LEAGUES News
Pacers' McMillan after latest sweep: 'We need to get full strength'
For the second straight year, the Indiana Pacers' season ended in a first-round sweep. But much like last year, the team entered the playoffs decimated by injuries.
Head coach Nate McMillan would just like to have luck on his side for a change.
"We need to get full strength," McMillan told reporters after Indiana's 99-87 Game 4 loss to the Miami Heat on Monday. "We haven't seen this particular team full strength for more than five, six games."
The Pacers got guard Victor Oladipo back for the NBA's restart, but at the same time lost All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis. While Sabonis' injury gave T.J. Warren the opportunity to post the best stretch of his career, Indiana was still undermanned.
"Our starting lineup with Victor being in the lineup and Malcolm (Brogdon) and Warren, and Domantas, and Myles (Turner), we haven't seen that combination," McMillan said. "I don't have the number of games, but I know it's not more than 10 games."
Turner has now played five seasons for the Pacers and has lost in the first round five times - including three sweeps.
"At some point, you have to get over the hump, man," Turner said. "Five years of being in the playoffs, five first-round exits. So me, personally, I take that shit personally. You gotta find a way."
Oladipo, meanwhile, is heading into the final year of his contract and is eligible to sign an extension this offseason. He waved off questions about his next deal, saying he was focused on ensuring his knee is healthy.
"I can't really control that right now," the 28-year-old said. "Just focused on making sure I get my knee right. ... I worry about all that when the time comes. My main focus is getting healthy, getting 100% healthy both internally and externally, and coming back next year a different human being."