In matching what was an uneven game, which saw the Pacers finish as erratically during crunch-time as they started in building an early deficit, Indiana came out of halftime with an equally uneven approach to defense. With a raised, clinched fist, Indiana’s guards not only signaled for zone following a make or dead ball situation; they also routinely glanced at the bench, as T.J. McConnell can be seen doing below, for what type of zone to play.
Why? Because, at times, rather than defending at the top of a more conservative 2-3 alignment, he was responsible for chasing out of 1-3-1 as the tip of the spear.