Basketball, She Wrote
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Pacers Mailbag: Basketball, They Spoke w/ Samson Folk
🕑 Added 2024-03-23 12:40:00 +0000 UTCAnswering mailbag questions about the basketball played by the Indiana Pacers
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
As 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 slew of other topics, including whether there will ever be a return of "hot girl basketball" and, relatedly, whether there should be (i.e. just because science can do it, doesn't necessarily mean science should). Samson has also been gearing up to collaborate on playoff coverage with me (assuming there is a need for playoff coverage crosses fingers), so while he is an "outsider" as far as what market he works in, he's watched plenty of Pacers basketball and, in my opinion, is among the most knowledgeable people writing and talking about the sport.
Enjoy his insights, as well as the call-back to his "ice breaker" monologue from over the summer. In case you just want to listen to your specific question or skip ahead to some of our banter at the end, here are the relevant timestamps:
0:00 - Introductions
1:30 - Samson's Ice Breaker, Revisited
8:24 - My mailbag question for Samson
17:21 - How has Pascal Siakam affected scheme versatility on defense?
25:20 - What factors have led to the team's overall improvement on defense
36:04 - Tyrese "showing out" with show coverage, even amid his slump
43:25 - Regressing to the mean with turnovers
49:22 - Samson's mailbag question about clutch-shots filtering to Myles Turner
54:00 - Jarace Walker's best fit on defense and the "Draymond" archetype
1:03:29 - Impact of officiating changes on Tyrese versus Pascal
1:07:35 - Jalen Smith or Isaiah Jackson as the best back-up big of the future
1:16:08 - Is Andrew Nembhard the long-term answer at starting two-guard?
1:26:08 - Top candidates to replace Buddy as a ghost screener + other options
1:30:30 - What kind of rotation players should the Pacers pursue this offseason
1:39:12 - Is Jarace more of a three or a five and does it differ on offense/defense?
1:41:01 - Complimenting Jarace with Scottie as far as being toolsy
1:42:25 - Will the Pacers ever return to playing "hot girl" basketball
1:46:23 - Is it bad if "hot girl" basketball doesn't fully return?
1:48:01 - Our favorite books
1:52:14 - Our earliest basketball memories
1:58:05 - The single NBA game that impacted us most as writers
2:05:02 - Thank you and goodbye
Comments
Rafa
If a teams strength is 3 point shooting they will lose more when they shoot below league average from 3. I feel you could make a similar criticism for most teams. Take away what they are good at and they lose more. The current squad shoots below 35% a lot. If they weren’t winning some of them it would be bad. if the point is that they aren’t near as dependent on 3 points shooting I agree. Perhaps it indicates that the defense has improved. I agree with that as well. it doesn’t make me feel better or worse about the team by itself though. Buddy was a key player but I don’t think you need one the greatest shooters the game has seen. If you are right what the Pacers were doing can only be duplicated with very specific personnel I don’t know what to make of the defense the Pacers played to start the season. I will say it’s my opinion that no 5 man unit in the NBA would have a good defensive rating playing it. At the end I started to think that wasn’t the goal. that maybe staying the on perimeter suppressed 3s and kicked started offense to the point where it could be seen as paying off despite a predictably bad defensive rating, if that was the case I don’t think you trash it when they did. I have no idea what they were thinking but a poor defensive rating and star players exploding was predictable
Caitlin Cooper
I don't think either of us would disagree with any of that.
RB
Every time Samson has been on with you he focuses on Pascal’s defensive flaws / negatives. I get Pascal isn’t an elite defender, but he’s been the best Pacer on most nights since the trade and a top 20-30 scorer in the league.
maninthebooth
I know that you appreciate TJ, Caitlin. You made that clear in the video. Except for the most elite players, every player has some flaw and they overcome them with other strengths. I agree with you that TJ gives Nemby license to start and that Nemby is a better overall player than TJ. I find precious little you say or write to criticize. And this was not one.
Caitlin Cooper
That's fair. and I certainly won't speak for my guest (although I think his opinion was coming more from just his own aesthetic preference), but I've written many glowing things about TJ, including this tweet: https://twitter.com/C2_Cooper/status/1745483989605883962
maninthebooth
I understand they aren't similar players. My point is that Derozen isn't good from 3 either but doesn't get criticism like TJ does for it. Both overcome that flaw in their own way.
Caitlin Cooper
Glad you like us as a pairing, haha. Also, thank you so much for sending in your question! Gave us a lot to think about.
Caitlin Cooper
Tyrese has 47 assists to Pascal and Pascal has 21 assists to Tyrese
Caitlin Cooper
Their identity was predicated on loading up on as many possessions as possible with pace and outscoring opponents from three. When those shots didn't fall, they didn't often have other ways to win. They're 9-19 on the season when they shoot below 35% from three - and three of those wins have come since the ASB. Buddy was also very much tied to that identity, and he isn't on the roster. Defensively, they were trying to teach better on-ball habits, while also depressing attempts from opponents. Eventually, when they went to doubling on certain actions, they weren't stopping the bigger scorers or limiting the other options. A lot of these holes showed up during the In-Season Tournament Championship and the immediate aftermath, so they made some changes. This roster isn't set-up to consistently play that way anymore.
WeGonSee
You and Samson. Pretty (or hot) magical duo. I enjoy the differences of opinion, with contrasting analytics and philosophy. Very enjoyable and at times intriguing. It’s more.
Caitlin Cooper
They aren't similar. My argument was that it is remarkable that TJ leads the NBA in drives per 100 possessions while bristling at taking threes. TJ isn't going to create in isolation like DeRozan and also has a much slower release, so teams don't have to play as close to him when he's away from the ball.
Caitlin Cooper
He definitely doesn't dislike Pascal. Not sure why that was your takeaway. He and I have podcasted many times over the years, both before and after Pascal was a Pacer and he enjoys his game immensely. His point at the beginning was only that he thought the Pacers would lean into Pascal more while Tyrese was getting healthy.
Norma
I would like to know who has more assists Tyrese to Pascal or Pascal to Tyrese... i don't know how to look this up
maninthebooth
Regarding TJ and the three, isn't that a bit like Derozen and the three and why is that a problem for TJ and not for Derozen? Derozen shoots 29.6% from three yet is considered very effective as a player. So is TJ.
Norma
I think Pascal brings urgency and consistency in scoring and rebounding and defense... i do think Tyrese is trying more on defense
Rafa
It seems to be your opinion that “hot girl basketball” was intractably linked to the “guard your yard” scheme? Why? They did start to give more help before the lineup change but it seemed like they gave it about a 3 game chance. They had an historical good offensive lineup with a killer net rating and gave them games to improve their weakest area before throwing out the baby with the bath water. INCONCEIVABLE LOL. The only real (I’m using that word losely) argument I’ve seen is “that’s not playoff basketball!”. The team went from being experimental and greater then the sum of it parts to what you would expect looking at them on paper imo
RB
Looks like Samson hasn’t gotten over his hate for Pascal.
