Rick Carlisle and Indiana Pacers alter starting lineup against Chicago Bulls, but don't expect a permanent change
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle made a starting lineup change on Wednesday night. When the Pacers hosted the Chicago Bulls in their final game before the All-Star break, Andrew Nembhard moved to the bench.
Nembhard has started 41 times for the blue and gold this year, including all but four Pacers games since November 30. He is a trusted member of the opening five. But on Wednesday, Carlisle opted to bring Nembhard off the bench and started veteran guard T.J. McConnell in his place.
McConnell had just five starts on the season prior to Wednesday, and none of them came alongside All-Star Tyrese Haliburton. Against the Bulls, though, both McConnell and Haliburton started. And the reasoning was fairly sound.
McConnell has been playing great in the calendar year 2023, and he was fantastic the last time Indiana battled Chicago. He finished with 20 points and 10 assists in a win, and his defense on Bulls star Zach LaVine was fantastic, LaVine finished with 14 points on 28.6% shooting and had six turnovers.
Thus, Carlisle chose to open the game with McConnell instead of Nembhard on Wednesday. The head coach did note that the switch was based on how the recent Pacers-Bulls game went. But Carlisle ended up not liking his decision to make a change.
"It turned out to be not a great coaching idea, the way it worked," he said after the game. The Pacers started off the outing poorly and were trailing 39-15 at the end of the first quarter. Carlisle, though, doesn't think the starting lineup alteration contributed to the slow start. He just didn't like the way his new-look opening five looked.
In the second half, Nembhard started instead of McConnell, and the Pacers' old rotation returned. The veteran McConnell finished with two points and seven assists while the rookie Nembhard had four points and five assists.
Indiana ended up winning the game 117-113 after a 24-point comeback. It was a needed victory for the team ahead of the All-Star break. But in the end, it became clear that the McConnell-Haliburton pairing should not open games. Expect the Pacers starting five to contain Nembhard again when the long break ends.
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