INDIANAPOLIS — Whereas Tom Thibodeau’s rotation is getting even shorter because the playoffs progress, Rick Carlisle went 11-deep in a detailed recreation Friday night time because the Pacers seized a 2-0 sequence lead over the Knicks.
After acknowledging that his workforce was outdone on the boards in Recreation 1, Carlisle turned to little-used reserve massive man Tony Bradley for a few temporary stints to fight Mitchell Robinson’s athleticism on the boards.
Bradley solely had performed 17 minutes of mop-up obligation in 4 appearances within the postseason, however he banged our bodies a number of occasions and grabbed a few rebounds with a optimistic ranking of plus-1 in eight minutes — 4 every within the second and third quarters — within the Pacers’ 114-109 victory in Recreation 2 on the Backyard.
“Tony Bradley hasn’t played in the series, but he’s one of our better rebounders,” Carlisle mentioned after the sport. “We elected to go with him to spell Myles [Turner] a little bit. We’re a team that needs everybody. That’s how we’ve got to play.”
Turner and backup middle Thomas Bryant every picked up two fouls within the first half, and Carlisle didn’t hesitate to show to the 6-foot-10 Bradley, a 2017 first-round select of North Carolina.
In contrast, reliable veteran massive Valuable Achiuwa and late-season pickup P.J. Tucker haven’t gotten off the Knicks bench in both recreation.
Thibodeau solely has used Robinson and guard Miles McBride together with doling out heavy minutes to his beginning 5.
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Backup guard Cam Payne was the one different second-team participant to get within the recreation, and he logged 9 scoreless minutes.
“I just was ready when my name was called,” the 27-year-old Bradley mentioned, based on the Indianapolis Star. “I work arduous daily simply staying in form, simply being a very good teammate. I’m prepared to only go arduous. That’s all I do know.
“I was just focused on keeping Robinson off the glass. Staying in contact with him, keeping a body on him. trying to get him tired.”
The Pacers are up 2-0 regardless of the Knicks holding an 84-70 rebounding edge, seven extra in every recreation.
Robinson logged a playoff-high 29 minutes for the Knicks, together with a number of alongside Karl-Anthony Cities, who sat out for a seven-minute stretch of the fourth quarter.
Robinson completed the sport with six factors, 9 rebounds (4 offensive) and three blocked photographs, however solely one in all his rebounds got here with Bradley on the courtroom.
“Shoutout to Tony Bradley. Tony Bradley was huge,” Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton mentioned. “He got here in for us and actually acquired thrown in with our group that has been collectively for therefore lengthy. Tony is simply an superior man and contributes in so many alternative methods.
“When we’re doing our scout through all these series, he’s had to be the scout center. There’s been times when he gets thrown in our first group to take some of Myles’ reps when guys are going through things or are a little banged up or whatever the case may be. It’s just so special to see what our group is doing.”
