There is a reason why Los Angeles Lakers superstar forward LeBron James said that Indiana Pacers backup point guard TJ McConnell is one of his favorite NBA players today.
On Thursday night , McConnell showed everyone again why the Pacers value him so much and why he’s such an underrated player. Together with Indiana big man Obi Toppin, McConnel made life hard for the Bucks, whose coach, Doc Rivers, had nothing but good things to say about the two during the postgame press conference.
Speaking to reporters, Rivers gave Toppin and McConnell their flowers.
“Toppin had a hell of a series overall… TJ is just a pain in the a*s. He just really is. He didn’t do great offensively… but he was just this pest defensively.”
In the series-clinching 120-98 win at home over the Bucks, McConnell came off the bench and fired 20 points with nine assists and four steals, while shooting 7/9 from the field and 2/2 from behind the arc. He made sure to capitalize on the minutes he was given and reciprocated the trust he got from Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle with a big game. Toppin, on the other hand, added 21 more bench points and grabbed eight rebounds to go with two assists and a block.
The Pacers are not lacking in stars, as they have the likes of Tyrese Haliburton , Myles Turner, and Pascal Siakam, but guys like Toppin and McConnell are also paramount to the success of the team. They should have significant roles again in the next round where the Pacers will take on Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks in a throwback Eastern Conference playoff matchup.
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