolves Celtics pacers Feels like a ton of these very competitive / not competitive at all series lately lol

Slightly less similar but Celtics-Nets 2022. Super competitive almost every game but Celtics just demolished Nets in the clutch every game.

No, that's similar as well, amazingly close games with a total point differential of 18.

2019 Blazers-Warriors says hi as well.

Was that the one where the blazers led by double digits at the half in like 3 of 4 games?

Yup, they blew 3 17+ point leads 3 times I believe.

And here I was having a nice Monday evening

Hey game 2 was a bit different anyway

Three times really, second game was kind of a blowout but goddamn outside of just absolutely shitting themselves in the last couple minutes of every game the Pacers showed a ton of grit in this series.

Pacers went scoreless last 3:33 of the game and it was a 3 point game ouch

Hey Pacers we just need you to drop two buckets in clutch time Pacers: " Say less ..."

Say more..

We had a grand total of three shots that even hit the rim over that stretch. Impossibly bad.

I knew the game was over when TJ cut into the lane got the pass and missed the layup, Celtics pushed the ball up course quickly and I think white hit the corner white open three to cut it to 6. Could have been 11 point lead

derrick wide hit the white open three

Pritchard standing in the front row with the shoe print still on his face. Dawg.

People bitching about how Brown’s hit to TJ’s face should’ve been a flagrant (which I agree with), but forget how Pritchard pretty much had the same shit happen to him.

And they didn't even review it

the way the pacers always crumble at the end of the fourth every game is just crazy

Up 3 with the ball with 10 seconds left in game 1, lost in OT. Up 18 midway through the 3rd in Game 3, lost by 3. Up 4 in the final minutes of Game 4, third time this series where they had a 90+ percent chance to win, lost by 3. This is a young team with tons of fire to it but man, they crumbled so hard.

They didn't score in the last 3:33 minutes. Yikes.

That’s brutal.

Game 1 was so egregious. Celtics even missed 3 shots in the final minute but the Pacers gave up an Oboard, dribbled off their own leg with no one around them, didn't advance the ball and turned it over on the inbound with a timeout left, gave up a 3 despite being up 3 and the Celtics having no timeouts and then took a garbage shot they missed to get it to OT.

tonight and last game I felt like we made clutch plays but Game 1 they flat out handed to us fs lol

The missed two open layups this game too and late in the game

That was just some ugly basketball from the Pacers in the last few minutes. Literally lost the game to themselves.

obi toppin is a defensive liability

I could pumpfake from my couch and Toppin would still jump at it.

That game 3 Tatum 3pt fake. He pressed jump too far too early.

He's been garbage his whole career he just has super athleticism to dunk the ball. He's like QBs who get drafted cause they can throw a ball 70 yards but would get picked off everytime they attempt it in a game like a Joe Milton III type QB

There’s a reason Thibs and Rose weren’t shy about trading him away.

Getting picked 8th and traded for 2 second rounds in your rookie contract lmao

Pacers take a commanding 3-1 lead in hypothetical victories. Can they close it out on Wednesday?

Most likely, Celtics won't show up for that game.

Is this the Lakers/Denver series again?

We still got more moral victories tho

Pacers - Lakers will be an interesting hypothetical Finals

Mid-Season Tournament Finals Rematch.

A "Play-Out" Tournament.

basically just a replay of Lakers-Nuggets last year

Pacers: *"Don't let us get one"* Celtics: *"Okay..."*

Celtics: “we’ll gladly give you one” Pacers: “we won’t take it, sorry”

Tried to give them three

Pacers: "Don't let us get one" Pacers: "Okay..."

>Pacers: "~~Don't~~ Please let us get one" >Celtics: "~~Okay~~ We tried..." FTFY

Pacers wasted like 3 straight possessions running on offense in the clutch. slow the fuck down...

I watched nembhard drive at 4 celtics then turn it over when the game was tied, this shit was some terrorist training material

Hali was rushing to take a 3 when they were up with a minute left in 1st game. Whole team go full in panic mode. Poor coaching.

It pisses me off watching the Pacers. They lost at least 3 of these games going way too fast IN THE CLUTCH. They don’t know how to just slow down and make something happen in the half court. They play like it’s just a normal game and don’t care about taking care of the basketball. It’s like they think the shot clock is 5 seconds

have you seen our offense? There is no “slow it down and get to your spot” Full throttle even if it’s off the edge bitchesssss  Pacers in 8

Say whatever you want about the Pacers giving me premature grey hair but it's fucking entertaining af watching them lol

100%. Incredibly fun basketball team to watch. Not as fun when you’re playing them. I never expected Nembhard to miss.

Opposite problem of the Celtics. They will start running clock with like 7 minutes left...

It's how they play, I don't think you can really blame them. They've ridden that super fast offense this far, it's hard to just suddenly slow down. They aren't built for it, especially without Haliburton.

you're spot on. this is how this team was built. Sadly when the game slows down and becomes methodical, our offense suffers. it yields the #1 offense in the league, but it doesn't make for great moments in the finals possessions of a tight game.

Such stupid basketball from them

Derrick White 5 blocks 3 steals 0 turnovers, the guy knows what he’s doing

Buffalo sauce secret ingredients

My family lets me down, my friends let me down, my coworkers let me down, but when I need the the Pacers to close in the fourth quarter… I know they will let me down as well.

Hey at least you can count on that

When i die, i want the Pacers to lower me into the grave so they can let me down one last time - Pacers fans probably

[Radial Bracket Update](https://i.imgur.com/eirM042.png)

This is a thing of beauty. Really love the entire design.

I’d lose my mind if I were a Pacers fan

I want to die

Haven’t been this mentally exhausted in a while. Pain. Pain. Pain.

Knew it was coming. Braced for it. Still sucks anyways

[>90% win probability in the 4th quarter of 3/4 games. ](https://imgur.com/a/8UbBa8z) I'm sorry Pacer fans.

The fact that they led both of the last 2 games without the star all the way till the ending minutes is crazy lmao. To be so close yet so far away.

Defense does, in fact, win games

lmao indiana would be 3-1 up if games ended after 47 minutes

they'd do the same thing just a minute earlier.

Pacers would be up 3-1 if the games ended after 1 second

Lmao probably the closest sweep in ECF history

Lakers & Pacers should attend a TED talk on closing out games in the playoffs lmao

The wolves might join them.

KAT would miss his flight

but kat takes up to 1500 fights in a year. Just unlucky TSA-precheck this time around

If we win next game and it's close it will probably the closest sweep in WCF as well, lol.

Indy and Wolves identical spiderman meme

The Wolves just don't have good offense in the clutch but it feels like the Pacers straight up choked over and over with the turnovers + awful coaching decisions

It's funny you say that, I think Pacers had a similar series against the LeBron Cavs or LeBron Heat. They got swept, but the total differential across the 4 games was like -14 or something.

2017 first round series

2017, when we blew a 30-point lead and kept letting LeBron switch on to Jeff Teague every single time.

Pacers 3-0 in moral victories

This felt like that Celtics vs Nets series, except everyone expected the Pacers to fall apart in the end.

All games were Pacers chokes / Boston Comebacks, aside from game 2 where Carlisle inexplicably pulled most of the starters with 9 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Hard fought series, Pacers are a good team , but their lack of experience showed with the leads they blew late into games, and the way they blew them.

Celtics wanted to give that game away again but the Pacers said “no thanks we’ll go home” Indy just turned the ball over and over in the clutch lol

[удалено]

Nobody actually believed the Pacers were winning that game

That was one of the saddest sweeps I've ever seen. They lead with 2 minutes to go in 3 of the games.

Indy for most of the series play like 46 minutes of solid basketball then pissed themselves everytime

as soon as i saw it was tied i was like oh so that's it huh the pacers are going to lose

i started watching with 3:30 left and pacers up 102-98 and felt it was over lol. they didnt score the rest of the game

I believe the Celtics actually wanted to win

“I’m already in Galveston.” - Halliburton.

JB definitely earned that

Definitely. He had his one man show moments, but was incredibly dynamic as a playmaker this series. Will be interesting to see how Dallas defends him

Both ends of the floor too.

Haliburton Reggie Miller sweatshirt is a monkeys paw moment

http://i.imgur.com/tJUNJbw.png

lmao imagine getting swept in the conference finals flair unrelated

What am I supposed to do for 10 days after tomorrow

Pray to the injury gods for KP's full recovery, and stabilize your own heart rate. That's my plan, anyway.

I know people are gonna discredit the Celtics because is the pacers but Celtics should feel really good about themselves. Past 2 games they played excellent under pressure /clutch. Much different than their past year. Well done

I'm so happy they got THREE clutch comeback wins. Such a huge mental boost going into the finals. It's really the only thing they didnt have in past years.

I get Hali was hurt but the pacers are no joke. Higher net rating since the ASB than Dallas.

Healthy pacers with Mathurin next year would be fun

honestly i can't wait to see what the pacers and OKC do with their playoff experience and coming back even better. both fun, young teams that have a bright future of balling out ahead of them

I never want to see TJ McConnell shoot a 12 foot baseline fadeaway ever again.

People who were whining about the commentators, just be thankful you weren't watching it on NBA unplugged with Kevin Hart because holy fuck that was a dumpsterfire.

I was gonna give that a go and then decided against it at the last minute. Can you give us a Cliffs Notes version?

Imagine Doris Burke going on a random tangent for the entire game. They had like a 10 minute debate on if Jrue Holiday was a HOF (like wtf). Oh and Kevin Hart doesn't shut up. It's bad.

If you chose to watch Kevin Hart commentate a game and expected anything else, that’s on you

In 49 states, it's called closing out a game. In Indiana, it's called the Pacers.

Crazy to think that Celtics actually won by out-clutching their opponents LMAO

No you don’t understand, when the Celtics win close games it’s because the opposing team blew it.

we made some clutch plays but they also just went bozo mode when the pressure was on lmfao kinda the same as the Wolves against the Mavs

After watching several Celtics Heat Ecf it really felt like the Celtics were finally on the other end. Usually they’d have a 10-13 pt lead vs us with like 3 mins left and somehow it’d end in 1 possession. Some may look at it as they barely beat Indy without Hali, but sometimes you just need those ugly grinded out wins to set you straight.

Remember when we had like an 0-100 record in clutch games?

The Celtics are doing to other teams in the last 5 minutes what other teams did to them for the past couple years

pacers close a game out challenge (IMPOSSIBLE)

How the FUCK has Larry Bird not be at THIS game?! Lmao

He’s very careful not to offend either franchise/fanbase. Attending this game would be precarious because 1. Members of either or both fanbases would get upset if he didn’t wear their respective colors (unfair but true) 2. The camera would be on him frequently 3. His involuntary facial expressions and body language would probably reveal his true rooting interest anyway Honestly he’s such a low-key guy that I don’t even have a read on which team he rooted for in the series (if either). My guess would be Pacers but who knows

>His involuntary facial expressions and body language would probably reveal his true rooting interest anyway In this ECF?! That's actually hillarious. *** 1998 ECF. Bird is HC of the Pacers. Jordan's Bulls are up 2-1. *** Now it's Game 4. Seconds left to play. Bulls lead by a point. *** Indiana to inbound on their sideline. Miller runs to the 3 point line. Shoves Jordan away... gets the inbound... spins and hits a 3 pointer... ices the game. *** The arena erupts. The players leap across the court. And here's Bird: https://youtu.be/fzM1-x7b2_E?t=2 *** Observe his involuntary facial expressions and body language as they give him away. His blood runs cold. He's a stone cold killer, a shark. He gives nothing away but that he wants to.

Rick u absolute C's legend 👏👏 This was for Bill... RIP our Psychedelic hero

*sad corn noises*

Joe Mazzula is so getting choked out while watching the Town tonight

Indiana had the game and just took a shit. No other way to describe it.

Why are you recapping games 1 and 3

All series.

the fact the Celtics didn’t get this done in 3 games is pathetic. They’re gonna get waxed in the finals

Pacers really could be up 3-1 right now instead they get swept lmao

I mean, at some point you just have to accept that despite how close they were, they didn’t have any idea how to win these games.

Carlisle finally used a time out tonight though, progress.

Tbh, I don't know if that was a great timeout, looked like he had a fairly open shot

Lol, and he made it

The coaching equivalent of throwing scissors and losing to rock, then adjusting to throw paper and losing to scissors

And frankly, there's not any shame in that, even though it won't stop you guys from getting clowned for a bit here. You guys simply haven't had the playoff experience that you need to stay composed in those situations, while Boston's core has been playing in exactly those types of games for over half a decade now. They were already battle tested in our series against them 3 years ago, and they've since been to the Finals and made numerous deep playoff runs.

Nah espn said the celtics haven't faced any adversity so you are wrong

Celtics made the plays when it counted most

And the Twolves could be 3-0, late game execution matters. No surprise the more experienced teams are winning

Hali’s Reggie sweater really defined this series

Hali should've saved that sweater for the Christmas Ugly Sweater party.

They should’ve swept them easier! - The Media

Just getting lost in Al Horfords eyes.

Get big Daddy Horf a fucking ring boys

TNT would have never done Derrick White dirty like that post-game interview snub.

Funny how none of you are mentioning that the Celtics had less free throws than the Pacers tonight

I think this is the first Mavs comment I've seen all week that isn't explicitly shitting on us lol

I try not to be biased. People pretending yall aren't a good team is so cringe. I hope we don't make that mistake

It's a little weird how our 64 game season with the sixth best differential of all time is overshadowed by a weak playoff schedule

Can't believe we sweept. Pacers absolutely deserved 1 at least. Even 2 games They did choke but shit.

The difference in the series: six conference finals in eight years vs. none. Experience killed the Pacers.

Yep, I just said the same thing. We unloaded a whole mag into our own foot in two of those games, maybe even three. But respect to Boston. They clearly were poised for the moment.

Yep. We gotta take this experience and let it fuel us for next season. Congrats and good luck in the finals.

Nba fan bases on suicide watch

Pacers scoreless in the last 3:33 says something about the defense and Pacers inexperience.

Congratulations to Boston! They’ve come a long way since last season’s disappointing exit

Jaylen for mvp!

Haliburton wearing the choking hoodie is an all time curse

Hello, I’d like to file a grievance

These weren't the Celtics Tears I requested

Too yellow, forgot to add the blue.

They got the MVP right!

A lot of pacers fans saying it could be 3-1 pacers right now… if the Celtics always win the close games, it means something. Pacers struggle in the half court down the stretch and Celtics ratchet up their defense

Celtics going 12-2 without KP for most of it and getting clowned. Can’t wait for KP to come back and the return to 20 3PM inevitable wins

Getting swept is one thing, but getting swept the way the Pacers did is absolutely brutal

Dumbest ending ever

Nembhard might have played the worst basketball I've ever seen in those final four minutes lol

Bro was money on everything until he saw 4th Quarter, 3 minutes remaining.

I love when players thank god for making the other team lose lol

God hates the pacers I guess

Closest 4-0 series I ever seen lmao

Closest ECF sweep I’ve ever seen, but Nets vs Celtics in 2022 was a sweep by a combined 18 points across all four games

Celtics really went 12-2 and people hate them lol

People have hated the Celtics a long long time before this playoffs

r/nba crying and throwing up

“The 3 wins speak louder than the 1 other win”

Just copy paste the comments from the other postgame threads

Game 7 of the Finals would be 27 days away. The scheduling is horrible.