Pacers' unique offensive trait is paying dividends

Conventionally, teams rely on defensive stops to generate transition points, hence the expression, "turning defense into offense." It's a formula that brought sustained success to dynastic teams such as the Showtime Lakers, 2010-14 "Heatles" and 2014-19 Warriors.  

The 2024-25 Pacers love to score fast-break points, too, but their approach is both unconventional and unprecedented. Rick Carlisle's men turn offense into offense by pushing the pace before a defense gets set. They did exactly that on multiple occasions during their Game 4 victory by inbounding the ball after a Knicks field goal and scoring at the other end before New York's defenders could sprint back.

ESPN's Tim Legler expertly broke down one early sequence that he felt set the tone for the rest of the game. After Jalen Brunson scored a layup to put the Knicks up 7-6, Tyrese Haliburton threw an outlet pass to Pascal Siakam, with as many as four Knicks defenders still trailing in the backcourt. The pass allowed Siakam to score an easy layup over Karl-Anthony Towns, catching the Knicks off guard.

Ordinarily, teams score such transition buckets only after a steal or a defensive stop, but these Pacers are no ordinary team.

"With that velocity of an outlet pass, Haliburton has set up his co-star [Siakam] against a back-peddling center [Towns]," Legler explained. "So even after they concede a layup on the other end, they are scoring within four seconds the other way."

Knicks guard Josh Hart further highlighted how the well-oiled Pacers machine scores in bunches even after conceding buckets. 

"I think it's difficult for any team [to stop them]," Hart said, via ESPN's Chris Herring. "You can stop one action, but then it's the next action and the next action. If one domino falls...that one person's mess-up is messing up the whole possession."

On the surface, one can deem the Pacers as a team that "trades buckets" and outlasts you with their athleticism. However, they've repeatedly shown the ability to get defensive stops when it matters, which is why they're one win away from the NBA Finals.