The Pacers played scared late in Game 3, opening the door for a Knicks comeback fueled by Karl-Anthony Towns’ fourth-quarter explosion after he stunk it up through three periods. The Knicks are now the first team in the play-by-play era (1997 onward) to have three 20-point comebacks in a playoff run, per NBA communications.

The mood at Gainbridge Fieldhouse darkened like that of divers surrounded by homicidal sharks. Monday’s film session should be illuminating and as haunting as a recurring nightmare when reviewing all the shots passed up. After the game, coach Rick Carlisle also recognized missed makeable looks as a correctable issue.

With the Knicks’ season on life support, Towns missed close-range layups, took low-percentage deep shots that funneled transition scores for Indiana, held the arm of a smaller player on a mismatch, picking up this third first-half foul, and had four turnovers. Coach Tom Thibodeau even played Landry Shamet, which is the equivalent of jamming all the buttons on a PlayStation controller when running out of options against a superior player. 

The Pacers led by 20 in the first half and entered the fourth quarter up 80-70 without Aaron Nesmith, who sprained his right ankle in the third quarter. Carlisle made the mistake of resting Tyrese Haliburton for the first two minutes. Then Towns had one of the finest moments of his career as he turned into a superhero for New York. He pierced the lane for three up-close baskets, made five freebies, and nailed three 3-pointers. 

The Pacers even got a stimulus from the refs in between Towns’ outbreak when Jalen Brunson got run over, picking up his fifth foul with seven minutes left. Nesmith also checked back in after New York’s failed challenge, but the Pacers couldn’t cash in because they were gun shy, and the juice in their offense was gone: Pascal Siakam attempted a failed long two-pointer over Miles McBride when he could have blown by him on the baseline; Andrew Nemhard passed out of shot he had when driving through the middle; Myles Turner plus Nesmith missed all seven of their attempts.

Haliburton said the attack was stagnant, they fouled too much on defense and that the team needed to do better at showing help in the gaps against Towns.

Additionally, Towns didn’t pick up his fifth foul until there were fewer than three minutes left, but the Pacers didn’t attack him more before or after.  

The Pacers lost 106-100. Their half-court offense logged a rotten 84.4 points per 100 possessions, good enough for the 18th percentile, per Cleaning the Glass. They missed all five fourth-quarter paint shots as well.

The Knicks’ win is the first thing that went right for the team since consecutive losses after some of their supporters threw trash at a Pacers fan on the street. 

Carlisle said the team wouldn’t know about Nesmith’s status until Monday. 

Game 4 is on Tuesday.

🧩 Breaking Down the Pod: Episode 4

🎧 Miami Heat Decisions: Should They Keep/Extend or Trade Niko Jović?

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Podcast Hosts: Ethan Skolnick & Eternal Bast
Sponsors: InsuranceByLinnette.com, PrizePicks.com (code: five)

🔥 Episode Summary

In this episode pulled from the “Off the Floor” subscriber Discord, Ethan Skolnick and Eternal Bast dive deep into one of the Heat’s biggest offseason questions: What should Miami do with Nikola Jovic? Should they pay him? Trade him? How do they define his role and evaluate his potential going forward?

The conversation was inspired by a question from Discord regular Neem: What is Jovic’s realistic upside—and is he worth an extension or better used as a trade asset?

📌 Key Points from Ethan & Eternal

📊 Jovic by the Numbers:

• 21 years old, on a rookie deal.
• Averaged ~10.7 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists.
• Dealt with injuries and inconsistent usage.
• Eligible for a 3-year, $30 million extension.

🔓 Untapped Potential, or Trade Chip?

• Eternal sees Jovic’s realistic ceiling in the next 3 years as a 15/5/5 guy.
• Strong facilitator, improving defender, versatile offensive toolkit.
• Great in transition, mid-post decisions, and mismatch hunting.
• Needs to tighten handle and improve rebounding.

“He has the skillset we talk about Miami needing—he’s just not always available.” — Eternal

🧠 Mentality & Makeup:

• Ethan and Eternal both emphasize Jovic’s maturity, self-awareness, and willingness to be coached.
• Euro background shows in his approach to team play and fundamentals.
• Made defensive impact in games vs. Cleveland despite recently coming off injury.

🏗️ Role Definition is Key:

• Ethan: “They’ve got to decide what he is and use him that way.”
• Eternal: “He flourishes with pace and freedom.”
• Both agree that Miami’s offensive system currently doesn’t maximize Jovic’s strengths.

🧠 My Take

The Miami Heat fanbase loves to talk about “untouchables” — young players they refuse to part with, especially when trade rumors start swirling around star talent. But this year feels different. In my eyes, no one should be off the table. The Heat are in their worst position in years, and clinging to unproven upside over actionable improvement is a recipe for stagnation.

The two names constantly mentioned in this context are Nikola Jović and Kel’el Ware. In this episode, Ethan Skolnick and Eternal focus on Jović — a conversation originally sparked by Off the Floor Discord member Neem.

Jović is still just 21 years old, on a rookie contract, and has drawn attention across Heat Twitter for his potential. He averaged nearly 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists this past season, but consistency remains an issue — both in role and availability. He’s eligible for a 3-year, $30 million extension this summer, and as Ethan puts it: it’s decision time.

Eternal projects Jović’s realistic next-three-years upside at 15/5/5. He’s improved defensively and earned a starting spot before being sidelined by injury. He’s a great facilitator, a confident shooter, and a strong transition player — all traits that fit Miami’s offensive needs. But his rebounding still needs work, and his handle isn’t tight enough to consistently serve as a lead initiator. He thrives in a system with pace and freedom — which Miami doesn’t currently provide.

To me, that’s exactly why Miami should keep him — if they also bring in the kind of offensive-minded assistant coach we talked about in episode three. Jović embodies the “pace and space” archetype. A new voice on the bench could unlock his game in ways Spoelstra’s system hasn’t yet.

Eternal notes that Jović is one of the few Heat players who can break down a defense, get two feet in the paint, and make smart decisions — whether that’s a kick-out to the corner or a lob pass. Eternal calls him the second- or third-highest offensive upside guy on the roster, right behind Tyler Herro — and I agree. It’s hard to name someone else above him.

And yet, as Ethan and Eternal both acknowledge, he’s not always there. Injuries, inconsistency, role confusion — all of it chips away at the vision.

They were even mismatch hunting with Jović early in games, especially in transition or half-court sets when smaller guards were on him. He showed flashes as a mid- to low-post decision-maker and even impacted Game 2 vs. Cleveland defensively — even after returning from a broken hand. He willed Miami back into that game… and then shot them out of it. That’s Jović in a nutshell, not in the sense of shooting, but the inconsistency and availability.

Ethan is open to extending him and Davion at around $10 million per year each. That could be a steal if they deliver high-level production on manageable deals. He says it plainly: “Would I want to trade Jović? No.” But he also sees the potential trade value if it helps Miami land a meaningful upgrade.

And I agree. The Heat have poured three years of development into Jović. Spo has invested real time. His skillset is what Miami needs, and he’s one of the few young players in the league with untapped two-way potential. But if the right deal comes along? You have to consider it.

🔚 Final Thought

Nikola Jovic is the kind of player who could either help lead a resurgence in Miami — or flourish somewhere else. The Heat’s decision shouldn’t be about sentiment or fear of regret. It should be about fit, vision, and commitment.

If they believe in him, they need to fully invest — not just financially, but structurally. Build an offense that lets him shine.
If not? Move him before someone else figures out how.

❓ Question for Heat Fans:

Would you extend Jovic at $10M/year — or package him in a trade? Who would you target in return?

🧩 Breaking Down the Pod: Episode 3

🎧 Should the Miami Heat Refresh the Coaching Staff?

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Subscribe to Five on the Floor on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Podcast Hosts: Ethan Skolnick & Sean Rochester
Sponsors: Water Cleanup of Florida, PrizePicks.com (code: five)

🧠 The Pod’s Premise

This episode circles a major offseason question: Is it time for a new voice on the Miami Heat’s coaching staff? With longtime assistant Chris Quinn reportedly in the mix for the Phoenix Suns head coaching job, Ethan and Sean examine what a staff shakeup could look like—and if Miami would ever actually consider going outside the family tree.

📌 Key Points from Ethan & Sean

🔄 The Heat Are Insular—By Design

Ethan calls the Heat a “very insular organization.” They hire their own, promote from within, and emphasize culture above all.

“The Heat are a very insular organization… They hire their own, which can be a really good thing for stability, understanding the quote-unquote culture. And it has worked.” — Ethan Skolnick

But there’s a potential downside: too much internal familiarity can lead to a lack of fresh ideas.

“There can be kind of a groupthink scenario… If you look at the Heat’s recent assistants—Chris Quinn, Malik Allen, Anthony Carter, Karon Butler, Wayne Ellington—all played for the team. Even going back to Pat Riley, it was Bob McAdoo and others with ties. They stay in-house (Sean added).” — Ethan
“You’re not going to pick someone completely opposite of you. But new ideas in the room can be beneficial—as long as there’s still alignment.” — Sean Rochester

🚪 Chris Quinn May Leave—And He Could Take People with Him

There are conflicting reports about Quinn’s position in the Suns’ search, but if he leaves, it might not be solo.

“If he meshes with guys on this staff, they might go with him.” — Sean

The Heat could promote from within, but the real question becomes: what kind of voice do they promote?

🧪 What Would a New Voice Bring?

⚙️ The Offense Needs Help

The offense has been stuck. Ethan and Sean both agree that injuries, regression, and shaky performance from key players (Rozier, Jaquez) have hurt. But there’s a systemic element, too.

“They tried. And Jimmy took offense to it.” — Ethan, on trying the threes-and-layups model

“It’s not just about the ‘Heat Way’ anymore. It’s about the right way.”

Ethan even floated a big name for conversation’s sake:

“You want a new voice? Think Mike D’Antoni—not necessarily as a hire, but as a reference point. Someone who brings an offensive blueprint that rethinks the room.” — Ethan

Sean grounds the point:

“You still need talent. You can marginally improve a system, but without an elite scorer, you’re limited.” — Sean

🧩 The “Missing Piece”: Player or Coach?

Sean leans player—he believes the offense will always stall without a go-to elite scorer. But both agree: even without the star, the system can be modernized.

“Change the offense—whether you bring in an assistant or not—to something that better highlights the guys.” — Sean

They also touch on the idea of a “coach on the floor”—someone Spoelstra can trust to run the offense when things get muddy.

“Spo needs a little bit of offensive tweaks and he needs a coach on the floor… someone who’s been in those situations, gets the ball to the right guy at the right time, throws it to Bam and gets out of the way.” — Ethan

🧠 My Take

The Heat don’t just promote from within—they trust from within. That trust built Spoelstra, developed Chris Quinn, and helped sustain one of the most stable franchises in sports.

But that trust comes at a cost when the offense flattens year after year. Internal hires start sounding like echoes in the same hallway.

I loved Ethan’s point about Spo looking outside the box—like when he sought insight from Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel. Spo clearly wants fresh perspective. The question is: will the organization actually give him one in the room where it matters?

Right now, the Heat don’t have a “coach on the floor.” Kyle Lowry once filled that void. His absence is felt—not just in stats, but in orchestration. Ethan’s point hits: they don’t have someone who can slow things down, make the right read, and tell Spo, “I’ve got this.”

This isn’t about blowing up the bench. It’s about breaking the echo chamber.

I want Miami to bring in an offensive-minded coach—someone who can freshen things up and provide a new voice in the room. Sometimes, all it takes is a different perspective for something to click. A new voice can unlock something that’s already been said, just not heard the same way.

Find the fit. Embrace the offense.

Final Thought

This isn’t a crisis. Chris Quinn might stay. The Heat might keep it in the family. But when the offense sputters and Spoelstra starts seeking out outside philosophy? That’s a cue to listen.

“The culture isn’t broken. The blueprint isn’t flawed.
But the house? It could probably use some new furniture.”

Reader Question

Who would you like to see Miami bring in to refresh the coaching staff?
Would someone like Michael Malone interest you?
Drop your dream name—realistic or not—in the comments.

The Pacers got their fifth road win of the playoffs after they were close to flatlining when the Knicks were up 14 points with three minutes left. Jalen Brunson picked up his fifth foul early in the fourth frame, but his crew had taken over with deep jumpers plus a barrage of inside action as there fans celebrated in the stands and were ready to swarm the streets.

Tyrese Haliburton’s 24 points, Myles Turner’s scorching outside shooting, and Pascal Siakam’s performance were an afterthought up to that moment.

Then Aaron Nesmith sprayed five 3-pointers on the catch and dribble, the last two delivering the catastrophic power of a Howitzer to Knicks’ minds. The Pacers won a challenge in between following Siakam tipping a loose ball that was initially called a foul under the rim on him against OG Anunoby. Additionally, Karl-Anthony Towns and Anunoby missed critical freebies, the latter keeping the Knicks only up by two with seven seconds left. For New York, it was reminiscent of the main character of a horror film realizing their impending doom.

Haliburton subsequently dribbled upcourt into the lane, retreated, and hit a deep jumper over Mitchell Robinson that kissed the back iron and fell in from shot-clock height. He grabbed at his throat, doing Reggie Miller’s choking celebration from Game 5 of the ‘94 ECF before the replay showed the tip of his foot on the 3-point line.

Andrew Nembhard followed up with his own heroics after the hosts led by four in overtime, making a shot in the corner, attacking Brunson on a blow-by and scoring on a slot cut on a feed from Haliburton. And former Knick, Obi Toppin, seized victory from New York’s jaws with a baseline putback and a screen roll dunk.

The Pacers won 138-135 with 23 of their points coming via second chances and 27 on New York’s turnovers. On top of that, their half-court attack scored 109.9 points per 100 plays, good enough for the 83rd percentile, per Cleaning the Glass. Coach Rick Carlisle said his team wouldn’t get too excited about it because both sides have to clean things up and “Game 2 is going to be another war.”

Nesmith finished with 30 points on 69.2% shooting and became the first player in NBA history to nail six fourth-quarter triples in a playoff game, per NBA communications. He said the end of the game was a blur. “I didn’t really realize what I was doing in the moment. I was just trying to win a basketball game.”

Additionally, Haliburton had 31 digits on 52.5% shooting and 11 assists. He said doing Miller’s celebration felt right, but someone quickly told him it was a two-pointer.

Game 2 is on Friday. Before the 2025 playoffs started, the winners of Game 1 in a best of seven series advanced 75.2% of the time.

🧩 Breaking Down the Pod: Episode 1

🎧 Will Kel’el Ware Ever Reach Bam Adebayo’s Level?

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Welcome to the first installment of “Breaking Down the Pod”, a new series where I dive into episodes from our team at Five on the Floor—pulling out the key takeaways, heated debates, and adding my own thoughts on the conversation.

We’re kicking things off with a big one: a bold question about the Miami Heat’s rookie big man, Kel’el Ware.

Podcast Hosts: Ethan Skolnick & Alex Toledo

🧠 The Premise

With Ware earning a spot on the Kia NBA All-Rookie Second Team, hosts Ethan Skolnick and Alex Toledo compare his promising rookie campaign to Bam Adebayo’s early years. Could Ware follow a similar path? Could he one day surpass Bam?

📊 Stat Check

Rookie Year Comparison:

Ware also impressed in Summer League, averaging 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game on 55% shooting. The raw tools? Absolutely there.

🎙️ Podcast Highlights

Toledo sees Ware as a potential high-level role player, praising his tools but pointing to a long developmental road ahead. He highlighted how both Bam and Ware entered the league as screen-and-roll bigs, but emphasized the key differences:

• Ware is more of a vertical athlete, a rim protector who still over-commits in pick-and-roll coverage, bites on fakes, and lacks the polished decision-making.

• Bam has evolved into a 20/10/5 player with elite defense, court vision, and the ability to switch 1-through-5—traits that go beyond raw stats.

Ethan added that even Bam himself sees DPOY potential in Ware, which speaks volumes.

“I seen a kid that, Spo didn’t play him and the beginning but we was begging him to play…I’m proud of him…I said it before I think he can be a great player in this league…”

Ethan also noted how the game seems to come easy to Ware due to his size and athleticism:

“There are nights you just look up and he’s got 14 and 9 — and you’re wondering how the hell it happened.”

But Ethan also emphasized Bam’s basketball IQ, calling him a “smarter player” who reads the floor and reacts at an elite level—something Ware hasn’t shown yet.

Ultimately Alex and Ethan’s discussion led to them concluding that for the right guy, Ware is available for the taking, but there is untapped potential there, one that Ethan projects to be possibly higher than Alex does.

🧱 My Take

Kel’el Ware’s ceiling is out of this world. At 7’0″ with a 7’5″ wingspan, he’s an athletic freak who can shoot, block, and finish at the rim with ease. The comparison to Bam is fair in terms of physical growth and potential—but let’s be real: there’s a massive gap in skill, motor, and defensive discipline right now.

In the playoffs, we saw him get pushed around physically, especially by veteran frontcourts. His positioning and footwork were exposed, particularly by Cleveland.

That said, there’s proof he’s willing to work. At Indiana, after being knocked for his motor and consistency, he responded:

“Being pushed outside my comfort zone definitely helped me out. Every day in practice I was being pushed to go past the limit.”

That mentality matters.

For Ware it is going to be about continuing to develop the fundamentals and strength required to play big in today’s NBA. Even Chet Holmgren has room to grow, especially in the strength department.

I look for Ware to work with someone in these areas to help accelerate his growth and reach his untapped potential. It will be a big summer for Ware as trade rumors rise and the hunt for an All-Star selection begins.

Here was my take in December- WAM

🔁 Final Verdict

Can Ware reach Bam’s level?

Yes—but only if the Heat continue to mold him with the same patience and intensity, they gave Bam. He needs to improve his strength, motor, footwork, and defensive reads. But he’s shown enough flashes—and if given the time and developmental support, the sky truly is the limit.

As Toledo and Skolnick agree: Ware isn’t completely untouchable, but for the right deal, maybe. That alone says a lot about how highly he’s already valued.

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• Off The Floor Discord: Click Here (scroll down)

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