Aaron Nesmith "Art of Falling" appreciation thread

[Nomad]

I believe

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Even though I don’t think Nesmith has star potential, balling out then getting bench duty is weird from any angle other than injury or discipline.

I believe that Nesmith requested it, just as he signed for much less than he would otherwise earn, to help build a dynasty. But he needs to actually be set up as the leader of the secondary. I think actually it is a salary and agent thing. They need Brown and Toppin (and even Myles, who suddenly considers himself a top 5 center and the second best defender on team) to naturally find their own level and if that takes a couple losses, so be it. Heck, even McD and Nembhard consider themselves more worthy of ball handling than crash when they on floor. 50 point blowout a message.

If Carslisle is smart this will get Shephard on the secondary where he belongs, get Nwora and Myles traded and Hield locked up, and relegate Math to secondary as well, mentoring Walker.

Interestingly, in his rookie year there was a similar phenomenon where Nesmith had a month of exceptionally good basketball, culminating in 38 point second half comeback against Spurs (that was him edging Tatum and Brown on), I think Smart was injured?). It's no exaggeration to say he was one of those who turned the Celtics mindset around to winners. And he was rewarded with ass come playoffs. Still instigated the Celts' one victory against the Nets.

But heck Juice finally struggling earnestly over the correct pronunciation of Nesmith for the first time ever (didn't get it but he nailed 'flud'). And a beautiful Reaves flux Ultraviolet gold auto hit.

[Nomad]

So a couple things of interest in the Charlotte - Pacers game. Hornets on three day skid, while Pacers bounced back from their 50 point drubbing on the parquet to handily grit it out vs. Cleveland last night. Love how Nesmith and Bruce Brown worked as a defensive tandem. Miles got exactly the defensive stop needed and Haliburton has nerves of steel when it counts with his long bombs.

So the game should be highly competitive. As a clcter, interested to see the Lamello - Nesmith spar. Last time out I definitely saw crash earn Ball's respeck. This time the respect coefficient may be reversed.

[Nomad]

"Can we talk about the FANTASTIC defense Aaron was playing when fronting Embiid? That was some crazy good effort."

"If Obi says "we good", I guess we good"

"Myles bleeding and Embiid gets the whistle lmao."

"Mathurin euro step for the win!! Oh wait no he traveled."

"33,6 and 15 for Hali damn"

"Guys I think I figured out what's going on. Pacers make the refs do cardio running up and down the court so much. That's why they calling all these hate fouls against us"

"Really hope Jalen Smith was ok. He was looking out of it. Marcus Morris is a garbage can."

"Both of these games were very competitive and fun to watch btw. Kudos to the Pacers and Sixers for playing ridiculously hard in the regular season."

"Feels like one of the biggest wins in years"

6th man of year. Im calling it.

[Nomad]

Call me OCD, it has been rankling me ever since crash changed his uniform from 26 to 24 that I don't have any cards with the correct number in his Pacers gear. Sure, have eight 26/ rookies, and one 24/ rookie, but since that wasn't his jersey at the time, doesn't count. Then this beauty appeared on eBay at a can't miss price of 10 bucks.



Then realized he is actually 23. Typical.

[Nomad]

"We're just watching what felt like a classic game... how did it feel to play in it?"

Prediction: starter Nesmith card prices will not rise until a) every announcer in the league and Gin & Juice* can pronounce his name and not mistake him for Myles Turner or b) they put him on the cover of the revamped Mad Magazine.

down two zero... what me worry?

Also, a suss auction of a 020 OBSIDIAN AARON NESMITH RPA ROOKIE AUTO 12/35 PURPLE spotted. $77 + $32 AU shipping. I mean, is a two-napkin sticker nothing the best gradable RPA you can get for under $100 suddenly?

* Don't fret G, even diehard Pacers fans don't know the game well:

"I knew it was only a matter of time before Carlisle had to start nesmith. Because god knows we need another 6’5” player who doesn’t rebound out on the floor."

"Damn, Mathurin got benched."

"matter of time. same with toppin. would have guessed more than 12 games, but that ORL game was sad."

"Rick has been dying to bench Mathurin since the front office made him start him."

"can u honestly say u were impressed by toppin tho?"

"Not at all. But Carlisle is to nesmith what McMillan was to Thad Young. He just plays him to much and he is not punished for making mistakes like other players are."

"i dont think he makes many mistakes, he's just short"

"can we just please for the love of the almighty trade Buddy Hield"

"Hawks coach looks like a phone salesman at T Mobile."

50 minutes laater

"With all the bit**ING and complaining they are coming back to win this lol"

"IJAX is possibly their best defensive player now. I wanted him in the starting unit last year. Obi may need to get comfortable on the bench"

"Haliburton is unreal man lol"

"Jax understood his assignment. 4 blocks in 7 minutes"

"This game is complete insanity."



"Pacers points per game went up to 128
About 6 more than the next team at 122"

"People that love the modern NBA absolutely loved this game. People that miss 90s basketball loathed everything about it. Either way, helluva comeback"

"The Pacers likely put a 5th game against either Milwaukee or Boston on their schedule with the win tonight. They can possibly avoid those teams if they beat Detroit by a lot on Friday night or if somebody rips one of those two teams a new hole in their remaining tournament games."

"I take back all the bad things I said buddy."

[Nomad]

Interesting Sideline Guys interview with Nesmith who definitely responds, not to crash, but to beastsmith. Question to the community: what do the yt comments "Aaron smith is goated" and "17:48 Common Nesmith W (fire emoji)" mean?

Also what its with the three circles imprinted on the left thigh? are those gonna be basketball tattoos, or is this an ankle and kneecap health + gait monitoring system?



hoho... from a visit to the children's hospital with Bruce Brown.

Tonight I was like, those last five buttery Raptors penetrations of the rim would not have occurred with Nembhard and Nesmith on the floor. But Hield almost pulled it out with a three that Ty gifted him in gratitude for his effort in Atlanta. Of course stained wrist, yes, but also time management for the Detroit game. If they put them away by more than say 24 points, they get conferred a home court advantage in the knockout round guaranteed, without needing either Boston or Milwaukee to lose. It was heartening to see how close this game was shortanded, considering that the shorthanded Raptors looked like the better team against the fullhanded Pacers last matchup.

"take the small wins, you go into those games knowing 'those guys (Embid, Giannis) are going to get thurs—you know, how do you eliminate the others. And I think we did a good job in the Milwaukee game and in the Philly game of eliminating the others and letting nobody else have a big night—besides Tyrese, Tyrese had a big night... I think being able to focus on that and not get so worried up in the wow factor with these guys is a big step for us moving forward."

[Nomad]

I remember there was an interview with Nesmith back in his rookie year, maybe it was after their 38 point comeback against the Spurs. And they asked him how he felt and he laid is all on Tatum's shoulders, saying "as he goes, we go." And I am reminded of that humility (opposite of my personality, which is why I admire) in asst. coach Lloyd Pierce's postgame congratulatory talk after a perfect 4-0 run to clinch home court advantage in the play-in.

"Reliable." "Bring that stuff every night."

Oh and Quinn Buckner's take on the Detroit Pistons? "Frankly, they think they’ve got a younger version of the Pacers."

I don't see quite how that works, Beef Stew is a class ahead, Killian Hayes is in the same class, and Cade a class after the majority of the Pacers' wrecking crew. They just not killing it.

[Nomad]

It's interesting. I think there is some friction between certain members of the team. Old guard, new guard. I like the team a lot when Nembhard, Nesmith, Brown, and even McConnell and Hield start functioning as a unit and bringing the others in together as a young, cohesive two-way team. That's how a playoff series can be won, with Aaron as anchor and Hali as the star.

I noticed there was some tension in practice interviews. I think Carslyle has been getting on Obi and Math hard, maybe something about their lack of defensive grit. Old school threat of one or other placed permanently in secondary in place of Nesmith. Which neither can like (both think they are better), but point continues to be made night in, night out, that crash earned that starting spot last year. Coach even put in Shepard for a second just to say no job is secure.

"Easy win, a lot of high fives and celebrations are going to happen.

i love high fives!

Toppin looks engaged. I think he’s going to have a good game

Btw Myles can not back brogdon down

Shepard gets more burn than Walker, in a position we are loaded. Not a good sign

Benn just got burned by Brogon's slow motion azz on the perimeter

Brogon now with the layup on Myles...dude couldn't score a layup on Trae Young when he was with u

Either a fan or a coach in the second row said something to Toppin and he was super pissed about it. Nwora had to get in between him and the bench and even sitting there he was still looking back there at them.

Goga situation? ..

If it was Jim Boylan, who I think it was, it could have been that bad. I’ve never seen Obi that upset.

Probably begging him to stop shooting all together unless at the rim.

Ayton averages 25 and 12 in Pacerland with Hali force feeding him like he does our boy Softner. He got nobody to pass him the ball in Portland.

Looks like Smith hyperextended his knee. Didn’t look too bad. He’ll probably miss a week or 2

Jalen is out for at least a month.

Who was Rick yelling at there? Mathurin?

Hali can’t play D worth a damn

Hali and Buddy bricking open 3s.

Lots to complain about tonight--give credit to Portland's defense--but I continue to like Nesmith, and I LOVE the budget-friendly extension he signed. He's played good, physical defense against Brogdon (how ironic!) and he's spreading his wings on offense. Still a work in progress and not destined to be a star, but absolutely a solid piece."

[Nomad]

As for the crucial question of whether Nesmith passed the eye test on his first day back from wrist sprain injury? At 1:27 of the 2:50 clip we switch programming to a crash 4th quarter highlight reel. Starting with an extended two part defensive play that ends with a wicked Myles swat down, continuing with a crazy inbounds swat off a Math miss to McConnell for a Math dish, and concluding with a mad loose ball recovery dodge-dodge-reverse lay in, and the dagger 3 that put the Pacers to within 3 with 1:30 minutes left (actually they skipped that one, but its the only one of the four on this (also Pacers) Ty highlight clip, go figure).

Interestingly, they just found a (distorted) soundboard recording of Jimi playing the Hollywood Bowl in 67. You can clearly tell he had quit the Monkees tour a month earlier. But there are a few flashes.

[jcardstore]

When are you going to show off your Nesmith PC?

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

When are you going to show off your Nesmith PC?

Better PC: Nomad’s Nesmith or BBases’ Purdy?

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Better PC: Nomad’s Nesmith or BBases’ Purdy?

I'm sure Nomad has a legit Nesmith PC, I actually want to see it lol

[Nomad]

Here are 8 favorites. Call me a traditionalist, but the 26/99 Playoff ticket and the 26/26 Rookie ticket are pretty nice. Let's throw in the 26/99 Recon Rookie (my favorite insert) and the only 1/1 Recon base for good measure. The /5 gold Titan (think I have a rainbow of that?), the 1/1 Origins (only booklet of that year?), the Flawless game used RPA /15, and the ever popular Nebula Crusade 1/1.

[jcardstore]

Awesome stuff!! No love for Prizm?

[bkcardcollector]

n1 NoMad

[rhigh2390]

Love player PC's. Nice work!

[oldgoldy97]

Nice work!

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

Awesome stuff!! No love for Prizm?

Sadly, this 26/199 jersey number is the only real Prizm of note I have. I have a few rainbows but nothing better than /49. A gold did come up that I really wanted once and went for a reasonable price, but I didn't have capital at the time.

My feeling is that Prizm of even those considered as hobby scrubs are hoarded?

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by Nomad

My feeling is that Prizm of even those considered as hobby scrubs are hoarded?

I would say yes I agree. I have an Okoro PC and I definitely hoard Prizm lol. My goal is 100 silver prizms

[duron]

Don’t think I’ve seen those Recon Rookie inserts, I’m a sucker for diecuts in the first place but that’s a dope card.

Just noticing it’s not actually diecut, still nice.

[Nomad]

If Panini had invested in die-cutting that, would have broke the 90s.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

I would say yes I agree. I have an Okoro PC and I definitely hoard Prizm lol. My goal is 100 silver prizms

It's interesting our approaches to a player PC are really different. I have very few silvers or interest in them. I figure that if I ever passed the collection on to a collector/investor they would already have multitudes of that. My criterion for each purchase has been a combination of rarity, aesthetics, and affordability. I splurged $400 on the Recon 1/1, at a time when Recon was not hobby loved, because I liked the look and the fact that unlike, say, flux, there are not four 1-1s and a confusing black factory set parallel out there as well.



When I pulled the trigger on an NT true RPA /99, it was one with part of the "C" logo. (No real chunky RPAs for beastmith, curse of the Boston unis).

While I'm pretty confident I put together a collection that would cost a couple hundred thousand dollars if, say A Edwards, for well under $10k, it did break my bank account and I am still working on getting that on better footing. So I see this PC as more of a sacrifice/stab in the dark/lottery ticket.

And yet, it would be impossible to replicate and I have really grown to like Nesmith over the years. I would not sell it for less than $100k so I am really rooting for the kid. The pumping is kind of incidental. Obviously I am generating hobby notice here, but if his feats on court don't match, it's still a dud investment.

Also, full disclosure, I basically stopped buying second year and further since I ran out of funds. With the exception of the 75/75 red cracked 75th Anniversary 21-22 Prizm and the "What me worry" 22-23 Luminance auto.

[Nomad]

Someone in indy reading this forum.

"No Hali. When we lose by 60 points, it should lock Haliburton in as the league MVP."

"Yeah Miami in a runaway, not going to be pretty."

"After the Haliburton news, the line got bet up from Miami 3.5 to Miami 6. But instead of it just keep going up as might be expected even after Butler was taken off the injury report, it's instead reversed and has been bet down to Miami 4.5. That says there are some definite Pacer believers out there.”

“someone who is high BBIQ...is Hali really *that* bad at defense, or is our performance so far a fluke”

“Defense is harder than offense plus it requires more effort”

"ice half from Nesmith"

"Great defense by Obi on Butler so far...clever move to put him on Jimmy too"

"Wtf happened to Nembhard's three point shot this season?"

"Well dang, how bout that! I didn’t see that coming."

"A little bit of D"

"Is this the best defense Obi has ever played? It certainly is the best he’s ever done for us."

"This has also been the best defense the pacers as a whole have played this year."

"Nesmith single handedly keeping us in this offensively"

"Nesmith was so ready to get called for some #@#@#@#@#@#@#@#@ there that he forgot to get the rebound"

"No reason Nesmith can’t be our starting SF longterm"

"should we trade hali while his value is high?"

"Looks like we need to keep TJ McConnell for the rest of his career."

"absolutely crazy. what does vegas know that we don't. the only thing going for us was not wanting to lose b2b to the same team. i don't know how you could see it coming."

"Excluding Nembhard, the entire team shot 72% from the field for the game. That's impossible."

"Best win of the year for me. Probably best defense this whole year too."

"If you told me we’d have one game Tyrese scores 44 and one he doesn’t play, I would NOT have picked this one as the win lol"

"Pacers basketball makes no sense."

(for reference:

Pacers got their a**es handed to them in the prior game vs the Heat with Hali dropping 44..

Nembhard was 1 of 9 from the field yesterday night

So which is it?

Pacers have been getting their asses handed to them with Hali posting breathtaking offensive stats recently. Basically the dynamic is one where Hali surrounds himself with the vets Brown, Myles, Hield (and Obi), and the guys who actually know how to run the team as a unit, engineering attacks and responses when given full responsibility, are tentative and fragmented. Good shot opportunities are deferred and lost, and Brown is the only one among the vets with any real defense.

Once you get the secondary essentially leading the team, it clicks. See the 76ers play-in game when Myles and others fouled out as a template. That secondary-led win was more impressive than the subsequent record-breaking-score Atlanta play-in.

What you don't realize is that Nesmith is not starting but he is finishing 100 percent of games. The traditional hierarchies of the primary/secondary are being broken. Even 1-9, Nembhard had many good assists that led to the win. (A 1-9 Nemhart has vastly different value than a 1-10 Hield). And his starting effort helped contain the Heat and kept Indy within a few digits, when Nesmith and McConnell took over.

Transitions are complex admittedly. What we saw last night is such a far cry from that month last season when Hali was out and the Pacers dropped many games in a row. The emerging talent is now seasoned, tested, and ready. I just hope we don't go back to what was losing us games against Boston.

I actually think the system, as constructed, would not require Haliburton pointage to win and arguably the defensive deficiencies when he is on the court against A-list teams, are insurmountable, unless he is hitting everything. That is why I am pretty much doubling down on crash. It's prolly too late to build a truly great Nembhart collection, but he is the other I would be after.)

[Nomad]

Forgive me for stoking the fire, but the Pacers are 6-0 when Nesmith hits double figures. Seriously.

This Setting The Pace podcast is really informative, the Celtics guy knows much. Had no idea Jalen Brown was having an off year or that the Pacers can win by crashing the boards with Porzingis out.

Can't believe I got this gold 1/10 rookie mosaic debut for $40 at auction. I was like, no more purchases unless super deal on rarity bookend, and this appeared. So then my tune changes to, I'm not gonna bet on the game, I'm gonna bet on Nesmith.

Future collectors will shake their heads at the deals that were to be had in December, 2023.