Bennedict Mathurin finally discovered the playoffs • Basket USA

We tend to forget it, but the great journey of the Pacers in Playoffs last year had been carried out without Bennedict Mathurin. The Canadian rear had been the victim of a tear of the right shoulder labrum a month before the start of the “post-word” and he had therefore had to look at his teammates climbing to the conference final to finally be “sweemed” by Boston.

This first experience nailed to the bench had the merit of tenfolding its motivation this season, until the delivery which finally took place on Saturday with a great successful first, punctuated by a controlled victory against Milwaukee (117-98).

“I'm really, really grateful to be able to play this year”, he confirmed. “Last year, I couldn't. And I am always super young, and it is a privilege to be able to have this opportunity in playoffs at this young age. It is a great opportunity for me to be able to play and learn ”.

Its mission, defend hard and remain itself

Even painful, last year's experience was finally beneficial to him in the approach of this first series this year. What he learned? There “Mentality possession after possession”Playoffs. Here he is now a spectator to actor, focusing first on the defense before thinking about the attack

“I see a big difference in being able to go on the field (after being on the bench) and seeing the game of a different perspective”said the rear, author of 13 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist in 25 minutes. “I'm waiting for me a lot. I think I was quite good defensively. As I said, the playoffs are a different atmosphere. When I remember all the moments of last year, not having been able to play, just being able to play this year, and defend as hard as I can … I am ready to do it to win. ”

Before the match, Myles Turner and Tyrese Haliburton simply advised him to be himself, namely an energy booster out of the bench, without gamber on the mental level.

A booster out of the bench

After the match, the two leaders of the Pacers testified to their satisfaction. Myles Turner and coach Rick Carlisle praised his first half, while Tyrese Haliburton posted his enthusiasm thinking about what Mathurin could bring to the team this year.

“I found that he had done a great job, being simply himself”said the leader who served it in transition for a murderous 3-point at the end of the first half, when Indiana spent a 14-2 before the break. “He went to painting, he put his shots without forcing, and he just played as it was necessary. It was important for us at the end of the bench. It's just an incredible boost for us. He can really adapt. ”

This is indeed what makes these pacers' strength, the multiplication of threats behind the Haliburton-Siakam-Turner trio. Everyone can be used according to the context of the match and the profile of the opponent, as was an Andrew Nembhard yesterday, or as may be an Aaron Nesmith tomorrow and Benédict Mathurin will obviously be one of the “lieutenants” on which it will be necessary to go to go as far as possible.

How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; Off = offensive rebound; Def = defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; Pts = points.