Rick Carlisle’s fingerprints were all over the Indiana Pacers’ Game 3 win in the 2025 NBA Finals. Now, even 15-time All-Star Kevin Garnett is calling the head coach’s strategy “genius.”
Sure, stars like Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam have fueled Indiana’s run. However, Carlisle is rightfully earning praise for the tactical edge he’s brought to the biggest stage.
On the latest episode of “KG Certified,” Garnett and fellow NBA champion Paul Pierce broke down how Carlisle’s game plan neutralized Oklahoma City’s strengths and swung the momentum back to Indiana.
The Pacers now hold a 2–1 series lead, and Carlisle’s coaching is getting credit from some of the game’s most respected voices.
Kevin Garnett Credits Rick Carlisle for Utilizing an Unorthodox Method To Help the Pacers Win Game 3
In today’s NBA, success often hinges on adaptability — from players embracing new roles to coaches deploying creative schemes. One of the most common tactics? Hunting mismatches through on-the-fly switches. In Game 3 of the NBA Finals, though, Carlisle zagged where others might have zigged.
While Indiana created mismatches on offense, Carlisle had his defense stay disciplined, fighting through screens rather than switching. That’s a throwback approach that disrupted Oklahoma City’s rhythm. Garnett took notice, applauding Carlisle for leaning into an old-school tactic in a high-stakes, modern setting.
“He don’t get his due and he’s so unorthodox,” Garnett said. “Yesterday, we were watching the game and P said, ‘You know what I’m noticing? Man, there are no switches. They went back to a traditional basketball way of getting and sliding through picks. We was watching the game and for about four to seven minutes, we were watching a component of traditional basketball… And then to jump back to where we are now.”
It’s about time for Rick Carlisle to get his due 👏
In a league where coaches get set in their ways, he’s continued to evolve and succeed. pic.twitter.com/xh5rZ6L3X6
— All the Smoke (@allthesmokeprod) June 12, 2025
The 15x All-Star continued, “We were watching this unorthodox going back and forth and I was like ‘bro are you seeing this?’ And it was to his genius. It actually made the game like conducive to watch, because we was watching Nembhard slide through and I was like ‘dog did he just slide through that s***? I think both coaches are pushing each other to be better in everything, and I don’t think Rick gets his due, man…”
Garnett also pointed out that Carlisle should be credited for not insisting on sticking to the ways of his past and displaying a willingness to mix things up.
Pierce also chimed in by revealing that Carlisle was a serious candidate to become the head coach of the Boston Celtics when Pierce was still on the roster. However, the organization ended up choosing Doc Rivers at the time.
