Tag: Nate McMillan

Pacers taking Sixers seriously, standing tiebreakers on their mind

The Indiana Pacers will not take the Philadelphia 76ers lightly when they matchup on Monday.

The Eastern Conference standings are as tight as ever as the calendar turns to January and with teams beginning to asses what is needed for the stretch toward the playoffs. So with that in mind, teams have their eyes on the standings in terms of tiebreakers for when April finally rolls around.

So when the Philadelphia 76ers and the Indiana Pacers matchup on Monday, they will be looking to break a 1-1 season series tie to try and get a leg up on the other. Indiana will have a bit of an advantage on Monday being at home and the Sixers missing Joel Embiid and they understand that they need this one.

Pacers point guard Malcolm Brogdon told J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star:

“It’s definitely understood. It’s a game we have to have.”

Coach Nate McMillan told Michael:

“You always talk about your standings and what a team is doing, the importance of the game, home games. We do address those things.”

The game is equally as important to the Sixers who hold just a half-game lead on the Pacers for the 5 seed in the East. Philadelphia has struggled on the road all season as they are currently 7-13 away from the Wells Fargo Center and have lost five in a row on the road overall.

With things so tight in the standings, it is extremely important for the Sixers to get a leg up on a team like Indiana. Sometimes, winning these tiebreakers with similar opponents can make a huge difference in the race for home-court advantage in the playoffs. [lawrence-related id=23338,23324,23317]

Pacers coach Nate McMillan said Jimmy …

Pacers coach Nate McMillan said Jimmy Butler should have been given a second technical foul, resulting in an automatic ejection, after T.J. Warren’s ejection during Wednesday’s Heat win at Indiana. “They said [Warren] was clapping at Butler, but Butler was also kissing at him,” McMillan said. “None of the officials saw [Butler blowing kisses]. Both guys should’ve been ejected in that situation. Emotions, they’re going to happen.”

Only Warren was ejected, for clapping …

Only Warren was ejected, for clapping his hands in Butler’s face after Butler was called for an offensive foul against him. “We needed to see some fight,” McMillan said. “We needed to see some scrap. I like that Warren was trying to get aggressive defensively and Butler reacted to the pressure defense. I don’t think it was anything dirty by Warren. He didn’t slam him to the floor or anything. Butler responded by getting into his face.”