The Indiana Pacers find themselves in a tough spot in their playoff series against the Boston Celtics, down 0-3 after a heartbreaking loss in Game 3. Head coach Rick Carlisle is facing scrutiny for his late-game decision-making, or lack thereof.
In a crucial moment with the Pacers down by one, Carlisle chose not to call a timeout, allowing his players to play it out. Unfortunately, this decision backfired as Jrue Holiday made a game-saving steal on Andrew Nembhard to seal the win for the Celtics.
Fans and analysts alike were quick to criticize Carlisle for his choice, with some calling it a poorly coached series in big moments. Despite the argument against calling a timeout to avoid allowing the defense to set up, the circumstances of being down 0-2 and missing their best player due to injury may have warranted a different approach.
This isn’t the first time the Pacers have struggled in late-game situations in this series, as they also collapsed in Game 1. With the margin for error shrinking in the playoffs, every decision and play can have a significant impact on the outcome.
While Carlisle is a championship coach with a proven track record, his performance in this series has left something to be desired. As the Pacers face elimination in Game 4, all eyes will be on Carlisle and his ability to make the right calls under pressure.