At the end of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Indiana Pacers ran a creative play that looked like it was out of the Indianapolis Colts playbook instead of an NBA team. With the Pacers down by 3 with 1.7 seconds remaining in the game, the Pacers lined up four players in the backcourt like wide receivers in a bunch formation.
Just before the “snap” as the ball was handed to Andrew Nembhard on the sideline, each of the three players in the front of the formation started running their route. Myles Turner ran a straight vertical to clear space as Doug McDermott and Aaron Nesmith ran perfectly executed crossing routes with a well-timed rub screen causing two Celtics defenders to collide. Pascal Siakam trailed the play as a potential release valve if needed.
The result was a shot that’s hard to get with so little time left and down 3-points: Aaron Nesmith received a pass on the wing and was open with a chance to tie against his former team. While the shot fell just short much like the hopes of the Pacers in three of the four games in the Celtics sweep, the play design was masterful.
Ahead of Game 4, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle explained the origins of the creative play call out of the timeout that gave them a good look to tie the game after he misspoke in originally giving credit for the play’s creation to long-time assistant Mike Weinar.
“It was a play that Jenny Boucek came up,” said Carlisle. “It’s an interesting story. It was a play born of experience she had playing flag football back quite a while ago.”
Carlisle explained that Boucek, former Seattle Storm head coach, had discussed the concept with Sue Bird with using football concepts to create an open look late in a game.
“Some real WNBA influence on our game,” Carlisle said.
Carlisle also have credit to Nick Nurse who hosted a coaching clinic a few years ago and talked about utilizing the Canadian Football League’s motion rules to get guys moving before the ball is handed to the in-bounds passer which you can see the players do on this play as well.
While it was a bummer that the shot didn’t go in and resulted in another heartbreaking loss for the Pacers in a series full of them as they were eliminated in Game 4, it’s a cool concept for a play and something rarely seen before. Hat tip to Boucek for the creativity. She met with Caitlin Cooper and talked about the play below.
What other sports should the Pacers design play calls based on?
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