“Whatcha Been Doing…Sitting Poolside?”- Stephen A. Smith Dismantles “Lethargic” Bucks for Disastrous Start to In-Season Tournament Semifinal vs. Pacers

The Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers semi-finals are in full swing in Las Vegas. The Pacers were off to a fiery start, leading the Bucks by a full 12 points at halftime. Watching the whole scenario, Stephen A. Smith can’t help but wonder a few things.

With a stage in Las Vegas, the ESPN broadcast team is doing a thorough job of entertaining fans. Getting Stephen A. on a show means there will be something bound to make headlines.

Stephen A. has a few questions he would like answers to

He asks his co-hosts what the Bucks have been doing all day. “They look disinterested… Whatcha been doing all day? Sitting poolside? What the hell is going on?” he asks.

The start of the third quarter saw the Bucks try to close the gap. Unfortunately, the Pacers came out the winner, defeating the ‘Deer State’ 129-119. With this, Indiana has moved one step closer to the in-season cup and the $500,000 prize money.

While they are all great incentives, for Tyrese Haliburton, it’s all about the narrative. Changing how the Indiana Pacers are viewed is a far greater motivation than anything else. After their shocking win over Boston, he had said as much, “That’s all we’re about right now, is changing how this organization is viewed and how we are, as players, viewed.” 

Haliburton has been a key, if not ‘The Key’ for this to happen.

Haliburton has made himself and the team a force in the NBA

Tonight’s performance saw Tyrese with 25 points, 15 assists and 0 turnovers. That is a first-of-its-kind record already. Haliburton leads the team with 26.9 points per game. While his accomplishments are one of a kind, his contribution to the team is even more impressive.

Read More: Why the Pacers or the Pelicans Winning the In-Season Tournament Is More Meaningful Than the Lakers or the Bucks?

The Pacers now lead the NBA in scoring with 128.4 points per game. They also hold the top position in assists with 30.2 assists per game. The Hoosier State’s offense is potent as showcased by their offensive rating. Standing at 123.3, once again, they lead the NBA.

The 23-year-old star guard of the Pacers has accomplished what no other players in the history of the NBA have done.

From being a 47-game loss team last year, Indiana has come a long way. Tonight’s matchup saw them uproot the top seed of the Eastern Conference, Milwaukee Bucks. Fans and the NBA world had expected this game to be on par with the Suns vs Lakers experience.

But they had to be disappointed. Haliburton-led Pacers owned the Bucks in every way possible. Now, all they have to do is wait for the results of the Pelicans vs Lakers game. Everyone is hoping for LA to win, purely for the thrill of the game when two hard-nosed teams take the court.

Do you think the Pelicans will be able to pull a Pacer-like move and defeat the Lakers tonight? Let us know what your thoughts are!

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