Indiana Pacers' Playoff Push: To Play or To Draft?

Transcript

0:00:01

Welcome back to another episode of The Final Word, the number one Pacers podcast on the web. I'm your host, Raj.

0:00:08

And I'm your Cohost Preston. We have a great show lined up for you today, but before we get to that, please make sure you like share and subscribe to The Final Word. But most importantly, hit that bell icon if you're watching on YouTube, so you never miss a show. Plus, it would really help help the production of the show.

0:00:26

Yes, it would. So Preston, the Pacers have about 15 games left in the season. It's been a good season, it's been exciting, it's been exceeding expectations in some ways. Some ways we've kind of seen what we have when we don't have tyrese. But that being said, the Pacers are actually in a position to where they actually have a chance to make the play in and potentially, if they got out the play in tournament, make it to the playoffs.

0:01:00

So the question is right now, should the Pacers try to make the play in and possibly make it to the playoffs, or do you think they should just call today, call the season, and they just try to get better for next season with the draft? What do you think?

0:01:22

Oh, no, definitely not. I think they shouldn't just give up right now, especially if they have a chance of playing. And I don't think any of the players feel like giving up because I don't think any of them would want to just because they're in a professional sport and they're just always trying to win games. So I don't think they should tank at all. I think if they have a shot for the plan, getting the plan, I think we could have a good chance of winning first round.

0:01:47

For sure. Yes, I think it's a possibility, that's for sure. I think whoever would play the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs, they would actually be in for more than they actually expect. Just because the Pacers, for whatever reason, it seems like they'll play up to the level of the team they're playing.

0:02:10

Against, but never higher.

0:02:12

Yeah, they won't necessarily play higher, but they'll either play to the level. So for instance, when they played the spurs, the spurs had only won like 15 games or so and they had just got done beating Kyrie and Luca. So you would think in that one, that was a thriller of a game. So you would think, oh wow, they just beat Kyrie and Luka. Oh, they got to play the spurs. Oh, that'll be easy for them to win.

0:02:36

Yeah. And then they go ahead and lose. Right. And I'm confused because I'm like, you just beat Dallas and now you're losing to the spurs. And I know these are still NBA players and they have their moments, the spurs have their moment and some players on the team. But I'm thinking because why every time, if you're playing a better team, you're like, oh, we got to play better. And then that worked out for them at the end. But then if you're playing a lesser team, for some reason I feel like they're just like, oh, we don't have to maybe try as hard until it's like too late or something.

0:03:12

Maybe it's not that, but I'm just confused of why they're doing that because I feel like it's always close games with every single team they play with.

0:03:22

Yeah. Even the mental thing. I don't know what that is.

0:03:24

Something.

0:03:25

Yeah, I hope they can just figure that out. It'd be nice if they're thinking, okay, every time they play they're thinking they're mentally playing the Celtics or something like that because when they played the Celtics, they played the Celtics really good. It was a thriller as well.

0:03:38

Yeah. I feel like when there's better teams, like bigger teams, they come in with more intensity at the beginning of the game, it seems like to me. I think they just need to go at it from the beginning and shock the team and surprise them or have some good plays that will always get them or something. Have Halbert and do something, I don't know.

0:03:56

Yeah. So hopefully they can get that figured out. But as far as their last eight games, they are 500 in their last eight games at four and four. And all of those games they won, they barely won. So we did have an overtime game with the Celtics, which we lost, and we just had an overtime game with the Houston Rockets, which we did actually win that one, which if we didn't win that one at overtime, I don't know.

0:04:23

But that was actually a record score assist game for Tyrees. I believe he had 27 points and 19 assists and yeah, that's pretty good for him. If we can just figure out how to continuously play at a high level, that would definitely help our chances and then we wouldn't have to have so many tight games, especially that Rockets game. That Rockets game, we were doubling them up in the first quarter. It was 34 to 17. So that was a team that was similar to the level of the spurs. And so I think when they came out to play them they're like, okay, this is kind of like when we played the spurs. The spurs only has 15 wins, this team only has 15 wins. So we're going to actually go ahead and take care of business and beat this team.

0:05:17

But for some reason they still squandered the lead and end up going in overtime.

0:05:21

Yeah, I like the intensity they brought in with the Rockets, but I don't know, it kind of just faded away throughout the game or something. More mistakes, more turnovers were happening. More than we would like, but yeah, I'm glad they got the win at the end though, for sure.

0:05:37

Yeah, I'm definitely glad they got the win, but 15 games coming up and we got next seven games are going to be road games. So that will definitely test them and we'll see how things shake out. I think if they can win more than half of their games, I think they'll have a spot at the plan. I think if they can just do that, because right now the Pacers are on the 12th spot in the play, in one on the plane. They're in the 12th spot.

0:06:07

They're not in the plane at all, but they're right behind the Bulls. The Bulls have a record of 30 and 37, so the Pacers also are well, they have to knock out the Wizards. The Wizards have a record of 31, 31 and 35. And so they're in the ten spot right now. If we can go on a streak and just have an abnormal little amount of wins, then I think we can do it.

0:06:36

But it's not we can do it.

0:06:38

If we don't win at least half of those next 15 games, I don't think we have a shot.

0:06:42

Yeah, but I really like that they have a seven game road trip and back to back, right? Seven game road trip. Yeah, I think that's good, especially when playoffs are about to come in. So if they do make it to the playing, it'll get them used to playing away for, like, back to back and having not their crowd cheering for them the entire time and like for seven games, which I think that would.

0:07:06

Be good, help develop their mental.

0:07:08

Yeah, mental toughness. So, like, the crowd is cheering for the other team and it might get tense and then it might get down to like, oh, the Pacers have to win one game to get into the playing or something. And then after that it will help them because they'll be like, oh, they have to win this game to get to the playoffs. And then once they get there, it's like they're more used to everybody else being on the opposite side and then helping them out throughout the playoffs.

0:07:33

Yeah, I agree 100%. It'll be good to build their mental muscle. So we have to talk about this. So Benedict Matheran, the last game against the Rockets, had a pretty nasty ankle injury, ended up spraining his ankle. It looked really bad. They did the replay and I couldn't look at the replay after I saw it the first time. I couldn't look at it again. It looked like all of his weight just went on his ankle and he just kind of popped back into place.

0:08:03

And I feel sorry for the guy.

0:08:06

I really do, because I hate to see that happen, especially as a rookie. He's like, oh, Dang playing is coming soon, playoffs, and he might not even get to play. I just feel bad for him. I feel bad for anybody to get hurt. But especially with the rookie, with the chance to go into the playoffs of this first year. It's really tough.

0:08:26

Yeah. He didn't miss one game this entire season, him and Buddy Hill, and now more than likely he's probably going to miss the rest of the season considering also it looked much worse than Kevin Durant's ankle injury.

0:08:38

Yeah. I was just about to say that I don't really feel as bad as Kevin Durant. I still feel bad because I would hate to see that happen, but the way he got up and stuff he.

0:08:45

Got up, obviously he hurt himself, obviously.

0:08:48

And it didn't look good either. But I just feel like, well, you're a superstar, you won championships. If you miss some more games, it's not going to hurt you. You're still probably going to they said three weeks. So he's still going to be able to make it for the playoffs.

0:09:03

Yeah, he's chilling. Yeah, probably three weeks. I'm not sure what it's going to be. Forbidden mather and I don't know if the word is going, but he had to be carried off of the court yesterday.

0:09:14

And the fact that Kevin Durant got up in three weeks for him and then the fact that Madden had to be carried off, that's probably going to be a lot worse, a lot more than just three weeks.

0:09:24

Yeah, I agree. So that being said, hopefully benefit Mather and gets better, obviously that's the main concern. But if he doesn't come back, how do you think this is really going to affect the pacers? Do you think this is going to affect the pacers like we think it would? Because if you think about it, when Tyrese wasn't playing and Mather and did play, we lost all those games, but when Tyrese plays, then we win again and we have chances to win.

0:09:55

Hold on, do you think that possibly somebody could step up into his role and be just as effective or do you think it's going to hurt us to where we're having a harder time of actually winning these games as well?

0:10:09

I think crap. Nimhard niece, Smith. What's? Who's the other rookie?

0:10:15

Nimhard.

0:10:15

Nimhard. I keep on wanting to say NIE. Smith. Okay. Yeah. Nimhard. Yeah, I think Nimhart is going to step up a little bit more. He's already been doing really good, but I feel like he's going to step up a little bit more because he's like, oh, Mathern's gone now we're all going to have to step up. I think the whole team is going to step up a little bit more, but I think NEM heart is really going to step up, I feel like the most because he's going to be like now I will be.

0:10:37

The big rookie because I feel like when Mathern leaves, it's not going to affect the team as much, but just leave some more room for other people to shine. In a sense. I think he's the fourth scorer in the team, right? He's number four.

0:10:57

Yeah.

0:10:58

So he's still with those big four guys and tyrese. My Lyles out of the rainforest, but yeah. So I think team is going to have to step a little bit. I don't think it's going to affect us majorly because it's not like losing tyrese, like you said before, but I think it'll still affect us a little bit. But if anybody's going to, I guess, step up or take the place or I can't remember what you said. I think it's nimhard.

0:11:26

Okay, well, the thing about Nimhart still playing. He's been playing, he's been starting.

0:11:31

Yeah.

0:11:32

The question I'm asking is who would it be to actually take up those minutes? Because Nimhard is not going to play his minutes and he's not going to play double minutes now he still has to rest. So are we going to see more action from George Hill? Is George Hill going to get more time now?

0:11:52

Possibly, but I don't see anybody doing because I think you said like, just as much no, I don't see anybody doing that just as much as what mather brings on to the team. No, because, I mean, you also got to remember this guy goes up and attacks and then he gets the free throws. So he's very good at drawing fouls. So I don't think anybody on the team is that good because I'm pretty sure he's something top 25 with free throws.

0:12:21

No, he's top 25 to get into the foul line.

0:12:23

Yeah. Top 25, he gets to the foul line. Yeah. Nobody else is doing that on the team. So just because of that, I don't really think nobody george Hill might get some more minutes, but I don't think anybody's going to really step into that role.

0:12:38

Yeah, nobody's going to step in his role, but I'm just wondering exactly how are they going to who are they going to give these minutes to? Who's going to get extra minutes? I mean, the only person I can think of is George Hill.

0:12:50

Yeah, I think they should give George Hill a little bit more minutes, for sure.

0:12:53

I don't know who else it would be. Yeah, I guess George Hill is going to have to get in there and show the Pacers fans why he still has it and give us show some of that lockdown defense he has.

0:13:08

Oh, yeah.

0:13:08

So we'll see how that works out. Hopefully the Pacers can fight through this and get some wins. It'll be definitely be nice because I know the guys, they definitely want to get to the playoffs or at least have a chance at the playoffs, so it would be nice to see them. I don't like not seeing us even in the playoffs. I was so used to seeing us in the playoffs every year. It was just like a guaranteed thing. I just knew we were going to be in the playoffs and I was like, okay, so how are we going to win? I mean, who are we going to play in the first series?

0:13:37

People were upset about Nate McMillan and everything and always losing the first round. But he was in the first round.

0:13:45

Yeah, we got there.

0:13:48

We got there.

0:13:49

And it wasn't like we barely made it either.

0:13:52

Yeah. It's like we were going to be in the playoffs when we had him.

0:13:55

And I'm like, no doubt we're going to make the playoffs. And it wasn't like playing stuff. It was like, we're going to make the playoffs. But the outcome was never really the best because we got hit with the Celtics before. I remember Kyrie just blew us out. I think it was four or four to one or something.

0:14:13

We got hit with a lot of different people. But anyways, in regards to Tyrese Halliburton, he is right now considered one of the top passers in the league.

0:14:28

He is the best passer in the league.

0:14:29

I think he's one of the best passers, if not the best passer. He's definitely the most entertaining looking passer.

0:14:35

He's the best passer in my book.

0:14:37

Yeah. So they call him an old school point guard because he is.

0:14:41

He's passed first point guard.

0:14:43

He's a pass first old school point guard. I feel like he watches Magic Johnson the way he does his passes.

0:14:51

Yeah, I know. Or maybe he has one of those creative minds not necessarily watching them. Maybe he just has it in them.

0:15:00

Yeah, but he had, like I said, 29 points and 19 assists in that last game. That's ridiculous.

0:15:06

If he gets 19 more points I know. I just want to have one more assist. Wait, why one more point again?

0:15:12

Because it's been 30 and 20 points and 20.

0:15:15

He's got more than 30 points before.

0:15:17

Right? Well, I'm just talking about when you pair the assist and the points. Yeah, he had a 40 point game the other night when he played the 70 sixers.

0:15:23

Yeah, I can't forget that.

0:15:27

Yeah, but yeah, that many assists, that's kind of crazy.

0:15:32

It's very good. And then think of how many of those are flashy, too. I mean, my goodness, this guy I feel like the majority of his assists are flashy. I don't really see him ever do, like a plane. Plane? Oldest pass.

0:15:45

He doesn't know how to do a regular assist, does it?

0:15:48

Yeah. I mean, even if it's like a wide open person, he'll still spin around or something, make it look cool, make it worth your while so when you watch the pacers, you have something to look forward to. It's more entertaining when he does those passes because he could have just done regular old pass. He doesn't have to spin around, jump in the air and do all that stuff, but he chooses to in it. It makes the game a lot more fun to watch.

0:16:12

Exactly. Like LeBron James. He's a great passer. He's not super flashy, but he does what he has to do.

0:16:19

He has his moments, but he does what he has to do. And then there's other ways he can be flashy, though.

0:16:26

Yeah, I agree.

0:16:27

Yeah.

0:16:29

So the question is because obviously when Tyrese doesn't play, our chances of winning go pretty much down the toilet.

0:16:37

Down the toilet.

0:16:38

So the question is, what kind of player do we need to pair with Tyrese Halliburton? And is it possible that because.

0:16:53

He'S.

0:16:54

Gotten more spotlight on him? Do you think other players around the league, maybe some people who might not be happy about their situation, who are maybe more high tiered players in the league, more All Star friend, superstar players, do you think it's possible that they might be want to come and play with Tyrese? Do you think that's a possibility for.

0:17:16

Those that are superstars, they want Tyrese to come to them, I'm thinking. And for those who are All Stars, they want to go play with Tyrese. The reason why I'm saying this is because all the superstars in the team usually have a really good team and I can't think, well, there's multiple teams that need a good point guard, but there's also a good amount doesn't. So I'm just saying that I think the superstars want him to come or want Tyrese to come to them and All Stars to go to Tyrese because a lot of the All Stars didn't necessarily have a great team like the Jazz what's his name?

0:17:54

He would maybe want to come, but I just think the Pacers need a really good score, somebody who attacks and attack. I mean, if we could just develop Mathern, he could be the number two, I think. So I don't think we need to have anybody wanting to come over. If we develop Mathern and he can make more of those buckets when he attacks and then develop a shot, then I think we have a number two guy.

0:18:19

Yeah, well, technically, like I said, like we know Miles Turner.

0:18:22

Miles Turner? Yeah.

0:18:24

He is on a different level. He is a number two right now. But at the same time, there's something that we're still missing. And honestly, I really think it's just our defense. So maybe it's really that we don't even need more scorers and we just need better defensive defensive plays. I don't know what it is.

0:18:44

I just think everybody needs to develop because we have some really good key players. I mean, like, we have a shooter, we have a good big man, Miles Turner. We have a dynamic point guard who can take over if he needs to and he can do some flashy pass for us, get a ton of assists and still rack up points like we saw 19 points or 19 assists and 26 points. We also have Madrid and then we have all these guys in Nimhar still getting Matted. So we have a lot of key players. That's why I said I don't know if we would need an all Star superstar or anybody to come with us.

0:19:20

I just think we all need to not we all they all need to just develop a lot more over the summer because if they develop or even before the playoffs, because we need that, they just really develop and just all of them up their scoring game and defensive, if anything, if they choose to develop anything over the summer, Defense. Defense. Defense. Because we have some really good, solid guys. I just think they just need that extra step and defense that can carry them up to like number three, number four in the east if they just really get good at defense because defense stops players and you don't need a superstar.

0:20:02

You don't need. Like with scoring defense takes a ton of practice too, but like, shooting threes and stuff how deep it is and how deep the line is and getting in there and doing all special type of moves. I feel like that's a little bit harder than just making sure you stay on a person and know how to lock up and have him coach. Make some really cool plays. I think if they really get good at defense because you don't need anybody special for that.

0:20:31

I definitely agree with that. And what it's going to take? I don't know, maybe just playing together more. Maybe maybe we need to do defensive coach. I don't really know what it is, but I mean, as far as our scoring, we're perfectly fine.

0:20:44

I think defensive coach for sure because we need a defensive coach that knows how to trap and then once you do trap, if they get the ball out, how to get back on it and like do good to switch. Yeah, because I've seen the Pacers trap, but then when the ball gets out of the person that they're trapping, Sands, then they're not always like as quick as I want them to be back on man to man.

0:21:12

Yeah, I agree.

0:21:13

So I think they're still kind of like working on that a little bit. The defensive coach needs to work on it too. Coaches are a big part of the team.

0:21:23

I agree. And I'm hoping that George Hill will be a part of not necessarily being the one to administer the defense because obviously he's still getting, he's older, he's one of those players he's going to be wanting to maybe possibly transition into a coaching role potentially in the future. I think he would like to play with the not play with the Pacers, but be in the Pacers organization after he retires. I think he's kind of made that known.

0:21:50

So I think having somebody like him could actually help improve our defense. He's just gotten here so I think over the summer with his experience, he could actually help the rest of the team know how to be a great defensive player because our good offensive players are terrible at defense. Like nimhart's awful defense.

0:22:11

Is really bad at defense.

0:22:13

Neesmith is terrible. Like, he's one of the worst offenders at defense. Mathern's pretty bad. So I mean, the only people who I can buddy Hill is not great.

0:22:22

Our whole team just say the whole team.

0:22:25

The only people who I can say are decent at defense is Miles Turner and Tyree Town, Alberta. That's about it. I can't even think of anybody else who just pops up in my mind other than George Hill who doesn't play.

0:22:37

Not for real minutes.

0:22:40

I think we'll see what happens. Honestly. He'll get some minutes and we'll see what happens. Maybe they say, hey, wait a minute. We're not really getting scoring from George Hill, but he's helping us be a better defensive team. So if he's out there with Tyreese and Miles on the floor, we got three people who can defend. So I think that can make a big difference. So we'll see. It'll be exciting.

0:23:05

It will be very exciting to watch, very exciting to see and very excited to see how this team develops.

0:23:10

Yeah, definitely. It's still too bad that bather and hurt his ankle. We don't really see that. It looks really bad. Sorry for the guy, but we'll see what happens. I'm sure he'll get better. He's young. He's 19, I believe 1920 ish. So he'll get better. He'll be fine. He'll pop back.

0:23:27

So he'll pop back.

0:23:29

All right, so that was a great episode. Preston, I'm going to ask you this. What is your final word?

0:23:37

My final word is I'll just say develop. I didn't get a list, but I can't find a good list.

0:23:44

That was a good one. Develop.

0:23:45

Good list or a good one?

0:23:47

Okay, that was a good one.

0:23:49

Good one. All right. Yeah. Develop. And the reason why is because, as I said multiple times during the podcast, pacers really need to develop on defense. But I was going to say defense, but I think I've said that before, so trying to do new ones. All right, dad, what is your final word?

0:24:06

My final word is actually defense.

0:24:08

Defense. Oh, yeah.

0:24:10

Develop and then defense develops their defense.

0:24:13

That's good. Yeah.

0:24:14

So I think that's really what it is because even though they had that super high scoring game against Philadelphia, the defense was terrible on both sides. That game.

0:24:25

It was terrible.

0:24:27

Yeah. James Harden was in there. You know he's not playing defense.

0:24:29

Yeah. No, he's one of those people like, score. Okay, I did my job. Wait for the play to end. Okay. Now I'm going to score again.

0:24:38

Exactly. So I don't know, maybe that's all it takes. I mean, obviously we can have another moving off season of a player. I would love to see just some I don't know who will be to come over here. He just wants to play with us because we got Tyrese, but he's getting.

0:24:54

More and more known, like he's starting to be on the page or the what's it called?

0:24:59

NBA App.

0:25:00

Yeah, on the NBA App, the main page, right when you open up, you see Tyreese's face. Can't think of what it's called, but.

0:25:07

Yeah, we'll see what happens. But hey, guys, thank you for listening to another episode of The Final Word, your number one pacers podcast on the web. Make sure you share the final word with a friend. Make sure you share the final word with the enemy. Make sure you share it with enemy. But just share it with somebody. And we'll talk to you guys later. Peace.

Indiana Pacers' Playoff Push: To Play or To Draft?

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