Pacers' Miracle Season Thread
 

I guess the Pacers need a thread dump for what I am now, 25 games into the season, convinced will be a playoff run that gets them to the second round or further. I noticed them with the Haliburton trade and predicted their sheer force the moment Nesmith (duh) joined the team, along with Smith. Also saw Mathurin and Nembhard shine in Summer League, and sniffed what Carslyle was cooking. Anyway, great investment opportunity still because they have no nationally televised games going forward (correct me if I am wrong). Sleepers will sleep.

A good example of the chemistry on this team is the way Hield interrupts Haliburton mid [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03yHVq-5YUg"]post game interview[/URL] (10:16) after a convincing win back home against the Wizards. These guys love playing with each other. Even a little shoutout to 3smith (5:35) in the secondary and their in-rhythm catch and shoot strategy. Every word Carlysle deadpans drips wisdom. He's talking advanced strategy about the importance of the timing of shots throughout games. Never saw any in-depth discussion of anything in Celtics pressers.

I've enjoyed this season way more than I thought I would. I think this week's road trip exposed them for what they're going to be moving forward this season...likely a .500 team with a lot of young talent and good coaching. Haliburton is a star and Mathurin is improving by the week (IE passing out of offensive fouls he was committing weeks ago, etc).

Winning a playoff series though? I don't see it, but I hope I'm wrong.

Winning a playoff series? I think they will be in the play-in tournament and I do think they can win the 7th or 8th seed. In doing so, they'd play either the Celtics or Bucks. Not sure they'd get more than 1 game off either one of those 2 teams.

Pacers are playing way better than I thought they would as well, but it's still early. The season doesn't begin until Christmas Day and really ramps up after the All-star game. Will be interesting to see how they handle the final 2 months.

I'm ready for Duarte to come back so Nesmith can go away.

[QUOTE=Deadshot;18595514]I'm ready for Duarte to come back so Nesmith can go away.[/QUOTE]

Hopefully Duarte doesn’t come back too soon. I need to clear out the rest of the Nesmith stuff I sent to COMC.

Nesmith's 3 makes it a 22-pt 1st half lead over the Warriors.
This is a fun team to watch.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/kAhMoNN.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/33cjFd4.jpg[/img]

Thanks for making this a thread about Nesmith. I'll continue the run good.

[QUOTE=SHowley2003;18595526]Hopefully Duarte doesn’t come back too soon. I need to clear out the rest of the Nesmith stuff I sent to COMC.[/QUOTE]

Anything that might help me build my rookie collection? Have gold equivalents from all the major sets except Prizm. I can go exactly $242, no higher (last sale, albeit shimmer). Got 8 jersey numbers, always looking for more. Damn, there are still deals to be had in 2022.

Nice win tonight...good to see Tyrese bounce back after not hitting a single FG Monday.

All joking aside this was a true team effort. The Warriors kept coming and Steph was bionic until dislocating his shoulder. I think he actually wanted to prove himself against these guys.

They've had an awesome season so far!

Despite that they're still 23rd in net rating with the 3rd easiest SoS so far.

I expect them to fall off quite a bit as the season moves on and be fighting for a play in spot at the end.

I'd like to see Jalen Smith and Isaiah Jackson start to become more consistent offensively and better defenders. I think those two stepping up will have a really big impact on the team.

Duarte had his first rehab start last night and finished with 18 points on 7-13 shooting, in 22 minutes. He'll have one more with Ft Wayne on Friday night.

Duarte's offense is not so remarkable but he is steady in most aspects. More than that he will help time manage other players who have gotten heavy use.

Made the long drive to last night's game and wasn't disappointed! Tyrese with a career high 43 pts!

Nomad is really willing this thing into reality

I literally pointed out why the Celtics lost not only last season's finals to Heat, but the year before's 1st round to the Nets, tied it all in to Nesmith, and his journey to the Pacers.

Half a year ago....

Turns out "energy" is actually not a sidenote to achievement. It is the process of striving to achieve ever higher.

...lost me at literally... did you stick your finger out?

Basically, the insights are spread over a couple threads but. The only victory Celtics got in Nets series in 19-20 was when Nesmith took to court and brought the energy. Similarly, Celtics only won in 20-21 when they did similar (see Heat). They did not learn and traded him. Basically G Williams and Robert Williams were so insecure that they didnt want the competition.

Pacers have had time to develop Nesmith, even build a team partly around him, which is what you have to do, and they will reap the rewards.

Critical insights are dismissed as kooky theories all the time and basketball fandom is particularly clueless.

Nice take on the Pacers season and fandom [URL="https://8points9seconds.com/2023/01/04/jekyll-hyde-nature-indiana-pacers-fandom-season/"]so far[/URL] from a Jekyll and Hyde perspective.

That OT loss against 76ers was hard to watch. Especially as Nesmith was not on floor last seven minutes. But I don't think a team has been as competitive on the Philly floor in about a month.

literally asking myself if I was watching wrestling. Nesmith just energized the whole building and Carsyle [URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NRcPZBtWJI"]pointed out[/URL] that rip as a "gesture" that shifted the momentum.

literally?

literally, it was a statement that the Pacers would not give up another point for the rest of the game. Even Nurkic with his 19 boards had to admit that. Excited to see this team in a seven-game playoff matchup.

Trading for Haliburton is the best thing that this organization has done in a long time.

literally???

Pacers last 71 seconds against Charlotte are worth a rewind. That was pure grit and hustle eking out a victory from down 107-104 against a team that was highly motivated and had Ball playing to form. Haliburton to Miles pick n'roll and one. Hield hero play blocks Lamello and draws fouls that takes Ball out of the game. Nesmith grabs a steal, gets fouled at the rim, two free throws. Down the court, 2 more FT for Nesmith. And then Miles Turner extends and blocks Plumlee. Game over.

Secondary form and injuries concerning tho.