8 points, 9 seconds
Fansided

The Pacers bench was a spectacular failure in Game 2 blowout against Celtics

A big reason why the Pacers have been successful in the playoffs has been the bench. They were terrible in Game 2 and it was a big reason they got blown out.

By Ryan Stano

May 21, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) knocks the ball away from Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) during the fist half for game one of the eastern conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
May 21, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) knocks the ball away from Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) during the fist half for game one of the eastern conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports / Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
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After an agonizing loss in Game 1, the Pacers came into Game 2 hoping to right some wrongs. It looked like they had a chance to do that at the start of the game. In fact, they held a two-point lead after the first quarter. Then the bench came in and everything changed.

The Pacers didn't score another point for over six minutes and they found themselves on the wrong end of a 20-0 run. That wasn't the only time the bench faltered in this game either. It was an all-game affair from the unit that has been the best in the league all year long.

Isaiah Jackson was the worst offender. The whole reason he's out there is to defend and rebound. He did neither. Countless times, he failed to box out and let either Al Horford or someone else get an offensive rebound. Defensively, he didn't deter anyone at the rim.

The Indiana Pacers' bench was a disaster in Game 2

Obi Toppin was even worse defensively than he normally is. At two different points in the game, he let someone get wide-open for a shot, one of them was a three. His offensive stats will look good, but he was constantly blown by on defense. He has to be better.

Ben Sheppard has lost the ability to hit a wide-open three. He had three of them in this game and not a single one was even close to going in. If he can't hit open threes, the Pacers are in huge trouble. They need his floor spacing along with his defense.

T.J. McConnell may have been the worst offender. He was a team-worst -18 when he was on the floor. He had just nine points on 4-10 shooting and three fouls. He didn't push the tempo as much as he normally does and wasn't able to hit his normal variety of shots.

If the bench doesn't play better in Indiana, the Pacers are in big trouble. That's especially true if Tyrese Haliburton can't play in Game 3. He left Game 2 with a left leg injury. They need all hands on deck and someone other than Pascal Siakam to step up and score.

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The defense, rebounding, and bench all need to be better in Game 3.

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