Basketball, She Wrote posts
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On Ben Sheppard and the art of misdirection
Explaining the play that has the No. 26 overall pick emerging as a surpriseBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAs if the piercing sound of non-stop whistles wasn't already disorienting enough, the Pacers added to the confusion, at least for a brief moment, with a dizzying set to free up the player who currently leads the team in made threes: Ben Sheppard. On Tuesday night against the Houston Rockets, the Pacers committed 31 fouls and gave up 58 po...
What matters from the Pacers' preseason debut
On the overarching trends and standout takeaways, presented as winners and losersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperWatching preseason basketball can be like looking in a funhouse mirror, with the reflection that meets the eye being a distorted version of reality -- only the reality, insomuch as you can't discern the future in the same way that you are likely already intensely familiar with the true nature of your own appearance -- is unknown.Jus...
How the Pacers spent their summer vacation
As told by Aaron Nesmith and Andrew NembhardBy Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper Shortly after 10 PM EST on Monday night, the Pacers started uploading player interviews from Media Day to YouTube. Why they waited so long to meaningfully engage with fans after not providing a livestream was certainly an interesting choice, but that's a topic for another day. With a roster full of rotation-caliber players, a common theme throughout many of the session...
Who should come off the bench for the Pacers?
A detailed attempt to project the pecking order for the second unitBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperWhen it comes to the starting lineup for the Pacers, there aren't that many unknowns. Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner are locks. After reaching agreement on a contract that will make him the highest paid player on the team, it seems unlikely that Bruce Brown is going to earn $22.5 million to come off the bench. Meanwhile, as can probably be in...
Pacers Player Previews: Haliburton, McConnell, Nembhard
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAs the saying goes, all good things must eventually come to an end. Of course, with this being the final player preview podcast, that also means that training camp is only just beginning. At any rate, today's episode with Tony East from Locked on Pacers covers the point guard position, looking ahead at what's to come for Tyrese Halibu...
Pre-Preseason Mailbag Road Trip
Answering mailbag questions while traveling to South Bend, IndianaBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAs promised, this is the second part of the mailbag. After providing detailed, written analysis for some of the more technical questions dealing with the immediacy of the news surrounding the possibility of trading Buddy Hield, I saved the remainder of your inquiries for another special road trip in combination with the patron-only popsicle content. F...
Pacers Player Previews: Brown, Nesmith, Nwora
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper Unlike the reportedly stalled contract negotiations between the Pacers and Buddy Hield, Tony East and I continue to be in lockstep with our partnership to forge ahead with player previews. For this episode, we discussed what we termed as the small forward position and centered the conversation with the following format: role projection one b...
Buddy Hield, Bennedict Mathurin, & trading spacing
Answering mailbag questions about potentially trading Buddy Hield, making space for and with Bennedict Mathurin, and what it means for Haliburton.By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperMichael Prather - What's your feel for extending Buddy, and what is a number that makes sense for the organization? It wouldn't seem to make sense with our cheaper, younger and more well-rounded potential starters on the wing, but his chemistry with Tyrese Haliburt...
Pacers Player Previews: Jackson, Theis, Turner
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper With training camp just around the corner, Tony East and I are gearing up for the upcoming season with player previews. For this episode, we turned our attention to the center position, mulling over the options at back-up five from every angle while also looking ahead at potential changes in context for Myles Turner and whether an encore to ...
Pacers Player Previews: Mathurin, Hield, Sheppard
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAfter previously diving into the power forward position, Tony East and I are back with another player preview pod. For this episode, we look at what's ahead for Bennedict Mathurin, Buddy Hield, and Ben Sheppard, with the following format guiding our conversation: projected role one big question best and worst case scenariosGenerally speak...
Pacers Player Season Preview: Walker, Toppin, Smith
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper With training camp less than a month away, Tony East and I are teaming up for another podcast series. This time, previewing the upcoming season for every player on the standard roster, with the following format as the guide for our conversation: projected role one big question best/worst case scenarioIn this episode, we cover the "power ...
How Tyrese Haliburton hits the mark with hit aheads
I have this friend, Evin Gualberto, who coaches at one of the most prestigious high school basketball programs in the country and has over 100,000 subscribers on YouTube, where he cuts together granular aspects of player skills with a unique brand of specificity and accompanying description that isn't typically found elsewhere. He also once co-hosted a terrific NBA podcast on his channel, called Bouncing Around, in which he contextualized cap...
How the In-Season Tournament will test the Pacers
And why the NBA's new competition should serve as a measuring stick for Indiana's defenseBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperThe 2023-24 NBA season will be the first with an In-Season tournament. Where some people view this development as a meaningless gimmick, others see an opportunity for extra marquee match-ups while potentially giving young teams a chance to have a bigger stage and play games under greater pressure. Either way, regardless ...
Podcast: Indiana Pacers 2023-24 Season Outlook
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper 'Tis the season for preview pods! As part of his annual outlook series at Dunc'd On, Nate Duncan invited me over to discuss the upcoming season for the Pacers. Since I no longer have a regular podcast, I thought some of you might appreciate being alerted to the show. During introductions, Nate mentioned that he thought the Pacers wou...
FIBA-Themed Mailbag (Plus, Pacers and more!)
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperWith the FIBA Men's World Cup beginning this weekend, it seemed fitting to honor the occasion with red, white, and blue popsicles in a nod to Tyrese Haliburton playing for Team USA. As such, after catching a free Kroger gift card at the Indiana Fever game I recently attended, this month's mailbag has once again been combined with the patron-only popsicle content and features a trip to the grocery store to bu...
On Tyrese Haliburton's progress with Team USA
And how it applies to the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAfter signing a max contract extension and covering the most recent addition of SLAM Magazine, the Summer of Tyrese Haliburton is about to stretch into late-August, as Team USA plays the first of three FIBA World Cup group games in the Philippines against New Zealand on August 26, followed by Greece (Aug. 28) and Jordan (Aug. 30). Of course, just because the red, white, and blue's...
How the Pacers are advancing the past in the present
On the play that connects two eras and why the common thread also doubles as a line of demarcationBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper Deep in the heart of the offseason, when the schedule has yet to be released, transactions are at a standstill, and The Discourse is consumed by debates over NBA2K24 ratings, the void of actual NBA basketball is generally filled by offseason workouts or the occasional FIBA friendly. That is, unless you are the author, ...
Talking about Obi Toppin w/ The Strickland
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperObi Toppin is not the only topic discussed during this wide-ranging conversation, which also covers the basketball played by the Pacers and their long-time rival (if that's still a thing?) New York Knicks, but he is the main reason why we're gathered here today.I already wrote a deep dive on what to expect from Toppin with the Pacers, but I thought readers might also like to hear some insights from those who...
On Myles Turner, jump balls, and staying grounded
An analysis of what the tipping point should be for the Pacers on opening tipsBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperA little less than a month after Buddy Hield set the record for the fastest three-pointer to start a game in NBA history, the Pacers experienced another rare, though wholly opposite, occurrence during the opening tip. Whereas Hield wasted no time turning to fire from deep after catching the jump ball in shooting position, Myles Turner appe...
Change is coming for Bennedict Mathurin in Year 2
And what can be learned from the passes he made and didn't makeBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIt's October 26 and Bennedict Mathurin is seeking additional instruction from his coach following a timeout. Reading lips is tricky, but the general message is clear enough: slip the screen and drive, if open.At the time, that interaction was notable for a number of reasons, not the least of which being that Mathurin approached Rick Carlisle rath...
Basketball, She Wrote Offseason Mailbag Road Trip
Blacktops & Popsicle Shops, anyone?By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperWith this being the offseason portion of the offseason, there seemed like no greater time than the present to go on another excursion, combining the monthly mailbag with the patron-only popsicle content. For July, I decided to make the trek to Fort Wayne, where I toured around various parks and answered your questions about the Pacers, basketball, and much more (I did not expect to...
Pacers Summer League Takeaways with Tony East
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperWith Summer League coming to an end for the Pacers, Tony East and I decided to team up for an exit survey of sorts, reviewing the performances of the players who will be on standard contract next season, as well as what, if any, strides were made on the defensive end.Timestamps:0:00 - How to evaluate Summer League5:02 - Jarace Walker19:28 - B...
How the Pacers are using bait and switch tactics
Plus, the real of what one false action encapsulates about two players, being Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin, at Summer LeagueBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperFor those of you who have been staying up to date with Basketball, She Wrote since the beginning (you know, way back in February), you might remember that I'm a big fan of Gilmore Girls. After all, when I introduced this little venture of mine, I related an episode of that show, w...
What was learned by what could be overheard from the Pacers
Learning through listening: On why the sounds from Summer League might reveal as much as the sights with regard to the upcoming season for the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper Well, here's a sentence you don't read everyday: there was a lot to be gleaned about the defense that was played in a summer league game. With rosters that are brimming with youth and fraught with unfamiliarity in an environment that tends to breed bucket-getti...
How Obi Toppin can stay active with the Pacers
And how active is too active?By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIf and when Chris Duarte gets traded to the Sacramento Kings, it will almost be like the Pacers swapped him for Obi Toppin. Two second-round picks is all it took to land Toppin from the Knicks, and some form of draft compensation is expected to be the return for Duarte. Toppin was selected No. 8 overall in the 2020 draft, and Duarte went to the Pacers at No. 13 a year later. With one bil...
How Bruce Brown's adaptations can adapt to the Pacers
And why the Pacers can't have too much of a good thingBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperI have a confession to make. Despite blogging about the NBA for nearly a decade, I've never been to Las Vegas for Summer League or any other purpose. From what I've heard, it's an amazing atmosphere for basketball, networking, and food. Media members meet up with other media members, fans can watch games with top-tier players also in attendance as...
2023 Pacers Summer League: What To Watch For
The meaningful guide to meaningless basketballBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper It's that time of year again, when rosters chock-full of young players and short on familiarity gather in Las Vegas, playing basketball in an environment that breeds bucket-getting. Well, maybe that applies to the rest of the teams. For the Pacers, who are apparently sending two players who could both be starters next season, in Bennedict Mathurin and Andrew Nembhar...
Basketball, She Wrote Mailbag Road Trip
Answering post-draft questions about the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAs you likely recall, I sent out a general call for mailbag questions following the NBA Draft on Thursday night. What follows is my answers to those questions, presented as a multi-media extravaganza, meshing the mailbag with the monthly patron-only popsicle content. While traveling to Frankfort, Indiana, I recorded responses to your inquiries about Jarace Walker, Ben S...
NBA Draft Analysis: GG Jackson, Chris Livingston
A lightning round version of Stock Up, Stock Down, analyzing players who the Pacers could select with their additional first round picks or in the second round.By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperBelieve it or not, the draft is this week. Apparently, times flies when you're pulling all-nighters, glued to your laptop watching film of prospects like you're cramming for finals week. When I started this endeavor, my intention was to provide analys...
NBA Draft Analysis: Gradey Dick
Analyzing whether Gradey Dick fits the Pacers as well as they fit himBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperTurns out, after bringing in Jarace Walker, Taylor Hendricks, and Cam Whitmore, the Pacers weren't quite done visiting with players projected to be in range for them at No. 7 on Draft Night. Ausar Thompson cancelled his meeting that was set for Friday, and Gradey Dick stopped by on Thursday. That means it's time for a fresh edition of Stock...
