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How a more physical NBA could affect the Pacers
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This article, crunching the numbers on the potential crunch for numbers -- on both ends of the floor, is available to everyone as a free trial. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, on to the words about the Pacers.By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperOn Tuesday, prior to the team's...
For macro defensive changes, Pacers speak to micro shifts
On the potential to bring change to continuity By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAltogether, the Pacers spoke to reporters for about 80 minutes on Monday at Media Day. During that span, according to YouTube's transcripts, the word "defense," when also including the forms "defensive" and "defensively," was mentioned 51 times. To be fair, some of that massive tally can obviously be attributed to the questions that were aske...
Pacers Mailbag: Let's get defensive & more!
Answering questions about the ceiling of the defense, potential wing targets, my favorite moments from the WNBA season, and much, much more!By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAs promised, this is the final mailbag before the official start of the season! That's right, we've made it through the offseason portion of the offseason, in large part, thanks to the many deep and insightful questions that were submitted all throughout the summer.So, w...
How the Pacers pick and choose when to set picks
And why variety is the "slice" of lifeBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper The pick-and-roll isn't as prevalent as it used to be. According to Second Spectrum, the league as a whole averaged 69.4 ball-screens per 100 possessions last season, which is the third-lowest frequency of any season in the advanced stats site's 10-year database when also including playoffs. The Pacers finished their run to the Eastern Conference Finals at the h...
How the Pacers can put a cramp in their own style
On summer's last gasp and why less breathing room, as it applies to certain types of floor spacing alignments, can be moreBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper The start of fall can be fickle in Indiana. Officially, the last day of summer is September 22, determined by the autumn equinox. Unofficially, Labor Day weekend is often thought of as the grand finale. In the meantime, however, the weather isn't so much transitioning here but rather wav...
Indiana Pacers 2024-25 Season Lookahead
Are the Pacers ready for primetime?By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAs has become one of my favorite pre-preseason traditions, I have once again joined one of my favorite podcasts, Hardwood Knocks,hosted by the always-thorough and incredibly-insightful Dan Favale, to preview the upcoming season for the Pacers. Since we covered so much ground, with Dan posing inquiries as well as quandaries from his unique, outside perspective, I decided to post tha...
Centering on the center options for the Pacers
Evaluating the pros and cons of playing with multiple centers or no centersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIt wouldn't be nearing the start to another season for the Pacers without discussing/debating the potential options at center. From the purgatory that was staggering Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis to the many trips taken around the rotation carousel by Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith, there always seems to be something left to question ...
How the Pacers manage time in special situations
A look at a clever hack for catching opponents on the reboundBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperOutside of Pascal Siakam's veteran presence and scoring prowess, the opening game of the playoffs wasn't particularly memorable for the Indiana Pacers. On the night, they trailed by as many as 30 points and quickly looked out of their depth with the depth by which they were attempting to guard Damian Lillard, as the All-NBA talent scored all 35 of ...
Mailbag: Are the Pacers being overlooked in the East?
Plus, stats that don't exist but should, my favorite memory of playing basketball, and what the realistic outlook should be for the Pacers this seasonBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper As promised, this is the patron-only mailbag for August. Special thanks to everyone who sent in questions, as there was plenty for me to chew on, ranging from nerdy stuff about stats to a very personal story about my background growing up around basketball.Without...
On T.J. McConnell & why there can't be too much of a good thing
The more point guards, the betterBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperWhen it comes to point guards, the Pacers are basically the embodiment of every "why not both?" meme -- only if "both" was replaced with "all." After already inking Andrew Nembhard to a three-year, $59 million extension just prior to the Paris Olympics, Indiana is also adding T.J. McConnell to the mix, signing the nine-year veteran to a four-year, $45 million ...
Can Pascal Siakam & Myles Turner meet their match?
On whatneeds to happen for Indiana's frontcourt to better complement each other on defenseBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperFollowing last month's mailbag,with a central focus on what comes next for Jarace Walker and Bennedict Mathurin as two potential swing pieces for next season, there were still plenty of Pacers-centric questions left over that seemed like perfect topics to dive into now that the offseason portion of the offseason is offi...
Ranking the Pacers' opponents in East Group B
A team-by-team look at the competition for the Pacers in pool play of the NBA CupBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper Although it remains to be seen whether the Pacers will once again be rolling out the special oceanic blue court as they attempt to roll back advancing to the finals of the league's midseason tournament, what is known is who they will be up against and when. Overall, group play of the NBA Cup begins on November 12, but the Pacers wo...
On keeping Pascal Siakam posted
Analyzing why and how the post entry passes to Indiana's now-signed, often-sealing max star have changed and whether further change is still neededBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperFollowing last month's mailbag, with a central focus on what comes next for Jarace Walker and Bennedict Mathurin as two potential swing pieces for next season, there were still plenty of Pacers-centric questions leftover that seemed like perfect topics to dive int...
Can Cole Swider get a move on with the Pacers?
On how the 25-year-old sharpshooter stacks up and compares as a movement shooterBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperTurns out, despite technically having 15 players on standard contracts, the Pacers weren't quite done making roster moves. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, sharpshooter Cole Swider has agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with the Pacers. Given that Kendall Brown is currently on a non-guaranteed contract, this...
Explain One Play: Pacers' 1-4 low BLOB "Rolex"
Breaking downthe baseline out of bounds play that works likeclockwork for the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperFollowing last month's mailbag, there were still plenty of Pacers-centric questions leftover, requiring additional time and space, that seemed like perfect topics to dive into now that the offseason portion of the offseason is officially in full-swing. As such, some of the submitted inquiries are going to be turned into full-scal...
Analyzing the two-way contracts for the Pacers
On the decision to sign Quenton Jackson and Tristen Newton to two-way contracts, and why Enrique Freeman should be nextBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAfter completing a lengthy and exhaustive mailbag for July with a central focus on what comes next for Jarace Walker and Bennedict Mathurin as two potential swing pieces for next season, there were still plenty of Pacers-centric questions leftover that seemed like perfect topics to dive into now tha...
Pacers Mailbag: What's next for Bennedict Mathurin & Jarace Walker
Answering mailbag questions about what's next for the Pacers based on what's next for the team's two highest draft selections in decadesBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperThis is the first installment of the monthly mailbag, focusing on the two lottery picks who didn't play for the Pacers during the playoffs but project to factor as arguably the most critical swing pieces with regard to the future trajectory of the team. With plenty o...
Andrew Nembhard breaks streak with breakout
On the significance of the Pacers investing in internal developmentBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper Merci beaucoup, amirite? While preparing to play for the Canadian National Team at the Paris Olympics, Andrew Nembhard reached agreement on a three-year, $59 million extension with the Indiana Pacers that will take him through the 2027-28 season, his agents -- who are also Pascal Siakam's agents -- told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Beyond the ...
2024 Pacers Summer League Recap
Reviewing the nine-day run for the Pacers in Las VegasBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperFor the most part, the Summer Pacers, who went 1-4 in Las Vegas, looked as though they belonged at Summer League. With only Tristen Newton and Quenton Jackson available as lead initiators, the roster as a whole needed more ball-handlers and also needed more from what ball-handlers were available. As a result, while certain players were arguably pressed into doing...
How the Pacers are pushing "thru" at Summer League
And what it means for Jarace WalkerBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper When Summer League started, the intention was to recap every game with both a play and player of the game. Following the exhibition opener against Brooklyn, the focus was on Jarace Walker, taking a look at how he was approaching switches out of a familiar action while also evaluating his finishing footwork and where he was still exhibiting some lapses on defense. Likewise, after t...
Enrique Freeman plays big doing the little things
On the 23-year-old rookie's winning playsBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIn what was a 98-94 win for the Summer Pacers, Enrique Freeman finished with five points on 2--of-6 shooting. As such, he wasn't as efficient putting the ball in the basket on low-volume as Jarace Walker, who scored 19 on seven shots. He didn't go 8-of-8 at the line like Tristen Newton, and he isn't going to fire away from deep as often as a 4-of-11 shooting J...
Johnny Furphy shines as bright spot for Pacers
-- even as he was also obscured By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper The Summer Timberwolves had 17 steals in what was a 105-94 loss for the Summer Pacers, dropping the blue & gold to 0-2 in exhibition play. Of course, given that the Actual Pacers have arguably more depth at the point guard position than any team in the league, there's a good chance that what happens in Vegas will stay in Vegas. Even so, there was a 53-second span at the end of th...
Way too early impressions of Jarace Walker
Recapping Summer League with the play and player of the gameBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper "That's crazy," Jarace Walker said following the third quarter in the wake of finding out that his team had already committed 27 turnovers in what became a 97-95 overtime loss for the Summer Pacers after surrendering a 15-point lead to the Summer Nets. Overall, with tons of turnovers and tons of missed shots, it was a struggle-fest on offense -...
On the subtle awareness of Tyrese Haliburton
And what can be learned about the Pacers from Team USABy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIt doesn't happen often that consecutive sentences are strung together lauding Tyrese Haliburton's defense. Then again, it also isn't often (or, to be quite frank, ever) that he plays in a lineup with the defensive firepower of Team USA's second unit, which has the luxury not only of wing-sized wings in Jayson Tatum and Anthony Edwards, but also t...
2024 Pacers Summer League: Sophomores
Taking a look at what to watch for from the second-year players and veteransBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAhh yes, July. Perhaps the most hectic month of the NBA calendarwhen, in addition to what has been the slow burn of free agency, rosters chock-full of young players and short on familiarity come together in the scorching heat of Las Vegas, playing basketball in an environment that tends to breed bucket-getting. For the Pacers, who appear to ...
On James Wiseman & how the Pacers keep feeding their own beast
ThePacers can feed the former No. 2 overall pick into improvement, but they aren't necessarily satiating the areas where they need to improveBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperA day after losing Jalen Smith, who signed a new, three-year deal with the Chicago Bulls after declining his player option, the Pacers have replenished their rotating carousel of back-up bigs, taking a flyer on 23-year-old center and former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman,...
2024 Pacers Summer League: Rookies
Taking a look at what to watch for from the newest PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper Ahh yes, July. Perhaps the most hectic month of the NBA calendarwhen, in addition to what has been the slow burn of free agency, rosters chock-full of young players and short on familiarity come together in the scorching heat of Las Vegas, playing basketball in an environment that tends to breed bucket-getting. For the Pacers, who appear to be running back ne...
Why Obi Toppin's return should signal consolidation
-- eventuallyBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperTurns out, Obi Toppin won't be listening to offers from any other teams, as the restricted free agent reached agreement on a four-year, $60 million deal to stay with the Pacers just hours before the start of free agency, reports ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. To a certain extent, this is a no-brainer for the Pacers. As the first player in team history to finish a season with at least 100 completed d...
Pacers draft Johnny Furphy: First Impressions
On the many fitting ways the No. 35 overall pick fits the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperWithout a first-round pick, Draft Night for the Pacers didn't officially begin until Thursday afternoon -- when they moved up one spot from No. 36 to No. 35 to select 19-year-old Kansas wing Johnny Furphy, who was one of only two players invited to the green room of the draft for the first round who was not taken. In that sense, just as Furphy's...
Pacers Mailbag: Offseason, They Spoke w/ Tony East
Answering questions about the offseason for the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAs promised, after completing our run of player reviews, Tony Eastand I swapped places as hosts for a special pre-draft version of my monthly mailbag, in which we answered all of your questions ranging from specific free agency targets and what to watch for from Jarace Walker at Summer League to whether the Pacers should be in search of a third star or rely on ge...
