💨 Abstract

Rick Carlisle, the Indiana Pacers coach, is heading to the NBA Finals, inspired by his small-town upbringing in Lisbon, New York. To watch NBA games, he drove eight minutes to Ogdensburg, as Lisbon didn't have cable TV. Known for turning teams into cohesive units, Carlisle's coaching style emphasizes team identity and resilience. Oklahoma City's Mark Daigneault praises Carlisle's ability to make the whole better than the sum of its parts.

Courtesy: WTOP Staff