Tuesday night was a bit of a letdown, huh? Turner seemed to think so, at least at first. He mentioned that they're ready to take on the challenge, but it was clear they missed a chance there.
Turner kept mentioning this "embrace" thing, like they were all in for facing Game 6 head-on. It's not a bad attitude to have, considering they've been pretty good at bouncing back after losses this season.
They've had a knack for shaking off defeats, even when they've been ugly, which is probably why they were so upbeat about facing the Bucks in Game 6, despite the missed opportunity in Game 5.
If you'd told the Pacers at the start of the season that they'd be 3-2 up against the Bucks in the playoffs, they'd have taken it in a heartbeat, especially after three playoff-less years. But now, with the series on a knife-edge, they're realizing they need to step up their game.
Coach Carlisle took some of the blame, saying he might not have had the team fully prepared for Game 5. Even when they were ahead, he felt something was off, especially with their intensity.
The Pacers started strong but couldn't keep it up. Their shooting went cold, especially from outside, and they struggled to score in the paint. The Bucks' defense didn't help, forcing the Pacers into bad shots and preventing them from playing their usual fast-paced game.
Milwaukee, on the other hand, rose to the occasion. Portis, Middleton, Beverley, and Beasley all stepped up in the absence of Antetokounmpo and Lillard, making life difficult for the Pacers.
The Pacers' bench did outscore the Bucks', but it wasn't enough to turn the tide. Even when the starters came back in, they couldn't regain control of the game.
So now, the Pacers have to regroup and refocus. They can't dwell on what could have been; they have to face the challenge ahead of them with determination and a killer instinct if they want to advance to the next round.
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