知名教練Rick Carlisle本賽季所帶領的溜馬隊,打出聯盟數一數二的火力,在今年的季後賽首輪成功擊敗公鹿隊,闖進睽違超過10年的季後賽第二輪,而這也同樣剛好是Rick Carlisle睽違許久的系列賽勝利,上次系列賽贏球已經是2011年對上熱火隊的冠軍賽。
而在此前溜馬是在2015-2020,這五年連續的在第一輪倒下,Carlisle是在2011年拿冠軍之後,連續六個首輪系列賽輸球。
Rick Carlisle just won his first playoff series since winning the Finals in 2011. pic.twitter.com/dSH0LhVTpr
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 3, 2024
賽後Carlisle也談到這場勝利,他將勝利歸功於球隊領袖Tyrese Haliburton,他表示:「Haliburton就是領袖,他帶起全隊的情緒和傳染給所有球迷。」
Carlisle也把這場勝利獻給Myles Turner,Myles Turner在2015-16球季加入球隊之後,球隊就沒有在季後賽贏球過,他也說Turner就是這支球隊建隊基石。
"Tyrese is the ringleader, he brings an emotional exuberance to our team and to our fan base... The whole city and state is behind Myles Turner...he was the foundation of this."
— NBA (@NBA) May 3, 2024
Coach Rick Carlisle sounds off on the Pacers playing with emotion behind their leaders in Game 6 pic.twitter.com/PaHw29FeQv