The Pacers need more T.J. McConnell against Knicks to stay alive in NBA Playoffs

with the Indiana Pacers new york knicks was poised for a thrilling end to Game 2 of their 2024 NBA Playoffs second round series. Pacers guard TJ McConnell made a tough finish inside the arc to tie the game at one point with about eight minutes left in regulation. After Josh Hart hit a 3-pointer on the next possession, McConnell set up teammate Pascal Siakam for a midrange bucket.

That’s when Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle decided to sub in McConnell for guard Andrew Nembhard. From then on, the Pacers’ offense stalled, and the Knicks continued to perform well, giving them a 2-0 lead in the series.

The Knicks defeated the Pacers 130-121 in both games at Madison Square Garden to open the series. Indiana logged a comical 78 complaints to the league office about officiating at the start of the series, but the Pacers might want to take a look in the mirror to see why they really fell apart in Game 2.

McConnell has been Indiana’s secret weapon throughout this series. With McConnell out, the Pacers have outscored the Knicks by 19 points through the first two games. Indiana goes to the bench and gets smoked. So why did Carlisle keep McConnell on the bench for the rest of the game?

For those who haven’t watched the game, it’s easy to think this might be a fluke with a small sample size, but for those who have been closely following this series, there’s a very real impact that McConnell is having. You will understand. He is Indiana’s only hope to slow Brunson down by even half the pace, and he also plays a key role in moving the offense forward.

After McConnell checked out, Brunson scored 11 points in the final half, most of which came from Nembhard. Meanwhile, the Pacers’ offense couldn’t keep up with opponents without the veteran’s steady hand of scoring and facilitating.

McConnell, 32, started his collegiate career at Duquesne before going undrafted out of Arizona in 2015. he, philadelphia 76ers, where he established himself in the league as a defensive pest off the bench. He signed with the Pacers as a free agent in 2019 and has been a mainstay of Indiana’s second unit ever since.

McConnell was never a great player, but he was always a frustrating figure. You can feel it every time he steps on the floor in this series. Brunson can’t be stopped in these NBA playoffs, but McConnell can at least get him full court and make him work by putting pressure on the ball every time he grabs the rock. Somehow, McConnell also thrived as a scorer and playmaker in this series. New York doesn’t know how to slow him down.

McConnell had an equally impressive performance in Game 1, followed by 10 points and 12 assists in 23 minutes in Game 2. While young guards like Nembhard struggle to adjust to the physicality of the playoffs, McConnell is fully committed to the task.

He plays with absolutely no fear when attacking defenses, which helps Indiana stay in the game every time he’s on the floor.

When McConnell checked out, Knicks fans breathed a deep sigh of relief. Pacers fans are losing their minds. It’s rare for a career role player to have such a big impact on a series, but given the bright lights of Madison Square Garden and the Knicks’ physical superiority, that makes some sense.

Young guards can easily be overwhelmed, but McConnell isn’t afraid of the moment.

The NBA Playoffs are all about series-long adjustments. The easier adjustment for the Pacers is TJ McConnell.