Pacers' Unique Strategy May Redefine NBA Team Dynamics

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00:00But with the Pacers, it's like somebody else every game for them.

00:03Last night, if you had Benedict Matherin as your star of the game with 27 points,

00:08I mean, you can't make it up.

00:10I mean, maybe the Pacers are building a new model on how to win.

00:15Yeah, it's definitely a copycat league.

00:17And if the Pacers are able to get two more wins and win a championship with this roster,

00:22with this depth, with the ability for somebody different to beat you every game,

00:26we might see other teams follow suit.

00:27Now, there's a long road to get those next two wins.

00:30The Thunder have been spectacular following losses during these playoffs.

00:34But I will say, I've preached taking this series over five and a half games,

00:38and it looks like we're on a path for that to happen now,

00:41unless the Pacers win in five games.

00:42Then I'd really be stunned.

00:44But up to this point, I think we have a really good series on our hands.

00:47Yeah, definitely so.

00:48Shea Gilgis-Alexander, by the way, 9 of 20 from the free-for range.

00:52A lot of turnovers in this game.

00:53I think that certainly could be leading to the difference here, Gilbert.

00:57And I guess I would ask you moving forward, can Indiana put up that defensive intensity every single game?

01:03I mean, I guess this is a product of not having to play every night or even every other night.

01:08The Pacers' defense has been outstanding.

01:11Absolutely.

01:12You know, I think they have the energy behind them going back to Indiana.

01:15First NBA Finals game at that building in nearly 25 years, basically 25 years, having that game.

01:22And C.T.J. McConnell, five steals.

01:24Shea Gilgis-Alexander, as you mentioned, career playoff high, six turnovers.

01:27And he mentioned some of the adjustments that the Pacers made defensively.

01:31It's all about adjustments at this point.

01:32There's only one day for them to adjust.

01:34There's another game tomorrow.

01:35Can Oklahoma City deal with the physicality, deal with what Indiana did defensively?

01:39I think that they will respond to that, but kudos to Indiana for doing what they did last night

01:44to make Oklahoma City a little bit more uncomfortable than they have been during this series

01:48and, quite frankly, throughout the playoffs.

01:49So it's going to be interesting to see if Indiana can do that.

01:52They keep a lot of bodies out there.

01:53They're fresh.

01:54They play a lot of guys.

01:55And I think that contributes to their defensive effort as well.