Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle didn’t hold back in criticizing his team after their ugly showing in Game 1 of their NBA Playoffs series against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Pacers’ biggest lead was two points, which came in the first four minutes of the game when the two teams are just exchanging blows. But when Milwaukee started to pull away, Indiana offered little resistance.
Milwaukee Bucks Destroy Indiana Pacers

Carlisle’s men simply had no answer for Damian Lillard, who exploded for 35 points in the first half to propel the Bucks to a 27-point lead over the Pacers at halftime.
Even without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks controlled the game and was aggressive throughout, knowing for a fact that the Pacers would come roaring back should they slip-up.
Indiana fought hard in the second half to keep things interesting. However, even though they held Lillard scoreless in the final 24 minutes by double or triple-teaming him, it was not enough as it only opened up the floor for the rest of the Bucks to score.
Pascal Siakam led the way for the Pacers with 36 points and 13 rebounds. Myles Turner had also 17 points and eight boards. However, their superstar in Tyrese Haliburton was shut down in the contest, finishing with just nine points, seven rebounds and eight assists.

Haliburton attempted just seven shots in the game, which definitely affected the usual high-octane Indiana offense. It’s worth noting that the Pacers entered the playoffs with the second-best offensive rating, but that was not clear on Sunday night.
Indiana Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle Reacts To Milwaukee Bucks Defeat

Speaking to reporters postgame, Rick Carlisle didn’t sugarcoat his words as he pointed out what went wrong for his Indiana Pacers in the game.
Carlisle particularly noted the their first half was simply “embarrassing” and that they looked “inexperienced” against a team that they beat four times out of five tries during the regular season.
“The first half was embarrassing. No excuses. We simply have got to come out better. It was ugly, and we all own it. … They looked like the experienced team and we looked inexperienced,” Carlisle shared, per Dustin Dopirak of Indy Star.
“That led to a lot of the problems. Playoffs, you can talk about how different it is, but actually experiencing it is another thing. This is a great building, they have great fans, they understood what this game meant. Give them credit for how they played in the first half, but we were very poor, and obviously gotta be way way better.”
Carlisle certainly couldn’t have described it any better. When everyone expected the Pacers to pose a threat, they came out flat against a shorthanded Bucks squad.
Of course Bucks fans are wishing the Pacers will keep struggling in their series. But then again, hopes are high that they can at least keep it competitive.
Game 2 of the Bucks-Pacers series is scheduled on Tuesday, April 23.

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