INDIANAPOLIS -- Rick Carlisle was asked about the 45-29 disparity by which the Pacers lost the rebounding battle Sunday to the Hornets and the related 19-4 margin in second-chance points. The 23rd-year NBA head coach saw no need to analyze it beyond the obvious implication.
"I think they were trying harder," Carlisle said. "There you go. We gotta try harder, you know?"
Much more could be said about the Pacers' humiliating 113-109 defeat at the hands of the extraordinarily short-handed Hornets at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday, but ultimately that's the only sentiment that matters.
The Pacers have had more disconnected offensive efforts this season than they did on Sunday and flimsier defensive ones.