Pacers' Rick Carlisle Criticizes Officiating, Calls for Fairness in Playoffs

Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating following his team's 130-121 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Carlisle's frustrations stemmed from what he perceived as biased calls favoring larger-market teams.

“I'm always talking to our guys about not making it about the officials and, but, we deserve a fair shot,” Carlisle said.

“There's not a consistent balance. It's disappointing.”

After receiving two technical fouls and being ejected late in the game, Carlisle emphasized the importance of fairness for small-market teams. He cited instances where he believed the Pacers were on the receiving end of incorrect calls, including a play where Knicks' Josh Hart appeared to shove Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton without a whistle.

Despite acknowledging the Pacers' need for self-accountability in their performance, Carlisle asserted the importance of consistent officiating, particularly in critical playoff moments. He criticized a late-game double dribble violation against Pacers' Isaiah Hartenstein, which was later overturned to the benefit of the Knicks.

“In the playoffs, when you submit things, the other team can see what you submit. And so, there were 29 plays in Game 1 that we thought were clearly called the wrong way. I decided not to submit them because I just felt like we'd get a more balanced whistle tonight,” Carlisle said. “It didn't feel that way.”

Looking ahead to Game 3 in Indiana, Carlisle called for equal treatment regardless of market size, highlighting the Knicks' advantage in free throw attempts throughout the series. While acknowledging the Pacers' higher foul rate during the regular season, Carlisle stressed the need for fair officiating to avoid the perception of bias.

“Small-market teams deserve an equal shot,” he said. “They deserve a fair shot no matter where they are playing.”

The controversy surrounding officiating decisions has clouded the competitiveness of the series, with Carlisle's remarks underscoring the stakes for small-market teams in the postseason. As the Pacers trail 2-0 in the series, the focus remains on ensuring a level playing field moving forward.