Finding a fast fix for the Pacers' slow starts (Patreon)

Examining why the Pacers keep getting down big in the first quarter 

By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper

Despite posting a 2-2 record, while digging out of double-digit deficits in wins over both the Jazz and Clippers, the Pacers got outscored 145-86 in the first quarter of the four games they played out west, trailing by at least 10 points in each of the four opening frames. As can probably be inferred from the massive score discrepancy, the problems for the Pacers weren't limited to one end of the floor or the other. Their first-quarter offensive rating during this stretch ranked 30th and their first-quarter defensive rating was only slightly "better," at 29th, as they got buried by a league-worst 58.7 points per possessions. Needless to say, this isn't sustainable.

"You cannot survive doing this and having these kind of poor starts," Rick Carlisle told reporters at the end of the road trip following the 124-117 loss to the Lakers. "We've got to look in the mirror, and I've got to look and consider everything."  

As such, in the interest of considering everything, join me in going through the looking glass of the first-quarter film to determine what if any fast fixes there might be, with only two games remaining until the All-Star Break, for the slow starts.

Here are the relevant timestamps:

0:00 - Introductions

1:27 - Bad transition defense

3:40 - Why the bad transition defense was actually encouraging

4:20 - The impact of not having Myles Turner on defense

6:34 - Not all of the defensive issues were about not having Turner

13:33 - Brief aside/rant about Austin Reaves' career-high scoring performance

17:07 - The impact of not having Turner on offense

18:56 - Play breakdown of "sideline" and why it brings up a philosophical question about what makes the Pacers the Pacers

23:58 - Tyrese Haliburton going 1-of-13 from the field + taking eight shots as threes

24:17 - Bennedict Mathurin leading the team in first-quarter usage

25:19 - Mathurin's hostage dribble + improved pacing in the pick-and-roll

26:27 - Mathurin playing separately from the offense

28:03 - Why the Pacers shouldn't make a lineup change against the Knicks

31:25 - But, might need to if things stay as is after the All-Star break

32:44 - Thank you and goodbye