Game 4 of the Pacers vs. Cavaliers was one for the books. The fans? Livid with excitement. The players? Jumping with joy. And the box score? Well, it practically screamed domination. Indiana wiped out Cleveland with a resounding 20-point victory, and a 3-1 game lead with Rick Carlisle as their head coach.

But while everyone else in the building was caught up in the magic of the moment, there was one person not celebrating. Not for a second.

You’d think that after pulling off a performance like that, Rick Carlisle would have allowed himself just a moment to take it all in. But nope. Not even close. He wasn’t smiling just yet. Carlisle was cold as ice, delivering a message to his players that would leave anyone else scratching their head.

“We haven’t done anything yet,” he said post-game. No champagne. No hugs and pats. Just business. That, too, after a monumental milestone that gave Carlisle the most playoff wins in the NBA franchise history! Yes. You heard that right. Rick Carlisle quietly passed Larry freakin’ Bird for the most playoff wins in NBA Franchise history!

And what did he do? He didn’t take a bow. He didn’t look back. Instead, Carlisle chose to focus on the future. His eyes weren’t on the history books, they were on what came next. He wasn’t basking in the glory of the past, no matter how significant. In fact, it almost felt like he was using his own milestone as fuel for a bigger fire. This was about the next battle.

He kept the message simple: “We have everything to prove,” and for Carlisle, that meant staying hungry. Staying in the moment. Forget the past, the game scores. Forget the hype. “The game is now history,” he said. “We’ve got to stay in the present moment as much as we can and try to maintain an edge.”

It wasn’t just lip service. This wasn’t a speech for the cameras. This was the type of mentality that breeds champions, the kind of mindset that keeps you from slipping into complacency, even when you’re on the verge of something monumental.

After Game 4 win vs the Cavs, are Rick Carlisle and Co. ready for the Cleveland haymaker in Game 5?

But let’s take a step back for a second. While the rest of the basketball world was scrambling to process what had just happened in the league—Bennedict Mathurin’s ejection, the mysterious disappearance of Donovan Mitchell, and of course, the blowout win—Rick Carlisle was already thinking about Game 5.

He knew the challenge wasn’t over. It was only going to get tougher. Game 5 was going to be in Cleveland, and if you’ve ever heard about the Cavs’ fans, you know it’s no walk in the park. But did that faze Carlisle? Not one bit. In fact, he respected the heck out of that crowd and their enthusiasm.

“There’s gonna be a big haymaker coming,” he said, like a warning shot across the bow. He knew what was coming. He knew the Pacers were far from done. And that’s the scariest part about this team right now. They’re playing like they have nothing to lose, like every game is still an uphill climb.

Carlisle wasn’t ready to celebrate the wins. He was focused on the grind ahead. His team, much like their coach, wasn’t about to let their success dictate their mindset. They were playing to prove something, and if you know anything about sports, you know that’s dangerous.

The Pacers weren’t just looking to win a series. They were looking to make a statement, and it was clear from Carlisle’s words that they weren’t satisfied with anything less than full validation.

So, as the Pacers head into Game 5, it’s not about what they’ve done—it’s about what’s next. What’s coming. And for Rick Carlisle and his team, that means one thing: fight. They’re not celebrating a damn thing just yet.

Because in the NBA, there’s always another game, another challenge, and another shot to prove you’re the real deal. And for Rick Carlisle and the Pacers? This thing’s far from over.