It’s the Finals. I’ve worked my whole life to be here. I want to be out there to compete… if I can walk, I want to play.”

NBA coaches now are mostly interchangeable baby sitters, minute monitors and ego strokers. Carlisle is the last of a breed: An NBA coach who is a weapon in a game. Carlisle's exit

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — It’s official: Rick Carlisle isn’t just an Indiana Fever fan. He’s a fan of the WNBA game in general.

Indiana Pacers Coach Rick Carlisle crossed the practice court Sunday and smirked when he realized a line of video cameras and cellphones was tracking his every step. “There’s nothing exciting going on over here,

Indiana's backup point guard provided a huge spark in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but he saw little court time in the final quarter of a loss to the Thunder.

The Indiana Pacers will return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for Game 6 of the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday, June 19, on the brink of elimination down 3-2.

The Pacers now have their season on the brink. Tyrese Haliburton, meanwhile, faces his own scrutiny amid his calf injury.

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On Monday night after the Indiana Pacers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 120-109 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Haliburton's coach admitted he's playing injured. During his postgame press conference, Rick Carlisle said that Haliburton’s leg injury was still, clearly, having an impact on his ability to perform on the court.

If there's undue slander against an individual in the NBA community, one can always rely on the Pacers head coach to set the record straight.