INDIANAPOLIS (AP) \u2014 After seeing Indiana\u2019s defense stifle the Milwaukee Bucks\u2019 shooters, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle made it clear to his team that it needs to be even better in Game 2.<\/p>\n
Yes, even in an NBA era defined by pace, spacing and 3-point shooting on offense, Carlisle knows postseason success usually comes down to defense.<\/p>\n
The Pacers\u2019 performance in Saturday\u2019s first-round playoff series opener<\/a> looked better on paper than it apparently did to Carlisle.<\/p>\n Milwaukee made 9 of 37 3-pointers (24.3%) after leading the league at 38.7% during the regular season and finished 17 1\/2 points below its scoring average despite getting 36 points and 12 rebounds from two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. The problem: Milwaukee\u2019s four other starters<\/a> totaled 14 points and two of them failed to score.<\/p>\n \u201cGiannis got to the basket too much,\u201d Carlisle said after his team\u2019s 117-98 victory. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to build walls and he\u2019s still getting there. He\u2019s a great player and great players cause collateral problems, so it\u2019s not a surprise. We fouled them a lot, too, and we\u2019ve got to cut down on the fouls.\u201d<\/p>\n The message that good is not good enough seemed to catch on during the first weekend of the playoffs.<\/p>\n Houston, the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference,<\/a> had a season low in scoring during an old-school, grind-it-out 95-85 loss to No. 7 Golden State on Sunday. The Warriors can take a 2-0 lead Wednesday \u2014 if they can replicate their defensive performance.<\/p>\n The West\u2019s top seed, Oklahoma City, put on a defensive clinic<\/a> against Memphis in a 131-80 blowout Sunday. The Grizzlies shot 34.4% from the field, were 6 of 34 on 3s and committed 22 turnovers, prompting some observers to question Memphis\u2019 effort. Game 2 is Tuesday.<\/p>\n The solution, at least in the Bucks\u2019 case, sounds simple.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve just got to be more decisive with the ball. That\u2019s pretty much it,\u201d Antetokounmpo said Saturday. \u201cWhen the ball gets to your hand, shoot the ball or create an opportunity to the advantage of the next player. If you don\u2019t have a shot, that means you can get downhill and if you get downhill either you finish or you pass the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s the beauty of these playoff chess matches.<\/p>\n With days off and sometimes multiple days off between games and the same matchups repeatedly playing out, coaches and players have ample time to practice,<\/a> make adjustments, change assignments and switch strategies.<\/p>\n The intrigue in each successive contest, such as the Pacers-Bucks matchup Tuesday in Indianapolis, explains why Carlisle has been telling his team it will be \u201cmonumentally\u201d more difficult to take a 2-0 lead than it was to win Game 1.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the odds of them shooting that poorly from 3 probably aren\u2019t that high as the series goes on,\u201d Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton said. \u201cI think we\u2019ve done a great job of showing our pressure up on the floor. We\u2019re just trying to keep flying around, making the extra effort because I feel like the basketball gods will reward you for the harder you play.\u201d<\/p>\n