Collective, consistent hard play needed for undermanned Pacers to find joy again
The last week has been a challenge for the Pacers. Losses, poor effort and body language. Plus, an update on TV + Prime Video partnership, rookie signs shoe deal, and video of Nembhard shooting.
Happy Friday. I’m writing this from Indianapolis — after being all over in the last week: from Belleair to Orlando, Florida to cover Caitlin Clark golfing and then the Pacers play the Magic.
And just last night, with the Pacers (and most of the NBA being off) I made the trip down to Bloomington to see the IU men’s team improve to 4-0 before they depart to The Bahamas. I had to make time to stop and enjoy Mother Bear’s pizza before the game. If you know, you know…
The Pacers return to action tonight in Milwaukee (8 p.m. ET).
Last year, these two teams met five times in the first 33 games, including in the In-Season Tournament (now being called the Emirates NBA Cup). This is their first of four meetings of the season — with the final two not until mid-March.
This first meeting was supposed to be one of two featured on ESPN Friday night, but the network dropped the game from its schedule plans on Nov. 13 and replaced it with Warriors at Pelicans. I know it’s Steph Curry and the Warriors, but have they seen the Pelicans’ injury report? It lists nine guys, including Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray, Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones and CJ McCollum. The west teams have been far more competitive and so now both games shown on ESPN will be Western Conference matchups.
The Pacers (6-9) aren’t in a great place health-wise either. Starters Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith remain out, along with obviously James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson.
Entering their second NBA Cup game, 2023 draft picks Ben Sheppard (left oblique strain) and Jarace Walker (illness) are questionable. The positive is that Myles Turner (right calf strain) is no longer on the injury report. They cannot afford for another center to go down.
Meanwhile, the Bucks (6-9) have won four of their last five games following a 2-8 start to the season. Khris Middleton is out and Giannis Antetokounmpo is probable — and his o/u is just 32.5 points. Pacers fans do not need any reminders about the damage he’s done to the team.
The Pacers, meanwhile, are not having fun out there. They’re not playing with joy. They've lost five of their last seven games and four of five.