Pacers Playoff Primer: Haliburton refreshed, learning on the fly, and Carlisle sets new standard
Pacers Playoff Primer: Haliburton refreshed, learning on the fly, and Carlisle sets new standard
Pacers open on the road (7pm ET). Giannis is doubtful to play. Experience is the best teacher. Carlisle says a championship is the goal. Keys, uniforms, TV announcers, and more.
We’ve made it.
The Indiana Pacers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, so what’s another seven days between games?
Seven days ago, they closed out the regular season at home over the Atlanta Hawks to secure the 6-seed. Meanwhile, the Bucks lost seven of their final 10 games, including their last two, and slipped to the 3-seed after the Knicks held on against the Bulls in OT.
So instead of facing the Knicks, Cavs or Magic — nope, it’s the Bucks. A team they’ve already faced five times this season because of the In-Season Tournament. But the last time was all the way back on Jan. 3, part of a home-and-home.
And since then, the Pacers traded away Bruce Brown and Buddy Hield while adding Pascal Siakam.
The Bucks fired coach Adrian Griffin, hired Doc Rivers, added Patrick Beverley, and Bobby Portis has elevated his game — averaging 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in April — after playing in all 82 games for the first time.
After their regular-season finale, the Pacers balanced their week with four practice days and two days off before flying to Milwaukee Saturday afternoon. And nobody needed this long-deserved down time more than Tyrese Haliburton.
It’s been long overdue.
One month ago, I wrote about how he needed a reset. Mentally and physically. He was on E — drained from the season, fighting to return from a left hamstring strain, from All-Star break and all that had been asked of him this season. He did not miss a game after returning for good on Jan. 30. The hamstring won’t be 100% until the offseason, but you cannot overstate the value of this past week for him and the rest of the guys.
He’s refreshed and ready to go in the postseason. Fired up, too, because it’s his first. And it just so happens Games 1 and 2 will be played in his home state of Wisconsin. He grew up about 90 miles north of Milwaukee and his father, John, not only still owns that home, but he also told me he’s never selling it.
John also said this after the Pacers’ tournament win over the Celtics in December.
“TNT, thank you. You finally, finally realized here in Indiana we have a team. We have a team in Indiana, world. Come see us.”
Basketball fans will be watching Sunday night in primetime (7 p.m. ET, TNT) as the Pacers and Bucks begin a best-of-seven series.
Of note, all four home teams won on Saturday.
And all the pressure is on the Bucks while the Pacers are thrilled to be back in the postseason and have a lot to prove. But they’re not satisfied.
Rick Carlisle made that clear.
I’ll get into that, the health status of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, the Pacers lacking playoff experience, the possible X-factor, and much more in the full preview below for paid subscribers. If you’re not a paid subscriber, now is the time. You’ve missed out before, but that doesn’t have to continue. This Pacers team is now favored and looking to win their first playoff series since 2014 with Paul George.
Here we go. Nearly 3,000 words on this series.
Note: New this year, I will be hosting a postgame show live on YouTube after each playoff game. (Click here for that link.)