In the last two NBA seasons, the rivalry between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers has intensified, marked by consecutive playoff matchups in 2024 and 2025 where the Pacers emerged victorious. Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson, despite his team’s losses, took the opportunity to commend Pacers’ head coach Rick Carlisle for his coaching expertise during this heated competition.
Brunson’s respect for Carlisle might raise eyebrows among some Knicks supporters, but the two share a deeper history. Carlisle coached the Dallas Mavericks during Brunson’s three-season stint with the team before stepping down after the 2020-21 season. Carlisle later resumed his role as the Pacers’ head coach, while Brunson moved to New York for the 2022-23 season.
Understanding Carlisle’s Coaching Style Through Past Collaboration
Having played extensively under Carlisle, Brunson has a clear insight into Carlisle’s system and mechanics. He notes that, although the current Pacers roster differs from the Mavericks’ lineup he was part of, the coaching approach remains consistent. Brunson described the current Pacers as still reflecting Carlisle’s influence.
It still feels like a Rick Carlisle-coached team,
Brunson said on the Roommates Show.
He’s always been a great offensive like X’s and O’s type of coach.
Carlisle emphasizes an up-tempo style, which the Pacers exemplified this season by ranking sixth in the NBA in fastbreak points. Brunson highlighted the versatility and complexity of Carlisle’s offensive schemes.
The plays that they run have so many different options. If you take away something, you’re going to take away this or we have that,
Brunson remarked.
You’re going to do this or we’re going to counter or this. So, like, it wasn’t like things were insanely different. It was a lot of reading and reacting to certain things that we were doing defensively.
Pacers’ Tactical Flexibility Keeps Opponents on Edge
One key aspect of Carlisle’s strategy is offering multiple offensive options that can quickly shift depending on the defense’s reaction. For instance, when the Knicks tried to disrupt the Haliburton-Myles Turner pick-and-roll, the Pacers easily switched to a two-man combination with Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith. This adaptability keeps opponents consistently uncertain and off balance, a feature Brunson admires in Carlisle’s coaching.
He’s always been that way, and that’s what makes him a great coach,
Brunson stated.
Carlisle’s Longstanding Experience Fuels Pacers’ NBA Finals Push
Rick Carlisle’s esteemed coaching career, spanning 24 years, is a significant factor in the Pacers reaching the 2025 NBA Finals. With a track record of success, Carlisle is no stranger to pressure-filled environments, including his notable championship win with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 over the Miami Heat.
Now, 14 years later, Carlisle aims to remind the league of his coaching prowess as the Pacers stand just two wins from securing the NBA championship. The experience and veteran insight he brings continue to elevate the team‘s performance during these critical moments.