As the Indiana Pacers prepare for Game 4 of the NBA Finals, head coach Rick Carlisle emphasized the need for relentless focus and physical resilience against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Indiana took a 2-1 lead in the series after a fourth-quarter comeback in Game 3, but Carlisle is not entertaining any talk about momentum. “We’re not getting into answering questions about the future,” he said during Thursday’s media availability. “Anything less than a total grit mindset — and we just don’t have a chance.”
Carlisle pointed to Oklahoma City’s explosive potential as a reason for the Pacers to remain locked in. “You look at what Oklahoma did at the beginning of the game — 16 to 7, boom, just like that,” he said. “We have a lead at the end of the third quarter — boom, all of a sudden we’re down five going into the fourth.”
The veteran coach also praised his team’s commitment to sacrificing individual performance for collective success. “We need everybody — we need everybody to put everything they have into it,” he said. “That’s how we’ve gotten to the Finals.”
T.J. McConnell was one of several role players who helped shift Game 3. The backup guard posted 10 points, five assists, and five steals in just 15 minutes — a stat line never before recorded by a bench player in an NBA Finals game. Carlisle credited McConnell and Thunder’s Alex Caruso for their determination and impact. “They’re both self-made guys. They’ve overcome a lot,” he said.
Carlisle recounted seeing Caruso years ago in a free agent camp with the Mavericks before he made the NBA. “Some of these guys that go under the radar have that level of grit and determination that is able to get them to the league — and to get them some longevity and high impact.”
With forward Myles Turner battling illness, Carlisle noted the center participated in the team’s film session but skipped media duties. “He did — he was there for our film session. And he’s going home. So hopefully he’ll feel better tomorrow,” the coach said.
Asked about the growth of Indiana’s younger players, Carlisle highlighted the influence of experienced leaders like Pascal Siakam in mentoring teammates like Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhard. “Pascal is an example of a guy that has a lot of experience. He’s a leader by nature,” he said. “At the appropriate times, he’s always there to talk to the team.”
Game 4 is scheduled for Friday night in Indianapolis, where the Pacers will look to defend home court and edge closer to the franchise’s first NBA title.
