All season long, the Pacers have bounced back quickly after their "bad" losses, the ones in which they weren't competitive or failed at home against inferior teams. At the next practice session, they were dependably upbeat and talkative with one another while shooting free throws when the media was allowed in.
Not so on Friday, the morning after one of the most perplexing and frustrating losses in the franchise's postseason history. Clearly that loss to Cleveland, featuring a squandered 25-point halftime lead, will take a while to get over. Call it a hangover, call it a mourning period, they'll need time to rebound emotionally.