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Mailbag: Getting Defensive with the Pacers
🕑 Added 2023-11-28 13:30:01 +0000 UTCAnswering questions about the Pacers and other things!
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
This month, there were a lot of questions asked about the current state of the defense, ranging from individual developments and whether the scheme fits the personnel to how replicable the standout, fourth-quarter performance against the Pistons will be moving forward. As such, all of the inquiries were answered from the film room, so as to provide context in a more intimate setting.
After delving into the nitty-gritty of the polarizing start for the Pacers, as they continue to be at the top of their game on offense while struggling to manufacture stops with any consistency, my sister and I hopped in the car for some bonus content in a callback to last month's series of shenanigans.
In case you just want to listen for your specific question or jump ahead to the fun at the end, here are the relevant timestamps:
0:00 - Welcome to the monthly mailbag - in video form!
0:41 - Mathurin's tendencies running the floor in transition
4:25 - Smith-Jackson as a frontcourt combination
9:28 - Has Isaiah Jackson earned a spot back in the rotation?
10:39 - Is the defense from the fourth quarter against Detroit replicable?
14:08 - What is keeping Jarace Walker off the court?
21:40 - Are Isaiah Jackson and Jarace Walker too similar?
26:49 - Is Jarace Walker more of a wing or a big?
28:47 - Evaluating Tyrese Haliburton's defense and long-term defensive role
35:26 - Are the Pacers coaching the team they want on defense (i.e. Bjorkgren)?
41:30 - Has the defensive scheme, focusing on single coverage, failed?
45:20 - Peeling vs. Pursuing: Is the switch of defensive styles more about teaching better skills for the long-term than winning in the short-term?
51:05 - What positions need to be upgraded if the Pacers are going to win a playoff series?
55:12 - Who is the third most consistent starter?
58:50 - What is keeping the team's athleticism from helping the Pacers defensively?
1:02:41 - Where does Haliburton's skip rank among 3-point celebrations?
1:03:26 - Macaroni and chees or mashed potatoes?
1:03:57 - Are the defensive issues more about physical limitations or miscues?
1:09:57 - Christmas Wish list for the Pacers
1:11:28 - Is Myles Turner being overextended as a rim protector or has he shown some slippage?
1:15:27 - How much of the defense issues are a byproduct of playing at such a fast pace?
1:19:01 - General thoughts on Mathurin's development and why he was moved back to the bench
1:24:28 - Thanks for listening to this very, very, very long mailbag (and for asking questions!)
1:24:56 - But wait, there's more -- a road trip to right past wrongs!
1:25:40 - Finally trying the popsicles at Neveria La Brisa!!
1:26:53 - Treating my employee of the month (Goodbye for real this time)!!!
Comments
Thomas
Thanks for answering my question! Appreciate it and all the great answers. Loved the extended answer on physical limitations versus sloppy mistakes. Adding onto my question do you think that IJax has been good enough that there will be match ups where he's going to be preferable over Jalen outside of just wanting to switch more? I'm imagining that they might want him against teams with poor rim protection on the bench where his roll and lob gravity are preferable to Jalen's all around offensive game.
Caitlin Cooper
So glad you liked it!
Carolyn Collins
Able to follow on iPad. Very informative!
Caitlin Cooper
Thanks for the feedback, Keith. Really glad you enjoyed it!
Keith Correll
So I wound up watching this whole thing on my iPad and thought it was outstanding. Thank you.
Keith Correll
I like the audio so I can listen in the car. Thanks.
