Game 2 Preview: Pacers face must-win situation
TYLER SMITH
ISL Correspondent
The time between Game 1 and Game 2 of the first-round playoff series will probably feel like a month for the Pacers and their fans. They may have an extra day to make some much-needed adjustments, but I would imagine the players would want to get back on the floor as soon as possible to get the nasty taste of a Game 1 defeat out of their mouths.
They’ve been called “wussies” by Charles Barkley. They’ve been called out repeatedly by local media. Many of their own fans have already lost hope at a deep playoff run after one game. A win on Tuesday night wouldn’t change much of these perceptions, but it would at least keep the season alive. I’m surprised to even be saying those words so early into the postseason. The Pacers already face a must-win situation.
Many people, including myself, have underrated the Atlanta Hawks. Even without Al Horford, they do present some matchup problems with certain teams. The Pacers are one of those teams. Make no mistake about it, however, the Hawks are still not even close to being a top team. They may be the eighth seed in the East, but you could argue that they are probably the 15th or 16th best team in the playoffs. For them to have a 20-point lead at one point in Game 1 is more than a little concerning, especially when you consider the struggles of the Pacers the last few months.
The good news for the Pacers is that the playoffs are all about series. This team knows how to win four games in a playoff series. This group of Hawks players may not. The other bit of good news for the Pacers: Every playoff series is different. They could look awful against the 8-seed and squeak by in six or seven games, only to look better the following series against a completely different matchup. The last time the Pacers franchise went to the NBA Finals, they had to beat the 8-seed Milwaukee Bucks in a deciding game (and it was a very close game at that). Not too long ago the Boston Celtics went to a seventh game with the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, before going on to win the NBA championship.
With all this in mind, here’s what I believe to be true right now for the Pacers:
1. Tuesday night is a must-win. At this point, the goal should be to have a tied series coming back to Indiana for Game 5.
2. This team could very well be on a sinking ship with no return.
3. If they DO survive and beat the Hawks, this series may or may not be foreshadowing the next round. Only time will tell.
That’s the beauty of the NBA playoffs. Every day, there can be a different storyline. Every game, new hope or new concerns may arise.
The question is, what kind of adjustments could/should Frank Vogel make? George Hill and Roy Hibbert are both struggling, and both do not fare well in this particular matchup.
Vogel has typically been a “we will play our style of ball against anyone” coach in his time at Indiana. It’s odd for a 1-seed to change how it plays in order to match up better with an 8-seed.
But the season is on the line Tuesday night. There’s no reason for any pride at this point. Try Paul George on Jeff Teague? Use David West and Luis Scola together for most of the game at the 4 and 5 spots? Give Chris Copeland a chance? Whatever it takes to right the ship in this series, the players and coaching staff need to do it. I can’t imagine the scene on Tuesday night should the Pacers drop another one.
I may be in the minority, but I still have some optimism with this team for a deep playoff run. Even my optimism will run completely out if the blue and gold fall short in Game 2.
Follow Tyler Smith on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sports_TYs_20.
