Basketball, She Wrote posts
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Losing it late
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkkA reminder: Caitlin’s deep dive comes later. This is just supposed to hold you over.The matchups were as predicted to start: OG on Pascal. Donte on Tyrese. Andrew on Jalen. Early returns lean New York with Brunson shaking loose often, and the Knicks moving the Pacers offense away from Haliburton. Nembhard with a lot of the ball, and not many good looks. Good deny defense from Divincenzo on Haliburton in particular; an...
The Definitive Pacers vs Knicks Semi-Finals Preview
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper For the first time in a decade, the Indiana Pacers have advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Also, for the first time in overa decade, they're playing the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs. As such, in order to breakdown the latest installment of the once long-standing rivalry, Benjy Ritholtzof Knicks Film Schoolagreed to stop by along with Samson Folkto discuss the in and outs of two...
On to the next one
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk A reminder: Caitlin’s deep dive comes later. This is just supposed to hold you over.The “break in case of emergency” Obi Toppin glass was broken early, and to great effect. Not only do we see the energy plays creating a difference, we get this big, sexy, live dribble lefty read to Nesmith for a layup. McConnell steals a point to wing pass and feeds Tyrese for a fastbreak dunk, then steals the inbounds in the back...
System Failure - Pacers Squander Golden Opportunity
Why the Pacerswere stymied by switches in Game 5 lossBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperTurns out, the series isn't over until the series is actually over. After finding answers for most of the coverage changes from the Bucks through the first four games, the Pacers came up empty all too often against Milwaukee's attempt to flatten out the offense with switches. Whether downsizing with small-ball lineups or cross-matching Brook Lopez onto Aar...
Wading in the mud
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk A reminder: Caitlin’s deep dive comes later. This is just supposed to hold you over.Quick note: This game was a nightmare for Pacers fans. Not only did things go poorly, but it was soundtracked by a Bucks fan who somehow kept finding his way into the TNT mics. Every Pacer shot was scored by “HE SUCKS! HE’LL MISS!”, “HE’S A JOKE!”, and all the classics. Absolutely horrible. However, with a minute left, hea...
Three minutes that define Pacers-Bucks as a series
Whenever the Bucks patch one leak, another starts to spring waterBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperMyles Turner knocked down his sixth three as fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse were chanting his name. Those cheers, echoing throughout the arena as a show of appreciation for the longest-tenured Pacer's best-ever shooting performance in the playoffs, were quite different than the four-letter word that was uttered on the court in response to the same p...
Hot Hands - How the Pacers caught fire to take 3-1 lead
Turns out, the three-point line is a powerful deodorantBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper With the Bucks down but not yet out, the Pacers returned to a familiar strategy: banking on their ability to cash-in more threes than their opponent while likewise limiting three-point attempts on defense. At one end of the floor, Milwaukee attempted to a create a no-fly zone in the paint, doubling on the catch against Pascal Siakam and alternating between drop...
Making it rain
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk A reminder: Caitlin’s deep dive comes later. This is just supposed to hold you over.Escalation! Siakam gets things started early by shifting Portis sideways – as if Portis had stepped on one of those Team Rocket floor tiles in the early Pokemon games – with a jab, and punching one home with authority. A bit of a stare down ensues between Siakam & Portis that results in Siakam getting a tech. No emotion allowed! S...
How the Pacers bulked up to win Game 3
And found another way to winBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper In protecting homecourt with a 121-118 win in overtime over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Indiana Pacers attempted 105 shots, marking a franchise record for a playoff game, while reloading for 22 shots on 19 offensive rebounds for 32 second-chance points. Put simply, that's a lot of shots, and they needed a lot of shots, because after racking up 39 points in the first quarter and leading ...
The intersection between winning & development
On Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard, and staring straight aheadBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperWinning? Development? Depending upon whom within the Pacers organization was asked, it wasn't exactly clear what this season was supposed to be about. Rick Carlisle played both sides of the fence, saying the team would "keep an eye on development" while also trying to "take competitive steps." Chad Buchanan, meanwhile, seemed to offer mo...
Pacers Mailbag: Answering questions following Game 2
Pacers, popsicles, and poetry? Sure, why not. By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper To say thank you for subscribing, this is the latest installment of the patron-only mailbag. After recording a full-length video about how the Pacers evened up the series, 1-1, Samson Folk and Bucks.comwriter Louis Zatzman both agreed to stick around for a bonus segment, answering some light-hearted questions in response to the Game 2 win.Naturally, that means the patro...
Running of the Bucks - How the Pacers won Game 2
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. These video podcasts with Samson Folk, providing in-depth coverage of the playoffs, are going to be available as free trials for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperWith Pascal Siakam powe...
Breaking the Seal
A reminder: Caitlin’s deep dive comes later. This is just supposed to hold you over.By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk We have found the pace! If ever there was a team that needed to exude their namesake on the court? It would be these Pacers. A massive 30-percent of their first quarter possessions came in transition, and let them burst out to an early lead. A stark contrast to what we saw in game 1 – wherein we discussed punches, counterpunches etc...
Pacers Mailbag: Answering questions following Game 1
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAs promised, this month's patron-only mailbag is coming in the form of exclusive bonus segments at the end of the off-day recap podcast videos that are being released in between each of the playoff games for the Pacers. This isthe first installment featuring questions about what the team gains with Pascal Siakam and has lost without Bennedict Mathurin, as well as a deeper dive on how the Pacers can potentially a...
7 ways to get Tyrese Haliburton more than 7 FGA
On how to increase the star guard's shot volume ahead of Game 2By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIn his debut playoff game, Tyrese Haliburton posted his lowest usage rate of the season, attempting only nine shots while seeing his volume of drives dwindle to just 8.9 per 100 possessions by comparison to 17.7 during the regular season. Granted, this isn't the only reason why the Pacers lost, or perhaps even the main reason why the Pacers lost....
On Haliburton, Lillard, & potential changes for the guards
Caitlin Cooper and Samson Folk look both backward and forward at the glaring contrast between Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard following Game 1 and ahead of Game 2By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAs was explained in our series preview, when the Pacers went 4-1 against the Bucks during the regular season, the Pacers played those games like playoff games -- at least by comparison to the game-planning from Milwaukee. Fast forward to Game 1, howeve...
Debuts & Bad News
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkkA reminder: Caitlin’s deep dive comes later. This is just supposed to hold you over.It’s all about weathering the storm in the playoffs. Basketball is a game of runs, yada-yada all that jazz, but you have to counterpunch. Damian Lillard threw a flurry of punches to open up the game. The Pacers pick n’ roll coverage against Lillard ceded driving lanes that he happily stepped into, and once the step-up screens/drag ...
On the difference Pascal Siakam makes
And what changes to expect from how he changes the match-upBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperOn New Year's Day, when the Pacers played the first of a two-game, baseball-style mini-series against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum, Buddy Hield was still on the roster, Bennedict Mathurin had yet to be ruled out for the season with a torn labrum, and Pascal Siakam was about to go off for 36 points on 13-of-20 shooting -- albeit more than seven hou...
The Definitive Pacers vs Bucks Playoff Preview
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. These video podcasts with Samson Folk, providing in-depth coverage of the playoffs, are going to be available as free trials for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the Pacers.By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperFor the first time sin...
Fixes for the Pacers to get out of their fix
And into the playoffs By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperLong before Max Strus snagged the back-breaking offensive rebound that resulted in Darius Garland banging in a step-back three over Pascal Siakam to put the Cavaliers up 123-118 with less than a minute to play, the Pacers gave up 70 first-half points, botching a few specific defensive coverages that, if not fixed, could come back to bite beyond that of this failed comeback. With a spot in the p...
On the Pacers rising and setting with T.J. McConnell
And the implications and timing of how often they're relying on him to shine in standing outBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperT.J. McConnell can't typically be compared to negative space -- at least not in the artistic sense. Granted, when he doesn't have the ball, and sometimes even when he does, his defender tends to wander, but that pertains to the actual spacing of the offense. When considered from the standpoint of how he makes hims...
Why the Pacers keep losing to losing teams
And whether the glass, as it pertains to the latest loss against a below .500 opponent, should be considered half empty or half fullBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAfter giving up 42 points in the second quarter and going almost four minutes without scoring to start the second half in what became a dismal, 115-111 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the Pacers have moved to 18-14 on the season against teams with losing records. Among the top-10 teams in th...
How the Pacers are switching it up against switches
And why it isn't quite as, ahem, blurry By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper As you might recall, the Pacers were held under 100 points for the first time this season last week against the Chicago Bulls. It was the final game of a five-game road trip, and the Pacers definitely looked like a team playing the final game of a five-game road trip. Nothing to see here, right? To borrow from Rick Carlisle, "The windshield is way bigger than the two ...
The Pacers had one of those nights, too
On the ongoing extremes of the defense By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperNot unlike the unpredictable weather in Indiana, which saw snow accumulation during NBA All-Star weekend only for the NFL Combine to be greeted by 70-degree temperatures, if you don't like the defense played by the Pacers, wait a few days -- it'll change. After all, less than a week ago, the Los Angeles Lakers scored 150 points against the Pacers, marking the highest po...
Pacers Notebook: Observations from Battle LA
A late-night tale of two games in the same city By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper In the NBA, there's always another game right around the corner, including sometimes even in the same city against a different team on the second night of a back-to-back. For the Pacers, that meant moving on quickly from the loss to the Lakers with a win over the Clippers, providing an obvious contrast in terms of outcome as well as a through-line with regard to t...
Pacers Mailbag: Basketball, They Spoke w/ Samson Folk
Answering mailbag questions about the basketball played by the Indiana PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAs promised, for this month's edition of the patron-only mailbag, I was once again joined by a guest: Samson Folk from Raptors Republic. After watching film together to project Pascal Siakam's potential impact with the Pacers, Samson returned to offer his "outside" insights on the early returns of the trade, along with a sle...
Why the Pacers are no longer a "blur"
A last two minute report on the ghost screens that have been ghosted & moreBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperEn route to a 108-103 loss to a depleted Cleveland Cavaliers team, the Pacers closed the game going 3-of-10 from the field, including 0-of-7 from three, while being held scoreless over the final two minutes. During that span, with the Cavs switching or going ice-to-switch on most ball-screens, there were interior mismatches that fell by the w...
How Pascal Siakam is "handling" the pressure
By handling more of the ballBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperWhen it comes to running the fast-break, Tyrese Haliburton has been very open about his desire to start possessions as the ball-handler in the open floor. In fact, during a recent appearance on The Old Man and the Three with JJ Redick, he even cited Pascal Siakam's immediate willingness to outlet him the ball as a reason why he knew they would click: “There’s times when new guys g...
Taking stock of the Pacers w/ Tony East
Talking into a microphone about the basketball played by the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperFollowing the overtime loss to Chicago, Tony East and I teamed up to take stock of the Pacers with 15 games left to play. After discussing what's changed about the team since acquiring Pascal Siakam and trading Buddy Hield, we also did a progress check on Jarace Walker and debated who should round out the 10-man rotation. Just a whole bunch of di...
Nembhard, Haliburton assist each other on defense
Turns out, the starting backcourt can also dish out help at the other end of the floorBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperBy the end of the regular-season opener, way back in October, when Bruce Brown was still on the team and Bennedict Mathurin was still starting, both point guards for the Pacers finished the night with double-doubles -- a benchmark which was only reached once during the entire prior season. At the time, with T.J. McConnell (temporar...
