The Indiana Pacers have found a way to make it a series against the New York Knicks after losing the first two games of this second-round matchup. The Pacers probably wouldn’t have won both Games 3 and 4 at home without the silent brilliance of backup point guard TJ McConnell, who has been an excellent weapon for Indiana.
What McConnell lacks in flash, he makes up with pure effectiveness on the floor. In Indiana’s 120-98 win over the Knicks, the former Arizona Wildcats star had a double-double of 15 points and 10 assists, while shooting 6/12 from the field and 2/2 from behind the arc.
Fans Give TJ McConnell His Flowers After Excellent Performance in Indiana Pacers’ Game 4 Win vs. Knicks
Here are some of the many praises McConnell has received so far in the Knicks series:
“McConnell has played like this all year long, not just this series. He’s very deservant of the 6th man of the year award I think”
TJ McConnell as soon as the NBA Playoffs started pic.twitter.com/Hx7fq31roJ
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) May 12, 2024
“Non-Pacers fans likely find this a preposterous statement, but TJ has been one of the best players in the NBA the last 3 months (better than Ty). A switch was flipped & he became a prolific scorer who gets to the rim at will. & he continues to be an absolute menace defensively.”
“Would watch Philly play just to watch his hustle years back, despite being a die hard Pacers fan. Glad he is a Pacer now. He brings it every time he’s on the floor. Isn’t the most naturally gifted but he hustles his tail off and always gives 110%. He is giving Hart & Bronson fits”
Watching T.J. McConnell in these playoffs pic.twitter.com/4NaiovJCQw
— Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) May 12, 2024
“Had we not benched him when we did games 1 and 2 this woulda been a sweep”
“If TJ is not a starting-caliber point guard, he identifies as one anyways. He is certainly a cheat code to bring him in off the bench against rotation players.”
“He was much better than Jalen Brunson”
So far in the second round against the Knicks, McConnell has averaged 12.3 points and 6.5 assists while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 40 percent from behind the arc.
McConnell is not going to let the praises he’s been getting cause him to lose focus on what’s ahead for the Pacers.
“Enjoy it now. But as soon as we leave this building we’ve gotta flush it…What we’re walking into at MSG is gonna be a hellacious crowd…We have to really be ready & locked in,” McConnell said after Game 4.
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