"Final tactic is actually quite good"- Fans laud Rick Carlisle for running football play to get game-tying shot off in Game 3 

NBA fans gave props to Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle for crafting a solid football-like play in trying to extend Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals at home against the Boston Celtics on Saturday.

Down 114-111 with 1.7 seconds remaining on the game clock, Carlisle came up with a play that had his players charging from midcourt to their side of the floor at the same time to create confusion.

Guard Andrew Nembhard managed to successfully inbound the ball off the play to teammate Aaron Nesmith but his desperation game-tying three-point heave from the side failed to go in, preserving the Celtics victory.

While the play failed to bring out the desired result, many fans still felt it was a creative play that Boston was lucky to have dodged.

Below are what some of the fans wrote on X (formerly Twitter) about Rick Carlisle's last-second play.

X user Denise Emerson highlighted the craftiness of the play, saying:

"The final tactic is actually quite good."

He was seconded by @BB_Bundy, who saw the play as a blueprint for other teams to follow, writing:

"Didn't work, but ngl the play was cerative and got a shot off. I bet we see teams try using this moving forward."

Still another from @the_stug0tz:

"I mean that's pretty good look all things considered"

There were others, meanwhile, who liked Rick Carlisle's play but suggested making some tweaks to it.

X user Jordan (@Jwillfrmmid_) would have loved to see Nembhard taking the shot instead of inbounding:

"he really had his leading scorer for the game inbounding the ball"

@adoboloco87 also had the same sentiment on Ricks Carlisle, saying:

"Very creative, but didn't understand Nembhard was inbounding instead of taking the shot. He was the only one shooting well for 3."

@dcm21spurs, for its part, suggested:

"Its a good play, especially if the inbounder sees McDermott on the other end.."

X user Ronin (@UnbiasednBiased), meanwhile, highlighted that the play might not have worked but Rick Carlisle and the team would be able to live with it as it gave them an opportunity to extend the game:

"They got a clean shot off. That's all they could ask for."

Rick Carlisle still proud of his players despite heartbreaking Game 3 loss

Rick Carlisle lamented having the rug pulled from under them by the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals series on Saturday at home but was still proud of his team for putting up a tough fight despite being undermanned.

The Pacers played without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) but came a play or two away from notching a victory that would have narrowed their series deficit to 2-1 instead of going down 3-0.

Rick Carlisle made sure to give praise to his players following their heartbreaking 114-111 loss in Game 3, saying by way of the Associated Press:

"Courageous. Our guys played a great game. We came up a little short tonight, but we will be back Monday and we will be punching even harder."

Andrew Nembhard led four Pacers who scored 20 points or more with 32. T.J. McConnell had 23 points while Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner each had 22 in the loss.

Game 4 of the series is on Monday also in Indiana.