Amsterdam📍Rui Hachimura had a trip with beautiful weather after an abbreviated season with the Lakers
LeBron James defends fouling opponents while leading 3-1 after a clutch shot by the Celtics forces the Pacers into overtime
With just over ten seconds remaining in Game 1 of the Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, the Indiana Pacers led by three points. The Celtics prevailed 138-133 in overtime as the Pacers attempted to guard the position with a three-pointer by Jaylen Brown.
As the Pacers may have prevented the Brown jumper if they had fouled earlier in the game, LeBron James highlighted this as an illustration of why teams should foul three times in the last minutes of a game.
“And y’all still wanna know why I would foul up 3 EVERY SINGLE TIME?”
Seeing the Pacers give up in overtime, James felt vindicated because they had put themselves in that situation by failing to foul in order to prevent a game-winning shot. The Pacers could tie the game at two possessions with a four-point advantage if they missed even one of those free throws.
After making the shot to force overtime, Jaylen Brown emerged as the game’s hero for Boston. With six assists, seven rebounds, and 26 points at the end of the game. Along with him, Jayson Tatum had a fantastic performance, scoring 36 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.
Despite being outmatched, the Pacers had a wild dream of pulling off an upset in Game 1 away from home. Tyrese Haliburton finished with 25 points and 10 assists, while Pascal Siakam recovered from a lackluster performance with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists in the fourth quarter. Myles Turner contributed significantly to the Pacers with his 23 points and 10 rebounds.
What Was LeBron James’ Remark Regarding Fouling During an Up Three?LeBron James explained the reasoning behind the absurdity of purposefully forcing a team to the line when a stop was needed. Although he stated that fouling when up three depends on the particular late-game circumstance, he thinks that the players in the current NBA are simply too skilled to take a chance on someone missing a crucial shot.
“WҺаt аre аll оf tҺe current cιrcumstаnces tҺаt exιst? ιs tҺere less tҺаn 24 secоnԀs left ιn tҺe gаme nоw tҺаt yоu’re up tҺree? ιs а tιmeоut ιn effect? WҺιcҺ cаses аre sоme оf tҺem?… ιf yоu аre gоιng tо fоul, yоu must fоul wҺιle tҺe bаll ιs Ԁrιbblιng ԀоwnwаrԀ. ιt’s Ԁιffιcult, аnԀ оccаsιоnаlly mаny men аre scаreԀ tо try ιt аs well. Mаny cоаcҺes аre Һesιtаnt tо cаll а fоul wҺen tҺeιr teаm ιs up tҺree pоιnts becаuse, ιn tҺe fιrst plаce, tҺey Һаven’t prаctιceԀ ιt, оr, ιn tҺe secоnԀ plаce, becаuse оf оur rules аnԀ оtҺer regulаtιоns, tҺιngs cаn get cоmplιcаteԀ аt tιmes аnԀ yоu cаn wιnԀ up senԀιng а plаyer tо tҺe free tҺrоw lιne wҺen yоu ιntenԀeԀ tо fоul Һιm. ι’m fоulιng, tҺоugҺ. ι keep fоulιng; ι just keep fоulιng. Mаn, guys аre tоо аwesоme. Guys аre just tоо аwesоme.
The Pacers would have won in the TD Garden and stolen home-court advantage from a team like the Celtics, who are huge favorites to win this series, if they had fouled late in the fourth quarter when leading by three points.
It makes sense for teams to rely on stopping opponents rather than allowing the free throw line decide the outcome of the game, as it may backfire if the Celtics make their free shots and the Pacers miss theirs. The Pacers might have won in regulation tonight if the free throw line had been there.