Basketball, She Wrote posts
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NBA Draft Analysis: Sidy Cissoko
Analyzing both sides of what distinguishes the G League Ignite prospect out of France from other options currently playing for the Pacers.By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAfter profiling Wake Forest's Bobi Klintman as a potential grab-and-go wing with size, shooting, and passing feel, it seems fitting to counterbalance that breakdown with a look at another grab-and-go wing, also with passing feel, as a potential fit for the Pacers with their tw...
NBA Draft Analysis: Bobi Klintman
On the optionality of Wake Forest's freshman forward and how it applies to the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper With the Pacers owning two additional first round picks in this year's draft, it makes sense to shift gears momentarily from No. 7 and focus for a bit on what prospects might be available in range at No. 26 and No. 29 -- especially since a certain promise was reportedly made to a certain freshman forward who may or may not ...
Video: Pacers & Pops w/ Samson Folk
By Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperFor this month's patron-only popsicle content, I decided to invite over one of my hoops pals for frozen treats while we discussed the basketball played by the Indiana Pacers. The other half of this one of kind conversation (seriously, where else in the NBA-media universe are you going to find a video quite like this?) is brought to you by the very insightful, incredibly articulate, and always original Samson Folk...
NBA Draft Analysis: Cam Whitmore
Assessing how and where the Villanova product's athleticism and variable defense would slot into the play context of the Pacers and whether more can be more alongside Bennedict MathurinBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAfter profiling Jarace Walker and Taylor Hendricks as players who can toggle between frontcourt positions, as either fours who can play the five or fives who can play the four (depending upon who you ask), the possibility of addin...
Mailbag: Draft strategy, roaming bigs, & jersey numbers
Answering questions about all things PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper Jordan Emmert: I'd be interested in what you think a fair contract for Buddy Hield looks like if we opt to use our cap space to renegotiate and extend him, ala Turner this year?The question regarding a possible extension for Buddy Hield isn't how much he should get paid by the Pacers, but rather if he should get paid by the Pacers. There's no denying the wavele...
NBA Draft Analysis: Taylor Hendricks
Feeling out the UCF star's feel and what he projects to add in scheme versatilityBy Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperWith the Pacers owning five drafts picks and now knowing where they are selecting at 7, 26, 29, 32, and 55, the focus moving forward in these columns -- at least from the perspective of my expedited version of scouting -- can narrow to prospects who are likely to be available in those ranges, particularly at No. 7. That means the tim...
NBA Draft Analysis: Jarace Walker
Contextualizing whether Houston's power wing addresses the glaring needs of the Pacers at the four positionBy Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperWith team workouts in full swing, it's officially draft season, which means the time has come to bring back Stock Up, Stock Down as a general format for analyzing and assessing various prospects. For those who may be unfamiliar with this series, the idea is for me to cram study a player and then breakdow...
Indiana Pacers Season Review: The Front Office
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper Alright, so, it probably isn't accurate to say that we talked into microphones about the basketball played by the Indiana Pacers for this particular episode, as Tony East and I instead turned our attention to the front office and, more specifically, Kevin Pritchard as the figurehead of that front office. Still, as Tony astutely pointed ou...
Indiana Pacers Season Review: Coaching
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper Turns out, Tony and I weren't quite done putting a bow on the season that was for the Pacers, as we both agreed to tack on a few additional episodes covering the team's decision-makers. First up, we turned our attention to the coaching staff, discussing where the team was and wasn't successful from a tactical perspective before lo...
Indiana Pacers Player Review: Tyrese Haliburton
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperSaving the best for last, Tony East and I wrapped up our player review series discussing the All-Star season of Tyrese Haliburton, who with his all-seeing vision and non-stop motor became the engine for an actual team identity (imagine that!). Tyrese was Tony's assignment, so my job was to react to his selections for the one play, one num...
New Shirt Release: do the "Math"
Come shop the Basketball, She Wrote collection!By Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIn what was perhaps a preplanned marketing strategy, it just so happens that a new shirt has been added to the Basketball, She Wrote shop at Teepublic in conjunction with Bennedict Mathurin being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.What a coincidence, right?Celebrating the deceptiveness of his first step and how he waits without waiting, the newest look in the collect...
Indiana Pacers Player Review: Andrew Nembhard
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAfter previously covering the standout rookie season of Bennedict Mathurin, Tony East and I turned our attention to another standout rookie for the Pacers (how often can you say that?), breaking down how Andrew Nembhard grew from being a second round pick to a key starter. Nembhard was my assignment. So, since I've already written several ...
Indiana Pacers Player Reviews: Veteran Guards
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAlright, so, it doesn't exactly feel accurate to refer to Chris Duarte as a veteran guard when he only has two years of experience, but coming up with a way to categorize this particular group of players was challenging to pindown -- not unlike Duarte's season as a whole. At any rate, Tony East and I are back with another set of revie...
Mailbag: How can the Pacers improve from here?
Answering questions about all things Pacers, including my trip to meet the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperJeff Iles: I’m curious about the high points of the season, but specifically breaking the season into chunks - first chunk is pre-Haliburton injury (when they might be a playoff team) second chunk is during his injury, and the third chunk is when playoffs were no longer the goal. What were the high points from those chunks from your p...
Indiana Pacers Player Review: Myles Turner
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIt's time for another solo episode! After reviewing the season for the young wing-ish players on the roster, Tony East and I reconvened on the Locked on Pacers YouTube channel to discuss the career season of Myles Turner. Turner was Tony's assignment, so I'm mostly just there to react and respond to the one play, one number, and o...
Mailbag: Around the Association
Answering questions about the playoffs, checking in on some former Pacers, and building a new Pacer out of non-stars from other teamsBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperMackenzie Estelle: I have a coaching question! I've been hearing media buzz that Thibs is "out coaching" Bickerstaff in this NY/CLE series and I'm curious what your take on that is? To my untrained eye, I find myself sort of at a loss as to why CLE is struggling so much...
Indiana Pacers Player Reviews: Young Wings
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIn a continuation of our series breaking down the season that was for every rotation player on the roster, Tony and I turned our attention to the forward position, which includes wing-sized wings, as well as those who were shoehorned into sopping up minutes at the four-spot. As always, to make it easier to follow along, here's the stats, ...
Indiana Pacers Player Review: Bennedict Mathurin
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAfter chatting about the back-up big rotation, Tony East and I joined forces once again to discuss the rookie season of Bennedict Mathurin, with me selecting one play, one number, and one over/under to summarize the year that was for him as well as what comes next. As always, to make it easier to follow along, the stats, lines, and clips are ...
Indiana Pacers Player Reviews: Reserve Bigs
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the Indiana Pacers with Tony EastBy Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperMany of you have asked about whether there is going to be an audio component here at Basketball, She Wrote. Right now, as was laid out in last month's patron-only mailbag, I don't currently have plans to start my own podcast. In order for that to be a thing, I would probably need to start a podcast about searching for so...
Video: Pacers Teams as Ice Pops
Taste-testing ice pops with a Pacers-centric twist, of course.By Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperFor this month's patron-only popsicle content, in what should be considered as my version of a fireside chat (or, ahem, an ice-side chat), my sister surprised me with gourmet ice pops from my new favorite online shopping website, The Hyppo Gourmet -- which is located in St. Augustine, Florida. Yes, you read that correctly. Star players left Florida to ...
Preseason questions revisited: Did the Pacers find answers?
Looking ahead by reviewing the preview of the seasonBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperSix months ago, before the games started to count for what was a new-look Pacers team that seemed as though it would be geared more so around development opportunities than optimizing winning in the playoffs, Tony East invited me on for an episode of Locked on Pacers to discuss the biggest questions that we thought, at the time, would define the 2022-23 season.Of c...
On Jordan Nwora and the rarely bad, very good play
Diagramming Indiana's chin set and the implications of why it almost always worksBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperLike a knowing smile, spanning from ear-to-ear, this is the "yes, this is it!" of plays -- a sign that the Xs and Os are about to align, providing reason for intrigue as to what's about to happen, at a micro-level, even as the intrigue as to what is yet to happen this season, from a macro-perspective, winds to a close.Th...
Evaluating Bennedict Mathurin in the present future
On what's changed and still needs changing for Indiana's rookie as a starterBy Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperWith just under three minutes to play and the score becoming more and more lopsided in favor of the Milwaukee Bucks, who had amassed a 147-130 edge, Bennedict Mathurin caught the ball inside the arc for a 1-on-1 match-up at the wing. After turning to look his defender, Wesley Matthews, straight in the eyes, the 20-year-old rookie proc...
Mailbag, on basketball and other things
It's the March edition of the patron-only mailbag -- continued!By Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAndrew Gilligan: I would love to hear more about your Pacers fandom - especially does it make it harder to still be a fan while analyzing the team this closely? Or, do you remain a fan?I grew up a fan of the Pacers. There's a picture of me somewhere holding a Reggie Miller jersey that was given to me as a gift for my birthday when I was 12 years o...
Mailbag, on the present and future of the Pacers
It's the March edition of the patron-only mailbagBy Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperJordan Emmert: Would be curious to get your thoughts on Nembhard's inconsistent attacking mindset, some quarters he seems to be going for it and others he is completely passive. I'd love to see him find a role with the team where he can be more aggressive as a scorer. Also interested in what you think of Nesmith's ceiling and if he can be a long term st...
Diagnosing the sloppy play of the Pacers
On the cause of the cause of turnovers and why what is often deemed as carelessness can be a careless catch-allBy Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIn blowing a 21-point lead to the Charlotte Hornets on Monday night, the Pacers coughed up 21 turnovers for 35 points -- the most surrendered by any Charlotte opponent this season. Needless to say, with the Pacers falling 2.5 games back of the Bulls for the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference, the sloppiness...
Basketball, She Wrote goes to Nicey Treat
So, I still don't fancy myself to be an influential influencer, but I guess I'm a vlogger now? For this month's patron exclusive popsicle content, my sister and I filmed ourselves making a pilgrimage to Nicey Treat, my new favorite frozen treat hang, in Fishers -- which is just north of Indianapolis. With so many of you residing in different locales around the globe, I wanted to give you a peek at what I consider to be my Indiana. Dur...
How the Pacers sped over the Bucks in 15 minutes
Indiana hasn't been able to stop Giannis, so they forced him to stop them.By Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperMarch Madness, indeed. With 2:46 to play in the third quarter, the Pacers trailed the Bucks, 99-90. Fifteen minutes later, they secured a double-digit win over the team with the best record in the Eastern Conference, outscoring Milwaukee, 49-26, with Tyrese Haliburton watching -- nay, standing and cheering -- from the sidelines. After all, ...
How Andrew Nembhard is drawing influence from Tyrese Haliburton
Even when Haliburton isn't playing, his influence is still on the floor.By Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAside from playing on the same team, Andrew Nembhard and Tyrese Haliburton don't have a lot in common. Haliburton is thin, graceful, and dodging, evading defenders with his low gather, bounding strides, and discerning touch. Nembhard, by comparison, relies more so on angles and contact, stopping on a dime and pivoting while using a bevy o...
Can the Pacers dial up the pressure?
And, more importantly, should they?By Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIt's becoming a common, uncommon tactic for the Pacers. After an inbounds pass, as a surprise or situational defensive changeup, this is the sight.Beginning as "near" as midcourt and, sometimes, straying well-beyond, it's not a 2-2-1 press, which they also turn to on occasion. Rather, with two players trapping the ball and everyone else falling back, it's just a ...
