It's safe to say the Indiana Pacers are exasperated with the officiating in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks.
On Thursday, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported the Pacers submitted 78 incorrect or non-calls in Games 1 and 2. Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle lambasted the officiating after a 130-121 loss in Game 2, claiming the team found 29 questionable calls in Game 1.
"I can promise you that we're going to submit these tonight," Carlisle said Wednesday night via Windhorst. "New York can get ready. They'll see them, too. I'm always talking to our guys about not making it about the officials, but we deserve a fair shot."
Windhorst added that the NBA will share these plays with the Knicks as a part of league protocol.
Some of the officiating in the series has sparked controversy. In Game 1, officials called a moving screen on Pacers center Myles Turner when Indiana trailed 118-117 with 12.1 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
During the broadcast, TNT analyst Stan Van Gundy said, "You never see that call at this point in the game."
"That is shocking. You never see that call at this point in the game. I mean, NEVER... That is a great acting job. Lot of great actors here in New York City; you see 'em on Broadway all the time. That's as good an acting job as you'll see." - Stan Van Gundy ️ pic.twitter.com/AmhDxlLeH3
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 7, 2024
In Game 2, officials reversed a double-dribble on Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein, with the Pacers down 124-118 and 1:19 remaining in the fourth quarter. The unusual sequence resulted in a Carlisle ejection.
Reggie Miller: How is it inadvertent? I heard it. I heard the whistle and the call.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 9, 2024
Brian Anderson: And the signal.
Miller: Right. And the signal. He signaled, double-dribble.
Bizarre sequence that ultimately led to Pacers coach Rick Carlisle getting ejected. pic.twitter.com/hxEupXzJfE
Carlisle also pulled the small-market card after the loss. While his frustration is understandable, he shouldn't pin all the blame on officiating. Knicks guard Jalen Brunson has dominated Indiana thus far, averaging 36 points on 56.8 percent shooting.
"Let's not pretend like [officiating] is the only reason we lost. We just didn't play good enough," Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton said via Windhorst. "We just got to be better."
To overcome a 2-0 deficit, the Pacers can't let officiating impact their psyche and must play better in Game 3 in Indiana on Friday.
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