Monday, July 24, 2023
Posted on July 24, 2023 at 01:39 AM.
Pacers Season End Review 2024
Cody Estrada just finished his end of year press conference where he expressed his disappointment for the 2024 Indiana Pacers. He did however, expressed a responsibility to get better and then spoke to the great potential of his young squad. He shook off questions of head coach Rick Carlisle being on the hot seat, referencing his past success in Dallas and Detroit. He then said he failed Coach Carlisle and his staff by not providing them the opportunity to succeed. As Estrada entered his office, he felt the pressure of the media and fanbase to succeed. He has fallen in love with the city. He appreciates the basketball culture and love the fans have for their team, the last thing he wants to do is fail them.
As for the team, they concluded the season 30-52. The offense did improve as Tyrese Haliburton became more aggressive, Treyvon Okoye solidified himself as a starter and Ben Mathurin felt comfortable in his new starting role. However, they did finish with the most turnovers in the league, were bottom ten in scoring offense, and bottom three in field goal percentage. Defensively, Isaiah Jackson continued to prove that his is a star, averaging 2.2 blocks and 1.5 steals a game. Okoye gained the experience of guarding superstars like Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard. He seemed to do better on the quick guards rather than big wings at this point in his career. A focus will be for his to improve his strength and weight to not get bullied by big wings. As a unit, they allowed the third most points per game, but did hold opponents to respectable shooting percentages. They also finished first in the league in rebounding.
Roster Grading
Tyrese Haliburton-Ended the season as better scorer, ending the year averaging 17 points per game on 47/43/85 shooting. He also upped his playmaking, getting 7 assists per game. He's very solid defensively, with 1.7 steals per game. Usually he sticks to the other team's second or third option to help him reserve some energy for the offensive end. He is hoping to ride his upward trajectory into next season in order to insert himself back into the all star conversation.
A-
Ben Mathurin- Showed he can guard his position, holding up fine in a starting role. He did contribute 16.1 points a game on 42% shooting. He was streaky, having games where he couldn't miss and games when he couldn't throw a ball in an ocean. The team is confident he will continue to grow as a starter next season.
B
Treyvon Okoye- Proved to be a solid defender, often taking on the biggest offensive threat from the other team. He did also average 1.1 steals a game. Offensively, he showed great playmaking and offensive rebounding ability. Often times he was on triple double watch. However, his main goal for the summer is he shooting and shot selection. He only shot 36% from the field and 29% from three. This has to improve in order to be a starter on a top tier team. The team envisions he can help Haliburton as a second or thrid ball handler and playmaker, possibly staggering his minutes to provide more playmaking for the second unit next year.
B-
Jerami Grant- The second leading scorer of the team at 16.6 a game. However, he did turn over the ball almost two times a game. Showed versatility playing mostly at the 4 but showed some good production playing the 3 sometimes on the second unit. He continues to show he is a solid starter, however it is unclear if he can be the second option on a playoff team. He seems to be what he is, a decent scorer who can give minutes guarding big wings like Durant, LeBron or Tatum. He slots in to the starting 4 spot for next year.
C+
Isaiah Jackson- Flashed the potential to be a terrific rim protector and defensive anchor. Estrada is very excited to see him grow in the summer. Offensively, his field goal percentage grew to 50% as he cut out most of his outside shooting in the second half of the season. Turnovers hurt him as he averaged 1.8 a game. If he can lock in his role as a rim running defensive anchor, he has the potential to be a fridge all star player.
B+
Jalen Smith- Most of the season, Smith came off the bench. This frustrated him immensely. He only shot 28% from three but did score 10.8 points and 9 rebounds per game. He flashed some ability as a shot blocker with over a block a game, showing his best position defensively is at the 5. He finishing ability combats his ability to play the 5 offensively, which is the reason he mostly came off the bench. With his contract expiring, it'll be interesting to see how Estrada and Indiana offers him a deal.
C
Jackie Strawberry- The rookie point guard did well in his full time backup point guard role towards the end of the season. Even having a game where he finished with 25 points and a game where he had 10 assists. He can definitively playmake and has the potential to be a truly great backup point guard in the NBA. However, his 36% shooting from the field and 33% shooting from three has to improve. The Pacers see him as the backup PG to start next season.
C+
TJ McConnell- McConnell battled with Strawberry for the backup PG role. His shooting of 38% and 22% from three is the missing piece. He provided decent playmaking with almost 4 assists per game. He also continued to play pesky defense on opposing ball handlers. His contract is up and depending on what McConnell wants, he may not return.
C
Evan Fournier- Fournier was a perfect addition, providing veteran leadership and a scoring punch when given the opportunity. An injury to Mathurin gave Fournier a chance to start for a couple weeks, where he scored 12 points per game on 52% shooting. He may have earned a chance to crack a rotation on a team next year. Although the Pacers loved his contribution, they agreed that he is better suited on a contending team next season.
B
Daniel Theis- Another good veteran presence whose minutes fluctuated throughout the season. He's a smart and reliable player who gives some stretch ability at the 5. Averaged 5 and 4 in just 10 minutes per game. Theis will test free agency this offseason but Indiana is interested on bringing him back if he wants to fill the veteran leader role next year.
C
Thaddeus Young- Just like Theis and Fournier, his minutes were reduced once the Pacers committed to seeing what the young players offered them. He gave a good defensive spark and a good rebounding presence. Young has contemplated retirement, expressing he wants to be part of a rotation or just hang it up.
C
Andrew Nembhard- In the second half of the season, Nembhard got a chance to show his playmaking ability with more minutes. However, it's hard to see where he fits next year with young players like Mathurin, Strawberry and Okoye giving good minutes. He's a big guard who still struggles defensively and only shoots 38% from the floor. It is hard to see how Nembhard fits on the team next year.
D+
Ontrel Ali- Spent most of the year in the G-League. His shooting is still his biggest struggle. He got a few games to show what he has, but only shot 31% from the field and 26% from three in 13 games. His lack of playmaking also hinders his chance of getting on the floor. His frustration with time in the G-League and lack of production may lead to him finding a new team next season.
D-
Robin Lopez- Appeared in 6 games, however gave Jackson and Jalen Smith some good lessons and kept the locker room enjoyable in the mist of a losing season. Knowing his playing days are coming to an end, Lopez will work this summer to see if he can get on a team for next season.
C
Overall D+
The second half was better than the first, but the season was too far gone by the time the team was rolling. The initial exceptions of a playoff run failed. This forced Indiana to give their vets less minutes in order to provide valuable experience to younger players. Next year might be a make or break year for Estrada, as the team definitely has lost their excitement and playoff hopes for this group.
Monday, July 17, 2023
Posted on July 17, 2023 at 06:18 PM.
As we approach the all-star break, it's time to recap what has been a disappointing and abysmal season it has been for the Indiana Pacers. Indy started at 3-13 and sit at 20-37. Both sides of the ball have been a struggle. A lot of bad jumpshooting and bad shot selection have created the lowest field goal percentage for any offense in the league. Indiana also turns the ball over the most of all teams. On defense, the Pacers are known to foul constantly, having the highest fouls per game of any team. The team has been playing better recently however,with Coach Carlisle finally finding a good rotation. At first, Carlisle attempting a more veteran lineup, but then switch to a more youth inspired approach after about 20 games. Now, Carlisle plays a mix of the two, with rookies seeming to get the ropes of the NBA and the vets starting to get into mid-season shape. In the second half of the year, Indiana GM Cody Estrada has expressed that they will attempt to be competive every night, but, they also understand minutes for the younger talent is needed for development. Carlisle also changed some of the offense, going more up tempo with an emphasis of Haliburton getting more shots. He also had talks with players Isaiah Jackson and Treyvon Okoye about their shot selection and how it impacts the team. Haliburton has been asked to be more aggressive since game one, but feel obligated to always try to get his teammates involved. Haliburton over the last 10 games, has attempted 15.7 shots per game. Before this, he was only taking 11.2 shots a game. The latest move is a trade involving veteran Buddy Hield and a 2024 second round pick to New York Knicks for Evan Fournier and a late 1st round pick in 2024. The Knicks get a proved marksmen for their playoff run, as they sit at number six in the East. They are however only six games out of first place. The Pacers essentially just moved up in the draft from an early second to a late first.
Roster Grading
Tyrese Haliburton-Has started and played in every game. He has been the play-maker you'd expect, averaging 7.1 assist per game. He shot percentages look good at 46/44/82. However, he has been timid to shoot until recently and is averaging 3 turnovers a game. His defense is still very solid, posting 1.8 steals a game. Overall, he's been a great captain and continues to play hard and develop. A-
Buddy Hield
The man is who he is, a deadly shooter that is a limited play-maker and struggles defensively at times. He's shooting 39% from three to help him score 14.4 points a game. We wish him best of luck in New York. B
Terry Taylor
He began the year as a starter, he now is a guy who could get a coach DNP any night. He was outstanding on the glass, averaging five rebounds a game with most being offensive. However, his 36/29/73 shooting splits make him unplayable. He competes defensively, however Indiana is still unsure weather to use him as a wing defender or a guard defender. Needs to keep developing. C-
Jerami Grant
Grant has struggled as a number two option with not much shooting around him. He is still scoring 17.3 a game on a respectable 43% shooting from the field. He's been solid defensively, usually seeing the other best team's wing scorer. He veratility to play the 3 or 4 has helped Indy show some different lineups throughout the season. His rebounding and playmaking is what he needs to move up the that next level.
B+
Isaiah Jackson
The new starting big man has shown flashes of a true starting caliber center. He's almost averaging a double-double at 11 and 9. His defense has been great, managing to average 1.7 steals and 2 blocks per game. He does get into foul trouble a decent bit though. On offense, he tends to like to shoot from deep but his shot is not there yet. He only shoots 13% from there, but until recently shooting 4-5 a game, sometimes getting crazy and shooting 10 or 11. He's okay finisher inside. Needs to keep developing.
B-
Ben Mathurin
He has embraces the role as a sixth man, putting himself in the award race at 16.4 points a game. His rebounding has been a nice addition at 5.3 a game. Defensively he's a solid guard defender and maybe can defend some wings. He's flaw right now is his shooting inconsistency. He's shooting 41% from the field and 36% from three. Getting both those up two or three percentages would make him an elite sixth man. He hasn't playmaked much being in the second unit surrounded by not great shooters. It's been fun to watch him continue to grow. B
Jalen Smith
It's been a roller coaster ride for Jalen. His 11.3 points and 9.3 rebounds a game look stellar for a starter/bench flex player. He's shown some rim protecting abilities with over a block a game. His 31% shooting from three hurts his versatility to play with Jackson. He has great games, including a great 18-15 game vs Portland, but then has games where he goes 1-11 from the floor. He started the year off the bench, then started about 15 games being moved back to the bench. If he can be more consistent, he could earn a starting job full time. C+
Treyvon Okoye
The rookie sat a few games before getting a few minutes and then being pushed into the starting lineup. He has been a filling the stat sheet averaging 7.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists. He shown some flexibility to guard fast guards or stronger and bigger wings. Right now hes most dangerous on the fast break where he finishes well. He shooting is defiently still developing, shooting 35% from the floor and 25% from deep. This is what got him taken out of the starting lineup and a couple coach DNPs. He also turns over the ball 1.4 times a game. Always plays hard and will continue to grow. B-
TJ McConnell
The vet has been decent for the Pacers. It started very bad, hoovering around 30% shooting and two turnovers a game. He was then taken out of the rotation, but has working his way into some minutes, proving to be a solid play-maker and pest defender for the second unit. C
Jackie Strawbery
Also a rookie who had to wait to play. Strawberry didn't play under around the tenth game of the year. He's been a great passer, but his shooting hasn't been good at 28/30/77. Competes defensively but isn't there on that end either. He'll continue to be in the rotation after the Hield trade. C+
Thaddeus Young
Has been a solid backup 4 or 5 when he plays. Short spurts for Young have done him well and his veteran presence is shown on defense. Has done what we wanted as a mentor and reserve. B
Daniel Theis
Another big who has been in and out of the rotation. Usually gets more time when Jackson or Smith get into foul trouble. He has been solid averaging 4.5 points and 3.7 rebounds in just 13.6 minutes a game. Shows good intelligence defensively. B
Ontrel Ali
Trel has been in the g-league all year, all due to his abysmal 30/25/74 shooting. He's been a good guard defender with over a steal per game. His play-making is still lacking, but if he can't shoot, he'll never play in the NBA. D
Andrew Nembhard
Nembhard recently just play his first five games of the season. He's put up 4 points and 1.4 assists in only 7.8 minutes a game. He did have a g-league stint where he shot under 35% from the floor. It is hard to find a person for him to guard at times. Hasn't shown much growth. D
Robin Lopez
Lopez hasn't gotten any extended time on the court, appearing in just nine minutes over six games. Has been a good mentor for Jackson and Smith. C
Evan Fournier
Fournier just joined the team from New York. Carlisle and Estrada have defined him as a good veteran for their young back court players and like his shooting ability. He only appeared in two games for New York. C
Overall: D
The Pacers are still growing. The young pieces have looked decent, while the vets are giving good guidance. It has been frustrating to watch the close loses and see the rookie like mistakes. But, this team has not played their best basketball yet this season. They've shown flashes of a fun, young up tempo team.
Around The League
| NBA Standings - Updated: Feb 14, 2024 | |||
| EAST PLAYOFF RACE | W | L | GB |
| Detroit Pistons | 35 | 22 | -- |
| Miami Heat | 34 | 21 | -- |
| Brooklyn Nets | 33 | 23 | 1.5 |
| Toronto Raptors | 31 | 22 | 2 |
| Boston Celtics | 32 | 24 | 2.5 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 30 | 26 | 4.5 |
| New York Knicks | 29 | 26 | 5 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 28 | 28 | 6.5 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 25 | 29 | 8.5 |
| Chicago Bulls | 25 | 29 | 8.5 |
| Orlando Magic | 25 | 30 | 9.0 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 23 | 32 | 11 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 20 | 34 | 13.5 |
| Indiana Pacers | 20 | 37 | 15 |
| Washington Wizards | 11 | 44 | 23 |
| WEST PLAYOFF RACE | W | L | GB |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 39 | 16 | -- |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 36 | 18 | 2.5 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 36 | 19 | 3 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 35 | 23 | 5.5 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 31 | 24 | 8 |
| Utah Jazz | 31 | 25 | 8.5 |
| Golden State Warriors | 29 | 26 | 10 |
| Houston Rockets | 29 | 27 | 10.5 |
| Sacramento Kings | 28 | 28 | 11.5 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 27 | 27 | 11.5 |
| Phoenix Suns | 27 | 28 | 12 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 24 | 30 | 14.5 |
| Denver Nuggets | 23 | 32 | 16 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 23 | 35 | 17.5 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 11 | 45 | 28.5 |
In the East, Detroit has certainly lived up to the hype. The combo of Kyrie Irving and Cade Cunningham has given other teams headaches all season. Both guards are averaging over 20 points a game and shooting over 40 percent from three. Jayden Ivey has been developing nicely, averaging 17.3 points and 5.3 assists off the bench. He currently is the front runner for sixth man of the year. Miami has looked good as well, with Tyler Herro taking over as the leading scorer with over 25 points per game. Brooklyn has rode Kevin Durant and Ben Simmons to the third seed in the East. Simmons has bounced back after a few tough years averaging close to a triple double with 19/8.4/8.9. On the flip side, Washington has looked completely awful and Bradley Beal is fed up. He recently requested a trade. In the West, Minnesota has been the surprise breakout team. Karl-Anthony Towns putting up his usual 20 and 10 on 52/44/81 shooting. Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards has emerged as a superstar, making his second all-star game. Rudy Gobert has reluctantly taken a step back and been averaging 10 and 10 off the bench. This has help the T-Wolves post the highest scoring offense in basketball. The Grizzlies have continued to surge behind Ja Morant's scoring and play-making. The core of Morant, Jackson Jr., Bane, Brooks and Steven Adams have shown great chemistry. The Lakers are too playing the same way, with LeBron and AD leading them. Jordan Poole has provided a nice third scorer for them this year and the defense is the best in the league in points allowed. New Orleans have also been a breakout team, with Zion Williamson averaging 24 and 8.9 on a ridiculous 70% shooting. His health is his biggest improvement, playing 48 of his team's 58 games. Luka is your MVP favorite, putting up 32/11.5/8.9. Jokic is right behind him, but his team has failed to get any help from anyone not named Jamal Murray. This has put them at the bottom of the West, with only a young and inexperienced Spurs team and a brink of implosion Trail Blazers team below them.
The rookies have been good this year. AJ Taylor is coming off the bench for Charlotte, contributing 16.2 points a game and helping the Hornets stay in playoff contention. Armel Zipser has also been a good piece to a playoff team, giving the Jazz 11.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game. LaMonte Wilson has been a good starter for Detroit, giving them a third scorer at 13.8 a game and good wing defender to pair with Kyrie and Cade. Isiah Drexler has been a pure scorer for Houston, averaging 16.3 points on 48/38/80 shooting. A big piece for a playoff team is Jordan Zizic, who has given Dallas get spacing, shooting 41% from three.
Trade Deadline
The Hield trade kicked off the trading spree this year for the NBA. A week later, Portland finally trading superstar Damian Lillard in a three team deal. Lillard went to New Orleans with rookie Bryce Marble. It was a three team deal, with New Orleans receiving up and coming guard Dyson Daniels, big man Jonas Valanciunas, young forward Isaiah Todd, then a New Orleans 2025 1st and a 2024 1st from New Orleans that originally belonged to the Bucks. Houston received Devonte Graham, Jae Crowder and a 2025 2nd round pick from the Blazers that originally belonged to Detroit.
A day after this, Washington finally traded Bradley Beal to the Brooklyn Nets with Maxi Kleber and Kenyon Martin Jr., in exchange for Joe Harris, Seth Curry, Nic Claxton, Patty Mills and a 2028 1st round pick. Washington got all they could, but struggled to get good offers due to Beal's no trade clause.
The second half is approaching soon. A lot of questions surround what will happen. Can Minnesota make noise this postseason? Will the strategies of going all in work for New Orleans and Brooklyn? Who will win rookie of the year? Will Luka take home his first MVP? Can the Nuggets, Clippers or 76ers get hot enough to make the play-in? Can Indy show any life in the second half?
Thursday, July 13, 2023
The Draft
The draft is where the fun started when Indy selected Treyvon Okoye with the number 9 pick. The 19-year-old wing from Memphis will look to give Indiana a defensive stopper and a secondary playmaker. He will need to develop his shooting in order to get and stay on the floor however. They later selected Jackie Strawberry at the end of the first with the 25th pick. He'll be looking to develop into a playmaking and set shooter for the bench unit. He's most likely not a good enough defender or shot creator to take on a starting role until much later into his career. The final selection for the Pacers was Ontrel Ali out of Arkansas. The young guard is a good shooter and defender. But, his 6'3 size and subpar playmaking skills is keeping off the floor for now. All the picks are 19-years-old and are raw coming into the organization.
For the rest of the league, Charlotte won the AJ Taylor sweepstakes with the #1 pick. Amel Zipser, a 6'9 playmaking wing, went with the 2nd overall pick to Utah. Zipser's size and passing ability mixed with his soft touch makes him a unique project for the Jazz. Then two-way wing Lamonte Wilson went #3 to the Pistons, true point guard Johnnie Jones went to San Antonio and the bucket getting Isiah Drexler went #5 to Houston to round out the top five. Other notes include big man passing hub Layton McKey landing in Orlando, rim protector Latrell McCoy went to Oklahoma City, and the instant offense point guard Omar Tinsley ended up in Phoenix.
Free Agency
Free agency kicked off before the Pacers could even get their draft picks settled in, as Myles Turner demanded an opportunity to find another franchise to play for. Years of off the court rumors around Turner being traded made the big man feel valueless to the ownership and he needed a fresh city to wash out that feeling. Turner ended up signing a two year deal with Houston, back in the state where he played his college ball. Chris Duarte also saw a change of scenery, signing with Memphis. The Pacers did hit their first target in free agency, signing Jerami Grant to a three year, 55 million dollar deal. The versatile forward looks to give Indy a switchable defender who can provide offensive help as a second or third scorer on the floor. The only two other signings the Pacers made were with vets Thaddeus Young and Robin Lopez.
The biggest splash for the league happened day one with Kyrie Irving signing with the Detroit Pistons. Irving pairing with Cade Cunningham and Jayden Ivey suddenly makes Detroit one of the must see teams of the new season. Next, Kristaps Porzingis signs with the Spurs to try to redefine his career. Jordan Poole stays in Cali, choosing to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Clippers find reinforcements in big man Jacob Poeltl and wing Grant Williams. Bostons counters picking up Brook Lopez. Detroit adds to its firework of an offseason signing Johnathon Isaac to give them some defense and grit. Later, Mike Conley signs with Houston in order to provide some veteran leadership to a young and scrappy group. Just before the start of the season, OKC convinces Coby White to sign on a one year "prove it" deal to help him build some stock and provide some shot creation on a hungry Thunder team.
Roster Preview
The cornerstone of the young Pacers is point guard Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton is coming off an all-star season where he become the number one offensive option and a pick and roll maestro. Behind him, a battle between vet TJ McConnell and rookie Jackie Strawberry takes place. McConnell gives a defensive pest and a veteran presence, whereas Strawberry gives some spot shooting and outstanding passing to the second unit. On the wing, Buddy Hield is keeping the starting spot on, as he gives great shooting. However, right behind him is second-year scorer Bennedict Mathurin. Coach Carlisle keeping him as the number one option for the second unit. Andrew Nembhard looks to possible find some minutes if injury occurs by giving some playmaking at a big guard size. Ontrel Ali understands its a development year for him, as he has been assigned to the G-league team to start the season. Reports out of camp say Trent Taylor, a third year undrafted pitbull who gives Indy some grit and offensive rebounding. Though he is undersized at 6'5 and hasn't proven to be a reliable shooter yet in his career. Rookie Treyvon Taylor, is developing and well most likely sit to start the season in order to get adjusted to the pro league. Jerami Grant has also been slotted in as a starter as a small ball four. This lets Grant use his speed and shooting ability to stretch out defenses. Jalen Smith is slatted to be the second guy off the bench, giving the Pacers the flexability to play big with him at the four, or play him at the five to get some shooting and defensive rim presence. Thaddeus Young knows his role as a reserve who can fill in case of an injury or foul trouble. At the center spot, Isaiah Jackson has shown some great improvement in camp with his defensive disruption and rim running ability. He continues developing his jumper, almost mirroring a poor man's Myles Turner. Daniel Theis gives a lot of basketball IQ and some shooting skill to the big rotation. Robin Lopez provides veteran leadership and team morale as a reserve for the big man group. Overall, Indiana hopes to make the play-in, with it's young core continuing to grow and build chemistry for the promising future.
Around the league, the East returns with staples like Joel Embiid and the 76ers, the Greek Freak and the Bucks, and the two headed dragon in Boston with Tatum and Brown. Although new blood looks to enter the fray as Detroit, Cleveland and Charlotte all have the potential to break out this year. Miami, New York and Atlanta are eyeing contender status after disappointing finishes to the last season. Out west, the Nuggets begin their title defense in a conference of young and hungry competitors with the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns. Meanwhile, three veteran teams in the LA Clippers, LA Lakers and Golden State Warriors, look to retool and reload for another championship push. We haven't even mentioned upside teams like New Orleans, Sacramento and Dallas. This NBA season looks as wide open as ever.
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