The losses, six in a row now, are becoming more and more difficult to explain. The coach and players pause, shake their heads and search for the right words, but struggle to come up with any answers beyond the obvious need to close out close games.
Which introduces all sorts of issues into the conversation, but no simple analysis other than the need to do better.
"We have to win those games," coach Nate McMillan said after the Pacers' 106-105 loss to Brooklyn at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Monday. "It's us tonight. It's us again not finishing the game.