Rick Carlisle went off on the officiating for the second straight game following the Pacers’ game two loss to the Knicks on Wednesday night, declaring that “small market” teams deserve the same whistles that teams like New York get in the playoffs.
Carlisle’s players downplayed the impact on the officiating in the loss, while C-Mac ripped the Pacers head coach for putting all of the focus on the officiating and seemingly putting none on his own mishaps that have led to his team’s 0-2 series hole.
“The way he handled that press conference was ridiculous,” C-Mac said. “His teams missed foul shots down the stretch, his offense went in the crapper, and he took out his best player down the stretch…McConnell was getting to the basket at will and was by far the best defender on Jalen Brunson.
“It’s the NBA playoffs. Watch the entire game. When the game starts, they are all over Jalen Brunson.”
In game one, a crucial illegal screen call on Myles Turner helped the Knicks seal the win, after a kick ball call turned out to be incorrect, helping New York avoid a costly turnover. After some calls in game two that led to Carlisle erupting on the sideline and eventually being ejected, Indiana reportedly submitted nearly 80 calls they thought were incorrect so far this series. C-Mac said Carlisle is simply embarrassing himself at this point.
“It’s such garbage,” C-Mac said. “It’s such a loser mentality.”