Lakers–Pacers Observations: A Case for Why Basketball Is So Fun to Watch on So Many Levels

Last-second game winner, awesome shot-making, a Rick Carlisle vs. J.J. Redick chess match, and a quick analytical digest

Photo by Michal Hickey / Getty images

Sometimes it’s tough to write about Luka Dončić and Lakers games here. I know many of you are Mavs fans, most of you from Texas, and for a lot of you, the trade still stings. Mavs games have been tough to write, because of the injuries, but I still try to keep it relevant for you guys even if I’m not writing directly about the Mavs.

At the end this is still about basketball, and when a game like last night’s Lakers–Pacers matchup comes around, it reminds you why you love watching this sport in the first place.

A high-profile, nationally televised ESPN matchup with plenty of storylines going in — the Lakers trying to snap a three-game losing streak, the Pacers riding a five-game win streak, and Luka Dončić facing off against his old coach Rick Carlisle. Whether you root for Luka or against him and the Lakers, this game had everything — from his highlight plays and high-profile breakdowns to tactical adjustments, shot making and a wild finish, capped by a LeBron James game-winning tip-in at the buzzer.

As I was watching the game — I usually watch first thing in the morning, not live, with scores hidden, pausing and rewinding to make my play-by-play notes — I couldn’t help but think about something else: how basketball can be fun to watch on so many different levels.

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Today’s highlights:

1. The stars, playmaking, and sports drama level (🎞️VIDEO)

2. The tactical chess match level (🎞️VIDEO)

3. Analytical and contrasting style of play level 📊

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1-The stars, playmaking, and sports drama level (🎞️VIDEO)

This game brought everything we love about sports: the stars, the struggle, the drama, the final breakthrough.

James struggling to score early, going 0-for-6 in the first three quarters, putting his 18-year streak of scoring 10 or more points in a game in danger. Only to break through by scoring 8 quick points to open the fourth.

Dončić displaying his unbelievable shot-making, hitting six three-pointers on his way to a 34/7/7 stat line, and either scoring himself or generating open looks that another late hero, Rui Hachimura, calmly knocked down in the clutch. Only to be part of some late defensive breakdowns that almost led to a big Pacers turnaround in the final minute.

And of course, the final possession — where James deferred to Dončić, who missed a heavily contested runner, only for James to tip it in with one-tenth of a second remaining.

2-The tactical chess match level (🎞️VIDEO)

This game was also for those who follow and enjoy basketball on a deeper, tactical level. Two coaching 'sickos' — Rick Carlisle and J.J. Redick — going at it like a chess match. Redick targeted Tyrese Haliburton from the very first possession, using Rui Hachimura post-ups to force double teams and rotations. Carlisle responded by attacking the Lakers’ smaller guards like Austin Reaves with Pascal Siakam on the block, and punished every bit of indecision or poor rotation in pick-and-roll coverage — with Haliburton orchestrating and Myles Turner popping out for threes (Turner finished 4-of-5 from deep). On the other end, Dončić and Reaves hunted Haliburton and Turner in pick-and-rolls all night, with the Pacers trying to escape the switch by hedging — but that approach gave up several downhill drives for both.

Both coaches drawing up great after-time-out (ATO) sets, like this Redick Flex action for a Dončić catch-and-shoot three:

Earlier this week, I wrote about NBA size games and how teams use different strategies when it comes to size and length.