Deadspin | Pacers, Thunder stick to similar approaches for Game 4

The Oklahoma City Thunder don’t seem to be panicking.

The Indiana Pacers don’t seem to be taking the rest with no consideration.

Heading into Friday’s Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Indianapolis, the groups say they are no longer converting a lot in regards to the approaches that experience labored for them.

The Pacers lead the best-of-seven sequence 2-1 — an edge they have held in each and every in their 4 sequence this postseason.

“That’s the challenge before us right now, is to maintain,” Indiana trainer Rick Carlisle mentioned. “It’s got to be a killer edge to beat these guys. We’re going to be an underdog in every game in this series. … It’s a daunting challenge. Anything less than a total grit mindset, we just don’t have a chance.”

The Pacers have thrived in that underdog position, one thing that guard Tyrese Haliburton mentioned after their Game 1 win has pushed him and the remainder of the workforce since closing season.

For the Thunder, it is the second one time they have confronted one of these deficit. They had been down after 3 video games within the Western Conference second-round sequence in opposition to Denver prior to sooner or later successful in seven.

Oklahoma City misplaced back-to-back video games simply two times right through the common season and has but to drop consecutive video games within the playoffs.

“Being down 2-1 in a series, it can have emotions associated with it, but dragging those into the next experience isn’t going to help anybody,” Thunder trainer Mark Daigneault mentioned Thursday. “Them being up 2-1, dragging that in isn’t going to help them, either. You have to compete when the ball goes up in the air. We’ve made a habit of that. We have to double down again on that tomorrow.”

Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the league’s MVP, mentioned that whilst it was once tough to match the eventualities at once from the sequence in opposition to the Nuggets, there have been courses to be discovered in how the workforce replied there.

“We have to be who we are and who we’ve been all season,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “I think we got back to that in that series. If we want to give ourselves a chance in this series, it has to be the same thing.”

Haliburton mentioned he has struggled to sleep a lot right through the Finals, due to a mix of pleasure and tension.

The fifth-year guard is coming off his very best recreation within the sequence, with 22 issues, 11 assists and 9 rebounds in Indiana’s 116-107 house win in Game 3.

“I think the biggest thing with right now is this is like a really exciting time. To play against these guys is an honor,” Haliburton mentioned. “It’s a lot of fun. This is a 68-win team, historically one of the best defenses ever. This is a really good team. They have the MVP. They have a bunch of dudes who are going to be in this league for a long time having a lot of success. …

“As competition, you wish to have to compete in opposition to the finest and those guys are the finest.”

For the Thunder, getting back to their defensive identity is at the forefront after the Pacers shot 51.8 percent (44 of 85) from the field in Game 3.

“We’ve more or less strayed clear of it somewhat bit,” forward Jalen Williams said. “I believe if you end up scoring at a just right fee, every now and then it could possibly drop off somewhat bit. That’s one thing that we’ve got checked out.

“There will be some game-plan adjustments, for sure,” he persisted. “A lot of that is just competing. I don’t want to say ‘competing’ because that sounds like you’re out there not trying. Defensively locking in on a lot of the little things, not let them get comfortable and make those bigger runs late in the game.”

The Pacers have outscored the Thunder 67-43 within the fourth quarter of their two wins within the sequence.

Indiana’s Myles Turner continues to fight an sickness, although he had a important block and rebound overdue in Wednesday’s win.

Carlisle mentioned Turner was once with the workforce right through their movie consultation Thursday prior to heading house to recover.

“Hopefully, he’ll feel better tomorrow,” Carlisle mentioned. “We’ll see.”

–Field Level Media