After going down 3-0 in the series, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before the Indiana Pacers' 2023-24 season came to an end. Making matters worse was the fact that Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers' best player and franchise cornerstone, appeared to be out for the rest of the series after sustaining a hamstring injury in Game 2. On Monday night, it became official: the Pacers, following an impressive run to the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, fell to the Boston Celtics after suffering a heartbreaking 105-102 Game 4 loss.

Despite getting swept by the Celtics, the Pacers can hang their hats and say that they made the Eastern Conference champion work for their trip to the NBA Finals. The sting of this series loss is going to linger, however. The manner in which they lost three games in the series is especially soul-crushing. As much cause for celebration it is for them to have reached the ECF, it's time for the Pacers to go back to the drawing board in preparation for the bright future that lies ahead for them.

But one who does not learn from their mistakes is doomed to repeat them. Thus, for the long offseason ahead, this member of the Pacers franchise, in particular, has a lot of thinking to do regarding what went wrong against the Celtics and what they must do to prevent falling into the same traps.

Rick Carlisle must be more in control

First of all, Rick Carlisle deserves credit for installing an identity for the Pacers to play off of and sticking to it — to great results. Since taking over the team at the start of the 2022-23 season, the Pacers have made it a point to go downhill at every opportunity. In turn, the Pacers have put up great offenses that have maximized the talent they have at their disposal.

This is the same formula that has led to the Pacers' success during the 2024 playoffs. Even after opponents' made shots, they have emphasized pushing the pace. This has led to a few scoring explosions that have also helped shore up their defense. After all, making shots allows the defense to set up.

In fact, this breakneck pace they're playing at has given the Celtics problems. Boston is playing with a seven or eight-man rotation, so the opportunity is there for the Pacers to wear them out with their speed. In three separate games during the ECF, the Pacers have been in a position to win; alas, the same tactics that led to their success appears to have contributed to their own undoing as well.

No one would ever forget the Pacers' historic choke job in Game 1; they had close to 10 inexcusable gaffes that had them snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. And then, in Game 3, after putting up an impressive performance without Tyrese Haliburton, their late-game execution was lacking yet again. Trying to catch the Celtics off guard, the Pacers turned the ball over with less than 10 seconds to go after Andrew Nembhard tried to push the pace against a set defense.

In Game 4, their lack of control in late-game situations was ever apparent. Credit must go to the Celtics for putting up one resolute defensive stand after another, but the Pacers did not help themselves by playing recklessly — driving into multiple defenders, shooting early in the shot clock. There is a great sense of urgency in every Pacers possession, but when you're up by eight with around five minutes remaining in the game, that is the perfect time to slow the game down.

Rick Carlisle's feel for calling timeouts hasn't exactly been ideal as well; in Game 1, he admitted his mistake when he didn't call timeout to advance the ball. In Game 3, he didn't call timeout with a chance to either tie the game or cut the Celtics' lead to one, which then led to a Nembhard turnover.

Moving forward, the Pacers have to learn that being in control of the game's pace isn't just about forcing the other team to keep up with their extreme speed. It's about dictating the tempo of the game by knowing when to slow down. Rick Carlisle is a veteran head coach who has led a team to a championship (2011 Dallas Mavericks), so he is capable of being better, growing alongside this rapidly-developing Pacers team.

The best is yet to come for the Pacers

Beyond some of the tactical gaffes the Pacers had in the dying moments of three close games in the series, it's hard to fault Indiana for getting swept by a Celtics team that quietly is establishing itself as one of the best in league history. Not too many expected the Pacers to get this far; they were not favored against the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks, but here they are, challenging the team that finished with the best record in the NBA during the 2023-24 season to as competitive of a series sweep as there can be.

The future is bright for the Pacers; they were able to acquire a second All-Star to flank Tyrese Haliburton in Pascal Siakam without mortgaging their future, and it looks like Siakam will eventually sign a new contract with the team. Moreover, the 2024 NBA playoffs have brought out the best in a few Pacers players who haven't gotten much recognition.

For starters, TJ McConnell has endeared himself to the entire NBA fanbase with his hustle, playmaking, and patented midrange jumper. Meanwhile, Andrew Nembhard has proven himself to be one of the best draft-day steals in recent memory; the 32nd pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, Nembhard has defended everyone from Damian Lillard to Jalen Brunson to Jayson Tatum, while emerging as a dangerous scorer off the bounce.

Even Aaron Nesmith has flexed a more well-rounded offensive game while taking on tough defensive assignments every single night, while Obi Toppin is a jitterbug who makes things happen on the court whenever he's on. Ben Sheppard is a 22-year old wing who was playable in the playoffs, while they still have Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker as tantalizing youngsters who figure to play larger roles moving forward.

There are no guarantees that this Pacers core makes it this far in the playoffs again. Such is the nature of the beast that is the postseason. But Indiana should have plenty of opportunities to do so in the coming years.