Latest / The Central Indiana Sports Report / Pacers Season Preview with Greg Mengelt, Mike Rich, Will Retherford & John Robertson (The Pacers Report, 3.89)
Transcript
- 0:07[SPEAKER_03]: You are listening to the Pacer's report with Greg Mingele and Mike Rich, today joined by Will Rutherford and we're hoping John Robertson here to preview the Pacer season, and it's only on the Central Indiana Sports Report.
- 0:23[SPEAKER_03]: Well, guys, it's here.
- 0:24[SPEAKER_03]: The NBA season starts today.
- 0:27[SPEAKER_03]: The Pacers start tomorrow.
- 0:29[SPEAKER_03]: And I don't know.
- 0:30[SPEAKER_03]: I eat a lot.
- 0:31[SPEAKER_03]: I say this every year.
- 0:33[SPEAKER_03]: I don't know if I've ever been this excited about a Pacers team.
- 0:36[SPEAKER_03]: But yeah, I think it's really true this year.
- 0:40[SPEAKER_03]: I really believe this is going to be not only a contender, a true,
- 0:46[SPEAKER_03]: true NBA Championship contender.
- 0:49[SPEAKER_03]: One of the five teams I believe will be there at the end.
- 0:53[SPEAKER_03]: I also believe this team is going to be so much fun to watch.
- 0:57[SPEAKER_03]: And as I said on the last patient's report, my critch, I think this team is significantly better than the team.
- 1:03[SPEAKER_03]: It came one game away from one of the NBA Championship two years ago.
- 1:08[SPEAKER_03]: Now Tyrese's back.
- 1:09[SPEAKER_03]: What are your expectations?
- 1:13[SPEAKER_04]: Eastern conference finals at least.
- 1:17[SPEAKER_04]: I would love to see him make it to the finals.
- 1:19[SPEAKER_04]: I agree.
- 1:20[SPEAKER_04]: I think on paper and began the season.
- 1:22[SPEAKER_04]: This is the best lineup that we've had to start with.
- 1:27[SPEAKER_04]: probably ever.
- 1:28[SPEAKER_04]: I think it's, there's just so much potential for this team.
- 1:32[SPEAKER_04]: And again, if injuries are not an issue, I think this team is definitely in top 40 into the season.
- 1:40[SPEAKER_04]: I don't know what the over on your is on wins.
- 1:43[SPEAKER_04]: I think it was somewhere in the 40s or something like that, but I would definitely be betting on the over on that.
- 1:50[SPEAKER_03]: Welcome, John.
- 1:53[SPEAKER_03]: I started the 10 minute report this morning will and I said the Pacers record for wins and it was 61 and I fully expect that to be something that they approach if not surpassed.
- 2:09[SPEAKER_01]: I think I would completely put them over 50.
- 2:12[SPEAKER_01]: I do think that they are going to struggle initially out the gate.
- 2:16[SPEAKER_01]: I do think there is some level of in-season acclamation that has to happen.
- 2:21[SPEAKER_01]: And as good as they've looked in the preseason, I do question, high-reases of ability to play full minutes right away, and I do think that they will be
- 2:30[SPEAKER_01]: Smart about the way they deploy the rotation and the early going.
- 2:35[SPEAKER_01]: I think that this is probably a 54 win team or so I would expect them to be this 3C and probably in a dangerous 3C to that I think they're going to host the around one and then we'll see where we go from there But this is has all the makings to be a really good team on both sides of the ball if they can stay healthy and Deploy Rick Carlisle system is best as possible
- 2:58[SPEAKER_03]: John, let me ask you this.
- 2:59[SPEAKER_03]: I was looking at the beginning of the season according to ESPN analytics.
- 3:05[SPEAKER_03]: The Indiana Pacers will be seven and one.
- 3:07[SPEAKER_03]: They are at least a 60% chance to win seven of their first eight games.
- 3:11[SPEAKER_03]: The only game that they're an underdog in John is.
- 3:15[SPEAKER_03]: supposedly Philadelphia home on October 28th there are a favorite on the road on all these games and then somehow Philadelphia's favorite to beat him at home.
- 3:24[SPEAKER_03]: But I think you can get off to a 6 and 2, 7 and 1, 8, no, start and I'd really believe that they will.
- 3:29[SPEAKER_03]: I've been hearing people say, they might get off to a slow start and they might, but I really expect them to be out front all year.
- 3:36[SPEAKER_02]: So I think the starters look really good.
- 3:39[SPEAKER_02]: From all the pre-season games, they were being very dominant when they were playing.
- 3:43[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, when we lost to the bucks the other night, it's because it was like the second and third teams.
- 3:47[SPEAKER_02]: So I'm really not too concerned about the starters as long as we stay healthy, which is always a concern with the Pacers, right?
- 3:53[SPEAKER_02]: Health is always a concern.
- 3:56[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not too high on the 76ers team.
- 3:59[SPEAKER_02]: I know that everybody's like thinking of LeBron and just everybody in JoL and B.
- 4:03[SPEAKER_02]: This is going to be this unstoppable force, but like, I don't think they're going to be able to hang with the speed of the Pacers.
- 4:10[SPEAKER_02]: Like, they're just old.
- 4:11[SPEAKER_02]: They're all old.
- 4:14[SPEAKER_02]: Like, they're almost my age.
- 4:16[SPEAKER_02]: That's old.
- 4:17[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah.
- 4:18[SPEAKER_02]: I think expecting six and two is setting yourself up for a little bit of disemployment.
- 4:23[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's possible.
- 4:24[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's, I'm not even going to say it's unlikely, but I just think I would temper expectations just because it's the Pacers, right?
- 4:32[SPEAKER_02]: It's Indiana sports.
- 4:34[SPEAKER_02]: I went to the colds game yesterday, so no matter what the Pacers do, it can't be the worst in what I've witnessed in person yesterday.
- 4:39[SPEAKER_02]: That's right.
- 4:41[SPEAKER_03]: It's right.
- 4:43[SPEAKER_03]: I just I watch them in the preseason and I am blown away by how good they are.
- 4:49[SPEAKER_03]: Here's the thing.
- 4:51[SPEAKER_03]: The starting line up when they went to the finals two years ago had a center that didn't fit.
- 4:57[SPEAKER_03]: It had a young Andrew Nim hard who wasn't a very good defender was starting to become a young Aaron Neesmith who went from a pretty good defender to a very,
- 5:10[SPEAKER_03]: and they brought in Kelly Ubrae who that's his specialty.
- 5:14[SPEAKER_03]: Zubot'sness isn't necessarily a great defensive player, but he's an upgrade from Miles Turner in every way except for shooting.
- 5:23[SPEAKER_03]: And my critch is we've been talking about forever.
- 5:26[SPEAKER_03]: Love having a center who just will not take a three pointer at all this year.
- 5:30[SPEAKER_03]: That's love it.
- 5:32[SPEAKER_04]: absolutely love it uh... we still have a center that's going to take three pointers we come off the bench and that's hopefully where he comes off the entire season is off the bench uh... i i love what the paces are doing i like the pick and roll i like robots out there sent picks going right to the basket uh... just it just a true center i mean it's fantastic to see and i mean this
- 6:00[SPEAKER_04]: a system with that type of center and the pieces around zubots is just going to it's going to make them better.
- 6:09[SPEAKER_04]: They're going to get more opportunities.
- 6:10[SPEAKER_04]: They're going to get more defensive rebounds.
- 6:13[SPEAKER_04]: Offensive rebounds, I just super excited.
- 6:17[SPEAKER_04]: I was pretty hurt last year when we're waiting on the draft and everything, I think.
- 6:25[SPEAKER_04]: But we've gotten better in the draft than we got right now.
- 6:29[SPEAKER_04]: to start this season.
- 6:30[SPEAKER_03]: I don't probably if they'd gotten a top four of those guys are all I don't know.
- 6:35[SPEAKER_04]: I don't know.
- 6:35[SPEAKER_04]: I don't know if those top four would fit as good as what we got right now.
- 6:40[SPEAKER_03]: Well, they wouldn't be on the starting line up.
- 6:42[SPEAKER_03]: That's for sure.
- 6:43[SPEAKER_03]: I think it's starting one.
- 6:44[SPEAKER_04]: And that's what I'm worried about with the starting line up looks like.
- 6:47[SPEAKER_04]: That's what's kind of when the championship.
- 6:49[SPEAKER_04]: I mean, yeah, maybe three, four years down the road.
- 6:52[SPEAKER_04]: One of those players would have been a great asset.
- 6:54[SPEAKER_04]: But
- 6:55[SPEAKER_04]: I'm, I'm thinking now.
- 6:57[SPEAKER_04]: I don't have many more seasons left to see the, the pastures with a championship.
- 7:02[SPEAKER_04]: I don't need to be like, I'm a Cub's fan too.
- 7:06[SPEAKER_04]: And, you know, what was a 108 years took for them to win a championship?
- 7:10[SPEAKER_04]: I won't make it that long with the pastures.
- 7:13[SPEAKER_03]: And it's gonna be a 108 before the colds win one.
- 7:17[SPEAKER_04]: Oh God.
- 7:19[SPEAKER_04]: At least I saw the championship for them.
- 7:24[SPEAKER_03]: Do me and yourself a favor and check out my new Daily Podcast.
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- 7:54[SPEAKER_03]: All right, guys, let's go open discussion expectations.
- 7:58[SPEAKER_03]: Are the next the team to be?
- 8:01[SPEAKER_03]: How giant is their asterisk that they didn't have to go through the real Pacers?
- 8:05[SPEAKER_03]: And what is success for this?
- 8:08[SPEAKER_03]: Is it championship or bust?
- 8:10[SPEAKER_03]: I want to hear everybody's opinion.
- 8:13[SPEAKER_01]: I'll temper some expectation.
- 8:14[SPEAKER_01]: I think that there is,
- 8:17[SPEAKER_01]: reason to believe the nicks are probably the favorite in the east.
- 8:20[SPEAKER_01]: I think that even though you can put an asterisk on them and not happen to get through the pacers who had been their bogeyman to your prior, that was a legit championship win.
- 8:29[SPEAKER_01]: That was an ethical win.
- 8:31[SPEAKER_01]: They played good teams to get there.
- 8:33[SPEAKER_01]: I thought the western conference was
- 8:35[SPEAKER_01]: awfully good too.
- 8:36[SPEAKER_01]: They kind of handled the spurs physically.
- 8:38[SPEAKER_01]: I think that the spurs honestly are probably why would have is the true team to be in the league as I think they were so young.
- 8:45[SPEAKER_01]: And we saw Dylan Harper improve so much as the course of the season went on.
- 8:49[SPEAKER_01]: I think Wimbie is a type of player that you can expect greatness out of and their limited regular season time he plays.
- 8:56[SPEAKER_01]: But in the playoffs, when he's playing 40 minutes, I think it's
- 9:01[SPEAKER_01]: The pacers fit right into that mold.
- 9:03[SPEAKER_01]: I don't see my amy being awesome with the addition of yannas.
- 9:07[SPEAKER_01]: I think that that it's a lateral move for them.
- 9:10[SPEAKER_01]: It helps them, but they got significantly worse at the guard position because they had to trade to either hero and they traded a lot of depth of waiting to bring it in.
- 9:19[SPEAKER_01]: I agree with John for two players or basically the same type of player they are and I agree with John I I think that the sixers are old I don't think that stylistically that they are opposed much of a threat to the paceers honestly when is Joelle and be never played a full season I believe it when I see it I don't until I see that from him there's no reason to view them as a threat I think liberal on is
- 9:41[SPEAKER_01]: You know, it's awesome that in this air of the NBA that he can continue to play the level that he has, but, you know, it's awesome not the LeBron of 10 years ago either.
- 9:51[SPEAKER_01]: So I expect to tell me a huge contributing piece to that team, but it's still going to run through Tyre's Maxi and Joelle and Beatwin healthy.
- 10:00[SPEAKER_01]: This is a really good pace or steam.
- 10:02[SPEAKER_01]: I think that your points about Nimmheart and Nesmith are largely true, although I do think Nimmheart was awfully good in that playoff run they had two years ago.
- 10:10[SPEAKER_03]: Oh, yeah.
- 10:10[SPEAKER_01]: This is a team that I hate to see the whole, that they're a sleeper pick why.
- 10:15[SPEAKER_01]: Why are they a sleeper pick?
- 10:16[SPEAKER_01]: They didn't have an all NBA talent at the point guard position last year and they struggled with injury.
- 10:22[SPEAKER_01]: They were really good the two years prior.
- 10:24[SPEAKER_01]: I would expect nothing but the same.
- 10:28[SPEAKER_02]: Can I just say, though, I like when the paces are a sleeper pick because if you look at all the years we've ever had success throughout history, it's always been a year when the people have not expected anything from them because the talent just not what the nation's looking for or whatever, but like I like when people sleep on us because then we win.
- 10:48[SPEAKER_03]: Speaking of which, up to analytics, ran the simulation for the season and the Pacers win 35 games.
- 10:54[SPEAKER_03]: Andy Bailey from Bleacher Report ranks the Pacers 16th of the league.
- 10:59[SPEAKER_03]: Most analysts I've been hearing are excited about the Pacers and think they're going to be really good, but there definitely is some of that.
- 11:06[SPEAKER_03]: Will they make the playoffs?
- 11:07[SPEAKER_03]: Are they a play and team?
- 11:09[SPEAKER_03]: I'd be shh.
- 11:10[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, everything would just have to go really wrong, I think.
- 11:14[SPEAKER_03]: for this team, what did I could think in Atlanta is better than the Pacers and Orlando?
- 11:20[SPEAKER_03]: And Miami and Toronto, I don't think there's any way those teams are better than the Pacers.
- 11:28[SPEAKER_02]: I think Pacers are going to be fourth in the East.
- 11:30[SPEAKER_02]: That's my prediction.
- 11:31[SPEAKER_02]: Fourth in the East, I could see fourth, but that's the worst I could see.
- 11:36[SPEAKER_01]: I just don't see the Pacers.
- 11:37[SPEAKER_01]: They're not a regular season team.
- 11:38[SPEAKER_01]: They're built for the 70 game series because they're.
- 11:41[SPEAKER_01]: But they are.
- 11:42[SPEAKER_03]: They have depth.
- 11:43[SPEAKER_03]: Now with Uber, they can move him into a wing of one of the wings is out.
- 11:47[SPEAKER_03]: They have guys that they can move into the lineup and still keep that kind of depth.
- 11:52[SPEAKER_03]: And I think that's what's different now than two years ago is that they are going to be a regular season team and I think they're going to win high 50 games and I wouldn't be surprised that they're the number one season.
- 12:04[SPEAKER_03]: They run away with it.
- 12:06[SPEAKER_03]: I'm not going to predict they're going to when we make our predictions, but I really think that's a possibility.
- 12:11[SPEAKER_02]: Well, I'm just saying if you think they're going to win which is a 50 plus games, you should definitely.
- 12:15[SPEAKER_03]: Fifty six is mine.
- 12:16[SPEAKER_02]: Okay, then you should bet because they are plus two
- 12:22[SPEAKER_03]: So put a thousand bucks on that today Here's the thing if I put money on it it loses So I don't do that Well, you can give me your money and I'll put your money on it.
- 12:37[SPEAKER_02]: There you go Done I'd I think 50s too.
- 12:41[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, I know we're not too that yet.
- 12:43[SPEAKER_02]: I still think 50s probably too high.
- 12:44[SPEAKER_02]: I would go in the 40s
- 12:47[SPEAKER_02]: Just start with the four.
- 12:49[SPEAKER_02]: I don't even know that the Pacers care about winning that much in the regular season.
- 12:54[SPEAKER_02]: I think they have that mentality, like, just make the playoffs and then show out in the playoffs.
- 12:59[SPEAKER_03]: I think this is a team that's going to come to win every night.
- 13:01[SPEAKER_03]: I think this is going to be a team that comes to win every night.
- 13:05[SPEAKER_04]: I agreed, Greg.
- 13:07[SPEAKER_04]: I think this team is going to come to win every night.
- 13:10[SPEAKER_04]: They got a chip on their shoulder.
- 13:12[SPEAKER_04]: They are going, I think they're going to come out stronger than they did in 2024, 2025.
- 13:20[SPEAKER_04]: Slow starts like Johnson.
- 13:22[SPEAKER_04]: I don't know.
- 13:23[SPEAKER_04]: I think like I said, I think they're going to play to win every night.
- 13:28[SPEAKER_04]: And I think they're going to play hard.
- 13:29[SPEAKER_04]: I think they're going to play physical.
- 13:31[SPEAKER_04]: They're going to be
- 13:32[SPEAKER_04]: they're deep.
- 13:34[SPEAKER_04]: I don't see everybody else in the east that's gotten so called, quote, unquote, better.
- 13:40[SPEAKER_04]: They all have to adjust as well to new teams.
- 13:43[SPEAKER_04]: And maybe some of those teams are going to struggle in the beginning too.
- 13:46[SPEAKER_04]: So I think it's again, it's an opportunity for the Pacers to come out.
- 13:51[SPEAKER_04]: I don't know, just change the script that we're used to.
- 13:54[SPEAKER_04]: I'm optimistic about this team.
- 13:56[SPEAKER_04]: They have the core of what they had to get to a championship and their better.
- 14:02[SPEAKER_04]: And for somebody to think they're 16th, best team and the NBA, I think that's just stupidity.
- 14:09[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, Andy Bailey's reputation on the line here, 16th is just ridiculous.
- 14:15[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.
- 14:16[SPEAKER_01]: That's also including all the Western conference teams.
- 14:19[SPEAKER_01]: I think always get a preseason bump versus the Eastern Congressors always thought the West is going to be better.
- 14:24[SPEAKER_01]: And maybe it is.
- 14:26[SPEAKER_01]: I don't care.
- 14:27[SPEAKER_01]: I call me the...
- 14:28[SPEAKER_01]: The B.S.
- 14:29[SPEAKER_03]: Sports has number five in the New York Post has of number four.
- 14:32[SPEAKER_03]: So there is a lot of respect out there.
- 14:34[SPEAKER_01]: I'll just say kind of how I feel about it.
- 14:36[SPEAKER_01]: I honestly couldn't give any less shits if they're good in the regular season.
- 14:40[SPEAKER_01]: They just seem to be good enough to get there.
- 14:42[SPEAKER_01]: They've proven they can win on the road.
- 14:43[SPEAKER_01]: I think the NBA last year, more than any year, the Home Corps advantage is important, but it's not the end all the y'all.
- 14:49[SPEAKER_01]: There are these teams now that go in the perform.
- 14:52[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's less of a...
- 14:54[SPEAKER_01]: importance than anything.
- 14:56[SPEAKER_01]: I still expect him to host a round one game.
- 14:59[SPEAKER_01]: I do think they'll be a top four seed.
- 15:00[SPEAKER_01]: But whether they finish four or second, I don't think it makes any difference.
- 15:06[SPEAKER_01]: The path is the exact same.
- 15:07[SPEAKER_01]: They're going to have to go through new or they're going to probably have to play Philadelphia at some point.
- 15:12[SPEAKER_01]: And you know that Miami is going to be there and after that who cares let it be a war of attrition I think this is a team I think that's a coaching staff that is built to win the seven game series with their pace with the physicality that the league knows they have that's the the whole thing but the sleepers it's the media I think the NBA respects the Indian pacers I think the balls to Boston Celtics had three years ago hey that's a team we don't want to play again we swept them but that is the most dangerous thing
- 15:41[SPEAKER_01]: team to our future.
- 15:43[SPEAKER_01]: And I think that the Celtics had to reevaluate some of their decisions with Jalen Brown because of that because of where the East has had it and knowing that it's going to run through Indiana, New York.
- 15:55[SPEAKER_01]: Is it awesome if they go win 60 games?
- 15:57[SPEAKER_01]: Sure, but I mean, at the end of the day, I think our expectation is a fan base now.
- 16:03[SPEAKER_01]: NBA finals or nothing, and when you're there, I just, I don't care 50 or 59 wins in the regular season as long as they stay competitive and they look good.
- 16:16[SPEAKER_03]: Alright, hey, let's come right back in, make our predictions for the season.
- 16:24[SPEAKER_03]: There's an early version of these podcasts that come out on the SoundCloud Spotify Apple and
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- 16:46[SPEAKER_03]: Well, one hesitation I have is not that I think there are teams that are better than the Pacers in the East, necessarily, but pretty much every night, you're going to get a fight from 12 teams in the East, and I think that's different than before, I think it makes me hesitate to say they're going to win high 50s to 60, because teams like Charlotte and
- 17:15[SPEAKER_03]: Every night, you're gonna get a good game.
- 17:17[SPEAKER_03]: All these teams are capable of beating teams on a given night, and so even though they're better than a lot of these teams, some of that's gonna be tough.
- 17:25[SPEAKER_03]: I know I'm probably gonna be on the high end here when I said 56 already, but I'm gonna start with Mike Rich.
- 17:29[SPEAKER_03]: I want not just how many wins you think the pastures are gonna get, but their final result where they get, are they champions, are they Eastern Conference champions?
- 17:39[SPEAKER_03]: I want final result here, Mike, your thoughts.
- 17:43[SPEAKER_04]: So my thoughts are, I don't know if there's a team in the East, it's gonna win 60 games.
- 17:48[SPEAKER_04]: I think the East is a lot more competitive, like you just said, I would predict that the Pacers will probably be, I would say around 45, 46 wins is what I'd estimate.
- 18:01[SPEAKER_04]: And that may be good enough to be in the top four in the East.
- 18:05[SPEAKER_04]: It's gonna be, I think it's gonna be a tough road just all around for every team every night in the East.
- 18:12[SPEAKER_04]: 46 wins and I think that they will probably win the Eastern Conference.
- 18:18[SPEAKER_04]: I don't know if they'll win the final.
- 18:20[SPEAKER_04]: So I say Eastern Conference Champions.
- 18:23[SPEAKER_02]: I'm willing to say like I had 44.
- 18:26[SPEAKER_02]: It's just my number that's sticking out to me 44 games.
- 18:29[SPEAKER_02]: I think they'll make it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
- 18:32[SPEAKER_02]: I'm not willing to commit to Eastern Conference Champions yet.
- 18:36[SPEAKER_02]: I just need to see how well they work together.
- 18:39[SPEAKER_02]: But I think the base expectation to be Eastern Conference championships.
- 18:43[SPEAKER_01]: You know, two years ago, they won 50 games.
- 18:45[SPEAKER_01]: They had a slow start in October, November, and you kind of left sitting there wondering, like, hey, doesn't look good.
- 18:51[SPEAKER_01]: I maintain the track, but I thought they were the best team in the East the entire season.
- 18:55[SPEAKER_01]: They've already done that.
- 18:57[SPEAKER_03]: So didn't look good, that I picked Milwaukee to beat him in the first round.
- 19:00[SPEAKER_01]: You did, you did.
- 19:01[SPEAKER_01]: And I,
- 19:03[SPEAKER_01]: I just have faith that they're going to probably be there in the end.
- 19:05[SPEAKER_01]: I think my tutors may be a little higher than John and Mike.
- 19:08[SPEAKER_01]: I'd say somewhere in the 49 to 51 range, probably 50 is about where they're going to be.
- 19:13[SPEAKER_01]: I agree that the East is going to be a war of attrition, but it's irresponsible to think that all these teams are going to stay healthy the whole year.
- 19:19[SPEAKER_01]: There's going to be superstars that miss significant time.
- 19:22[SPEAKER_01]: And on any given night when you're playing them, you can, you know, end up filling up the bucket and win by 40 and it's a pretty low stakes win.
- 19:32[SPEAKER_01]: I like their outlook.
- 19:33[SPEAKER_01]: I think that's a good team.
- 19:35[SPEAKER_01]: I do think it's irresponsible to say, well, hell, no, it's not.
- 19:38[SPEAKER_01]: I think they're going to win the finals.
- 19:40[SPEAKER_01]: I really do.
- 19:40[SPEAKER_01]: I think they're that good.
- 19:41[SPEAKER_01]: And I don't think that the spurs are a good matchup form based on what I saw last year against the mix.
- 19:48[SPEAKER_01]: And I think that's more than likely going to be the Western Conference finals.
- 19:52[SPEAKER_01]: I think they take them to deep water and win it for too.
- 19:57[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, I think, uh, it's possible.
- 19:59[SPEAKER_03]: The spurs will be unbeatable by almost everybody.
- 20:03[SPEAKER_03]: I think the new SGA rule that they put in is really going to hurt okay.
- 20:07[SPEAKER_03]: See, they're not allowing them to do what he used to do.
- 20:10[SPEAKER_03]: And he's having a hard time adjusting at least in the preseason.
- 20:13[SPEAKER_03]: And I think there'll be some of that.
- 20:15[SPEAKER_03]: And so I think say an internal and maybe even Minnesota, depending on how that goes with.
- 20:21[SPEAKER_03]: the mellow ball, I really think Jaden McDaniels and I really think that this is going to be a out of this world season from Anthony Edwards.
- 20:30[SPEAKER_03]: I think he's going to be the MVP.
- 20:31[SPEAKER_03]: So I think Minnesota is one of those teams as well that could be there.
- 20:36[SPEAKER_03]: Although I think the spurs and thunder probably had in shoulders of everybody else.
- 20:40[SPEAKER_03]: I do think the pace is significantly better than two years ago.
- 20:44[SPEAKER_03]: I really do.
- 20:44[SPEAKER_03]: I don't think expecting a championship with what's out there right now
- 20:50[SPEAKER_03]: thinking, I think they're going to at least get to the Eastern Conference Finals like John said, and I think my predictions are going to win the East, but I think they'll probably fall short in the finals in next year is their year.
- 21:02[SPEAKER_03]: But I really think they can.
- 21:03[SPEAKER_03]: I mean, we all know that right of everything came out perfectly there capable.
- 21:12[SPEAKER_02]: I think no matter what, it can't be any worse than the garbage that the WNBA put out there all seasons.
- 21:19[SPEAKER_02]: So listen, the WNBA cannot possibly rig a season any worse than the WNBA did, so I'm just looking forward to good Indiana basketball again.
- 21:31[SPEAKER_03]: I'm about to start in the season in New Orleans with
- 21:35[SPEAKER_03]: There were rumors they were going to be playing on Christmas day against the nicks and that didn't happen.
- 21:39[SPEAKER_03]: In fact, they spend all the whole Christmas season out west.
- 21:43[SPEAKER_03]: It's just like, it's like the NBA hates this franchise or something.
- 21:49[SPEAKER_02]: I think they do because they're the rival of the golden child.
- 21:52[SPEAKER_02]: Everybody wants to love the nicks.
- 21:54[SPEAKER_02]: Listen, I'm going to LA over Christmas break to go watch the Pacers.
- 21:57[SPEAKER_02]: So I'm looking forward to that.
- 21:59[SPEAKER_02]: We're doing the LA double back to back.
- 22:02[SPEAKER_02]: Nice.
- 22:03[SPEAKER_03]: That'll be, we're knocking that one out.
- 22:05[SPEAKER_03]: They're a beautiful place to spend the Christmas season.
- 22:08[SPEAKER_03]: I'll say that.
- 22:08[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, there's sad it is.
- 22:13[SPEAKER_02]: Well, guys, I think I'm excited.
- 22:14[SPEAKER_02]: I really excited, because honestly, after this, you guys know I have a huge fever fan, but that was,
- 22:20[SPEAKER_02]: giant let down of an end of a season.
- 22:22[SPEAKER_02]: So I'm ready to have something to look forward to again.
- 22:24[SPEAKER_02]: Colts, too.
- 22:25[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, we've declared that season over.
- 22:27[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, no, I'm not a Colts fan.
- 22:30[SPEAKER_02]: So I'm in different on that one.
- 22:32[SPEAKER_02]: But I mean, I did.
- 22:33[SPEAKER_02]: I went to the game yesterday and that was not a plot.
- 22:35[SPEAKER_02]: That was barely better than the WMBA product.
- 22:38[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah.
- 22:39[SPEAKER_04]: I thought the season started yesterday.
- 22:44[SPEAKER_04]: for the cults with getting read about I didn't know Balor got fired until he told me great I've been so involved in work and I said I was done watching him until Balor was fired you send me a message back late got fired a day so I think that's the start of the franchise for the for the cults I was happy to see that mids you know not even midsies and they're letting him go and put their body on notice
- 23:15[SPEAKER_04]: see what happens in the future.
- 23:17[SPEAKER_02]: But Andy is a great sports city when the teams are putting out a product that's worth watching, the fans will watch.
- 23:23[SPEAKER_02]: But I think we've been let down a lot lately, so hopefully.
- 23:27[SPEAKER_03]: Oh man, we're going to love this team.
- 23:29[SPEAKER_02]: I think so.
- 23:31[SPEAKER_02]: I do.
- 23:31[SPEAKER_02]: I think so.
- 23:33[SPEAKER_03]: Use your breakout player guys because I want to go with Aaron Neesmith.
- 23:36[SPEAKER_03]: It's not really a breakout anymore because he's been so good.
- 23:40[SPEAKER_03]: But I think he's going to open even more eyes this year.
- 23:43[SPEAKER_03]: He's bigger, stronger, better defensively.
- 23:46[SPEAKER_03]: He's getting his hand on the ball on the defensive side that's forcing a lot of turnovers.
- 23:52[SPEAKER_03]: I think he might even be all star level.
- 23:56[SPEAKER_03]: At least mentioned as an all star possibility this year.
- 24:01[SPEAKER_02]: I'm a huge niece myth fan when they went to the finals.
- 24:04[SPEAKER_02]: I bought my finals jersey and it was a niece bit jersey with the patch because I thought I loved the way he played and the playoffs that season.
- 24:12[SPEAKER_02]: I think all stars are a bit of a stretch.
- 24:14[SPEAKER_02]: I would love to see it because I do.
- 24:15[SPEAKER_02]: I love the guy.
- 24:16[SPEAKER_02]: I think he's spectacular.
- 24:17[SPEAKER_02]: But I think all stars are stretch.
- 24:18[SPEAKER_02]: But I do think he's going to come out and be very noticeable in this season.
- 24:24[SPEAKER_04]: I like Jerry's Walker, I think we talked too much last year that he was supposed to break out, but I think it's this year pretty excited about his game.
- 24:34[SPEAKER_04]: I think the experience that he got last year, I think the experience a lot of those guys on that second team got starting last year is going to pay off this year.
- 24:43[SPEAKER_03]: Well, here's the thing with Darius Walker's two years ago he looked like a point forward.
- 24:47[SPEAKER_03]: And then last year he averaged two and a half assists came out the first preseason game this year and had 10 assists in 10 minutes.
- 24:53[SPEAKER_03]: And he looked amazing with the ball.
- 24:56[SPEAKER_03]: And if he's that guy, the patient is maybe unstoppable.
- 25:01[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, it makes sense.
- 25:02[SPEAKER_01]: He does, he is kind of, I would say more of a guard build than he is a forward build in terms of his play style.
- 25:08[SPEAKER_01]: He's really good from outside.
- 25:10[SPEAKER_01]: I think that there is not a player on the pace or steamed benefits and more from the presence of Tyre's caliber than OB top.
- 25:16[SPEAKER_01]: And so I really expect that he has a huge season as a second team now.
- 25:21[SPEAKER_03]: huge.
- 25:22[SPEAKER_03]: As Mike knows, yeah, as Mike knows, I two years ago wanted to get red of them didn't think he thought he was all the wrong.
- 25:30[SPEAKER_03]: And then over the last two years, he's convinced me that he is the exact opposite.
- 25:34[SPEAKER_03]: He's a great teammate.
- 25:35[SPEAKER_03]: He fits in with the starters.
- 25:37[SPEAKER_03]: He fits in with the bench.
- 25:39[SPEAKER_03]: You can put him pretty much anywhere.
- 25:42[SPEAKER_03]: And I love that guy.
- 25:43[SPEAKER_03]: I hope he's a
- 25:46[SPEAKER_04]: I think that's another thing, Greg, that you got to point out is I think the chemistry of this team is so much different than the chemistry of probably any other team in the league.
- 25:55[SPEAKER_04]: I think they really play for each other.
- 25:59[SPEAKER_04]: Ubrae came in and I mean, he wants to be here.
- 26:03[SPEAKER_04]: He wants to be in the role that he's given.
- 26:05[SPEAKER_04]: He just wants to be part of it.
- 26:07[SPEAKER_04]: He's I love the attitude that him and Zubahs have come in with.
- 26:12[SPEAKER_04]: And I think they fit the dynamic of the team that was there.
- 26:19[SPEAKER_04]: And they complement it so well.
- 26:20[SPEAKER_04]: And I think it's going to make this team a lot better.
- 26:23[SPEAKER_04]: But I've always said that I love how close they
- 26:29[SPEAKER_04]: and the interactions that they have outside the game, going to football games together, going to fever games together, going to the boom games together, you see them out in the community and they're, you know, so I think they like each other off the court as much as they do on the court.
- 26:44[SPEAKER_04]: And I think that chemistry plays a huge part when you're gonna make a run to the finals.
- 26:51[SPEAKER_04]: You know, that's just something that's just so organic
- 26:57[SPEAKER_04]: I think that's what I think Carlisle and Prechard have put this team together and a lot of it's based on how they mesh together.
- 27:06[SPEAKER_04]: And I think they've done a phenomenal job and I think, you know, it's going to be a very exciting year.
- 27:12[SPEAKER_03]: John Robertson, thank you so much for joining us.
- 27:15[SPEAKER_03]: As always, we're going to go a little bonus time here for a minute.
- 27:22[SPEAKER_00]: More sports talk in bonus time Bonus time on the Central India and the Sports Report
- 27:44[SPEAKER_03]: I think the biggest question mark is Pascal Siocca last year took a different role and became a scoring forward if he is as good this year as he was last year with all the other pieces.
- 27:57[SPEAKER_01]: He's the only player I think on this roster.
- 28:01[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe outside of TJ McCall that truly can get his bucket on his own was no help.
- 28:08[SPEAKER_01]: and he gets a different buck at the McConnell does, but he's really glitched from anywhere, all three levels of scoring.
- 28:15[SPEAKER_01]: I really love his 15-foot mid-range game.
- 28:18[SPEAKER_01]: I think he's awesome, especially when he's matched up on Guy Smaller because he's able to bully him down low, but he's also such a matchup issue for, you know, the occasional power for that has to guard a misinter that has to guard him because of his length because he's just got it step on them
- 28:36[SPEAKER_01]: find an answer for.
- 28:38[SPEAKER_01]: He's truly an enigma.
- 28:39[SPEAKER_01]: I end this modern NBA also because of his hustle on the defensive end of the floor.
- 28:45[SPEAKER_01]: I think he's a potential all-star candidate again.
- 28:47[SPEAKER_01]: I do think his numbers will probably hurt a little bit just because of Halle Burton and his influence back into the soft fence.
- 28:54[SPEAKER_01]: He's going to get his, I would expect somewhere in the 22 point range.
- 28:58[SPEAKER_01]: And so that does take a little bit of the sauce away from your auxiliary players, like a niece myth, like a nimb hard.
- 29:07[SPEAKER_01]: like at the siakum, but I fully intend on him also, probably having a, I don't know, let's say 18 point of game type of season.
- 29:18[SPEAKER_01]: I think he is a real difference maker for this team and he boasts awfully well in the playoff series as well.
- 29:25[SPEAKER_03]: I think last year was his best season ever.
- 29:28[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, I agree one hundred percent with that.
- 29:30[SPEAKER_04]: I think last year was his best season He's just consistent.
- 29:36[SPEAKER_04]: I mean, you just know what he's gonna do and what he's gonna get and um And he comes to play every night.
- 29:45[SPEAKER_04]: I just think that we didn't even really highlight him earlier and it's
- 29:50[SPEAKER_04]: You know, it's just because he just blends in, but I think he's a big key piece to getting it far in a playoff.
- 29:56[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah, with Haliburton, being a bit of a question, Mark Siocca was really the most reliable thing that we know we have.
- 30:05[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, he's, that's, that's what you have to call him.
- 30:08[SPEAKER_04]: He's a Mr.
- 30:09[SPEAKER_04]: Reliable.
- 30:10[SPEAKER_04]: I mean, you're going to get 20 points tonight, some rebounds, and yeah, I, I, I
- 30:18[SPEAKER_04]: Absolutely love Siakuma on this team and to have him, Zubats, and Haliburton, and Neesmith, and Nimhard, I mean, it's going to be fun to just watch, you know, what Carlisle does with that talent on the floor.
- 30:34[SPEAKER_04]: That lineup may be perfect together, will.
- 30:37[SPEAKER_01]: I think I really think they are, because you don't have three volters for the ball.
- 30:44[SPEAKER_01]: And when I say that, I think that the whole idea of this therupple at the NBA levels is a bit of a joke, because nobody's ever fully content in that role, and they really have an offense that has two key cogs, and then you've got three guys that I think are fine playing whatever roles are asked of them.
- 31:02[SPEAKER_01]: You know, Neesmith and Nimhorn are not two guys that are going to make a fuss in the media cause issues cause they're not getting the ball.
- 31:08[SPEAKER_01]: They're aware of what Tyre's caliber can do for them.
- 31:13[SPEAKER_01]: Like in the way that Tyre's caliber plays basketball to the way that Tom Brady plays football.
- 31:18[SPEAKER_01]: There's no favoritism, any skill player that's out there as they opportunity to get the ball and he's going to get it done with anybody that you put them in the line up with.
- 31:26[SPEAKER_01]: And I know that's a huge comparison when we're talking about the NFL and Tom Brady's history.
- 31:32[SPEAKER_01]: But I think Tyre's Halberd is that level of guard.
- 31:35[SPEAKER_01]: He elevates everybody around him.
- 31:37[SPEAKER_01]: Their floors increase exponentially.
- 31:39[SPEAKER_01]: There's a lot of players, miles, turners, one of them.
- 31:42[SPEAKER_01]: Whoop, that is career year with Tyrese Albert and it's no surprise.
- 31:46[SPEAKER_01]: I love their lineup.
- 31:47[SPEAKER_01]: I love their second team.
- 31:48[SPEAKER_01]: There's just a lot of reason to feel hopeful.
- 31:51[SPEAKER_01]: In Indianapolis, this team is gonna give you something that the fever and the colds have it.
- 31:56[SPEAKER_03]: Mike during the podcast brought up Kelly Ubrae saying, I was kind of scouting last year, the environment I wanted to be in and it was in the end all the way.
- 32:08[SPEAKER_03]: This is a really good sign for franchise and I think the Pacers have become that franchise.
- 32:13[SPEAKER_03]: Richard has intentionally targeted guys and fit in well no matter where they are and it's really worked out well.
- 32:20[SPEAKER_03]: I'm not sure Ubrae fits as a basketball player on this team very well.
- 32:27[SPEAKER_03]: Ben Matherin E, and that he is a black hole, it's not a criticism of his game.
- 32:32[SPEAKER_03]: It just doesn't fit with the Pacers, necessarily, man, he plays such good defense and can really help get out in transition and doesn't awful a lot.
- 32:42[SPEAKER_03]: If he can become a ball flow player, the Ben Matherin failed to do, then...
- 32:50[SPEAKER_03]: Man, I keep saying it, this could be special.
- 32:54[SPEAKER_04]: It definitely could be special.
- 32:56[SPEAKER_04]: I mean, I think the Indiana Pacers have probably one of the best chances that the six man of the year, and I don't know exactly who that's going to be.
- 33:07[SPEAKER_04]: I mean, it could be Walker.
- 33:09[SPEAKER_04]: It could be Uber, it could go down the line.
- 33:11[SPEAKER_04]: Oh, be top of it.
- 33:13[SPEAKER_04]: Oh, be top of it.
- 33:14[SPEAKER_04]: I love what it would be top of its doing.
- 33:16[SPEAKER_04]: And how he, I mean, he's coming off an injury.
- 33:18[SPEAKER_04]: And he looks good in preseason.
- 33:21[SPEAKER_04]: And like I said earlier, I think Halle Burton elevates, definitely elevates his game.
- 33:27[SPEAKER_04]: But again, I go back to the chemistry of this team and the way a preacher just put the constructed this team is phenomenal.
- 33:36[SPEAKER_04]: uh... to be able in a salary cap era and everything like that and be able to get all the talent that we have in it any night i mean we we have the resources if halberd needs to take a night off and and and rest you know we can we can do it uh... and so i i just think that you know overall i'm just i'm pumped uh... i i i i i think i
- 34:06[SPEAKER_04]: I came up short on my picks to I said 46 and I'm talking myself into a higher number but I'll stick with the 46.
- 34:13[SPEAKER_03]: I agree Mike, I think there is reason to be skeptical for sure.
- 34:22[SPEAKER_03]: 46, you know, I get why people would say that with caution but the only way that happens is if there is such a significant injury, I just
- 34:31[SPEAKER_03]: I don't see a hole.
- 34:32[SPEAKER_03]: I don't think they're a perfect team by any means, but I don't see a hole.
- 34:36[SPEAKER_03]: And I think other than the three teams in the West, I think they're, I think they're going to be the best team out there.
- 34:44[SPEAKER_03]: I just, I don't think, I don't think the next win the championship last year for the Pacers are around.
- 34:56[SPEAKER_04]: I don't think the next would have made it to the finals last year if the Pacers had the same team they had the year before and I think it would have been probably the same outcome.
- 35:07[SPEAKER_03]: I don't know if we, if guys are underestimating, how much better they're going to be at the center?
- 35:13[SPEAKER_03]: Not because if each of Zubats is so much better than Miles Turner but just the fit, the pick and roll alone, something that Miles Turner wasn't good at.
- 35:21[SPEAKER_03]: We were pulling our hair out for four or five years there with Miles.
- 35:25[SPEAKER_03]: eight play good and summer league as well.
- 35:28[SPEAKER_04]: Then, oh overseas, right?
- 35:31[SPEAKER_04]: Zubotz.
- 35:32[SPEAKER_03]: Mm-hmm.
- 35:34[SPEAKER_03]: It internationally, Annie.
- 35:35[SPEAKER_03]: Yeah.
- 35:36[SPEAKER_03]: He lost weight.
- 35:37[SPEAKER_03]: Not that he was overweight, but he, he would thin down, slim down, and that he said it was because of the style that the pacers play.
- 35:44[SPEAKER_03]: He needed to get in better shape, and he looks great, and he looks more athletic.
- 35:49[SPEAKER_03]: That was the one thing I thought was,
- 35:51[SPEAKER_03]: It is a quite fit because he's not going to run up a down the court guy like the Pacers, but he seems to be willing to do that.
- 36:00[SPEAKER_04]: Well, he has to run further than Turner did.
- 36:03[SPEAKER_04]: Turner was running 3.9 to 3.9.
- 36:06[SPEAKER_04]: He's running for him under the basket to the other basket.
- 36:09[SPEAKER_04]: He's running 92 feet and Turner was running 6 to 60.
- 36:17[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, she might have, you know, Miles Turner might have taken the, uh, the crown from Paul Jordan for most hated pace or he really might have, I, I've never seen, um, a, a fan base.
- 36:39[SPEAKER_01]: turn on a player, as quickly as the Miles Turner.
- 36:41[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, it was truly like, just it went from a Miles Turner's our guy to fuck this guy.
- 36:46[SPEAKER_01]: This guy is the worst.
- 36:48[SPEAKER_03]: It was when he fast too when it became obvious that he was the guy keeping him from being the best that they could be.
- 36:55[SPEAKER_04]: Well, no, you go, Mike, you go.
- 36:59[SPEAKER_04]: He was trying to play that asshole type of role when he went to
- 37:07[SPEAKER_04]: I agree, Greg, though, him going to the box was the best thing for the Pacers.
- 37:12[SPEAKER_04]: You know, we kind of like, man, should we a kept Turner, but when he went to the box and they sucked and yawn us left, I mean, thank you, Miles Turner.
- 37:23[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, I want to write him a handwritten thank you note.
- 37:26[SPEAKER_04]: saying thank you for your service to the Indiana Pacers.
- 37:30[SPEAKER_03]: Can I reiterate that he is such a nice guy?
- 37:33[SPEAKER_03]: Yes.
- 37:34[SPEAKER_03]: He was never anything but kind to me and all that, but I want a championship.
- 37:39[SPEAKER_03]: And no miles, miles turner was keeping us from doing that.
- 37:44[SPEAKER_03]: So that's how I feel.
- 37:47[SPEAKER_03]: I love the job.
- 37:50[SPEAKER_01]: really.
- 37:51[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, he did.
- 37:53[SPEAKER_01]: He was the the pacers best player last year still.
- 37:56[SPEAKER_01]: And he played for their rival orbitization, is their best player.
- 38:00[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, and we said it on this podcast, we said this is going to ruin the Milwaukee Bucks and sure if we were absolutely right.
- 38:08[SPEAKER_01]: It was an awful move for them.
- 38:10[SPEAKER_01]: But, you know, that's a
- 38:12[SPEAKER_01]: That's a crappy organization, a franchise that never deserves the NBA title they won.
- 38:19[SPEAKER_01]: Let alone deserve to get another one with one of the best players in the world.
- 38:22[SPEAKER_01]: So, it's good.
- 38:25[SPEAKER_01]: It's, I, what, okay, one thing that I've noticed about this pace or steam, even if Zuboch isn't the fit for, you know, a full game.
- 38:43[SPEAKER_01]: especially with Miles Turner's limited ability and that playoff run it.
- 38:47[SPEAKER_01]: I do think it begs the question that they really can substitute a guy like Jay Huff.
- 38:52[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, we've happened to come in and give Zubocha a breather if he needs one.
- 38:58[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, they have centers that can run the floor and flow with this team.
- 39:01[SPEAKER_04]: Well, I expect Jay Huff's gonna play the significant minutes this year as the number two.
- 39:05[SPEAKER_01]: I really do.
- 39:06[SPEAKER_01]: I think that he's going to be an integral part of this organization and this team's success.
- 39:13[SPEAKER_01]: Is it something I would have said three years ago?
- 39:14[SPEAKER_01]: Absolutely not, but after how he performed last year with limited time, I think it'd be silly not to say that he can't play a huge role with the starting three or four if they're out there.
- 39:35[SPEAKER_03]: and I can't wait to not wait for Wednesday night.
- 39:39[SPEAKER_03]: Can't wait for the season to get going.
- 39:42[SPEAKER_03]: I love Central Indiana sports, is everybody knows, but the paces are my passion, and I can't wait.
- 39:48[SPEAKER_01]: I can't believe that their New Orleans is the worst franchise in the NBA.
- 39:56[SPEAKER_01]: The worst.
- 39:57[SPEAKER_01]: We have to go play their game one, really?
- 40:00[SPEAKER_01]: I mean,
- 40:02[SPEAKER_01]: I love the world once.
- 40:03[SPEAKER_01]: New Orleans is an incredible city that is probably that I think the coolest city in the entire country.
- 40:09[SPEAKER_01]: If you want my guy in Austin opinion, but they're not worthy of Tyre's algorithms return.
- 40:13[SPEAKER_01]: They're not.
- 40:15[SPEAKER_01]: The Pacers deserved to have this one at home, him to get to start this game.
- 40:20[SPEAKER_01]: I think it should be on the national television.
- 40:21[SPEAKER_01]: Why not?
- 40:22[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, the impact, it is still Greg and I have made this with 100% certainty.
- 40:28[SPEAKER_01]: There has never been a team in NBA history that lost the NBA finals that gained more fans or more respecting the end of Pacers when they lost the Thunder.
- 40:36[SPEAKER_01]: People have gone to the point of saying that the Thunder's championship was illegitimate because of what happened to Tyre's algorithm.
- 40:42[SPEAKER_01]: I mean serious.
- 40:44[SPEAKER_03]: I heard them say it today.
- 40:45[SPEAKER_03]: He said, Oklahoma City, of course, won the championship.
- 40:49[SPEAKER_03]: But they wanted to win it at full competition.
- 40:53[SPEAKER_03]: And not having Halle Burton there wasn't full competition.
- 40:56[SPEAKER_03]: So they're looking to get back and approve themselves this year.
- 40:58[SPEAKER_03]: So yeah.
- 41:01[SPEAKER_01]: And I love that matchup.
- 41:04[SPEAKER_01]: I would too because I think the Pacers gave everything they had and more.
- 41:07[SPEAKER_01]: Always fun, you know, and Scott Foster's whistle gets involved at Dustin, like he is the best thing for the NBA.
- 41:14[SPEAKER_01]: There's no question about that.
- 41:16[SPEAKER_01]: It's just the worst thing for the NBA and the Pacers.
- 41:19[SPEAKER_03]: Usually the best thing for the NBA is the worst thing for the NBA and the Pacers and vice versa.
- 41:24[SPEAKER_03]: Well, they just said they really dislike us.
- 41:27[SPEAKER_03]: I never really believed in that.
- 41:29[SPEAKER_03]: That conspiracy theory until the schedule came out, and I was like, man, they just said, fuck you, paces.
- 41:36[SPEAKER_01]: It's the most ethical franchise in the entire league.
- 41:38[SPEAKER_01]: They have literally done everything the right way since the inception of this team.
- 41:44[SPEAKER_03]: Yep.
- 41:44[SPEAKER_03]: Well, minus the mid-2000s teams, but they were really good basketball teams.
- 41:52[SPEAKER_03]: They just had one guy who was absolutely nuts.
- 41:59[SPEAKER_01]: They're still paying the price for that today.
- 42:00[SPEAKER_01]: I think I really do.
- 42:02[SPEAKER_01]: I think that there there is always going to be a sour taste in the mouth But You know Detroit's a dump.
- 42:09[SPEAKER_01]: I don't know why we expect anything different day.
- 42:11[SPEAKER_01]: It's funny how you know the Pacers get Chastise for that movement that we've never questioned the people Detroit or Auburn Hills wherever they were.
- 42:19[SPEAKER_03]: They were the problem.
- 42:20[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, they were the problem.
- 42:21[SPEAKER_01]: I mean
- 42:23[SPEAKER_01]: Whatever, you know, I'm not going to sit here and say that, you know, what the artist formerly known as wrong, our test did was right, but, you know, he's a human being of a regardless of his stature, deserves to have an opportunity to at least defend himself of something happening, just he just went about their own way.
- 42:40[SPEAKER_03]: You're right.
- 42:41[SPEAKER_03]: I don't disagree with you.
- 42:43[SPEAKER_03]: I think, and that's not just because I'm a pacers fan.
- 42:49[SPEAKER_03]: I think he got done wrong.
- 42:52[SPEAKER_03]: Well, I mean, we did.
- 42:54[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, they did.
- 42:54[SPEAKER_01]: And you know, it sucks for Reggie Miller too.
- 42:57[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I think it's just ironic that, you know, when Asia Wilson has this instance that happens to her and the entire state of Indiana gets, you know, labeled as racist and bigoted and, um, just a dumpster fire because she got her panties in a ward and decided to throw a huge fit at the guy that was just trying to be offended again, but somehow we were the scapegoat for that.
- 43:15[SPEAKER_01]: The Pacers and Indian are always a scapegoat for that type of rhetoric and that type of attention in the national media doesn't ever feel like it's good and it led to the downfall of the fever season because Aegea Wilson shouldn't have played in game five.
- 43:28[SPEAKER_01]: There's no reason it was not acceptable what she did and the way that she carried herself was undefeating of a WMBA five-time MVP face of a league and if that were anybody else, if that were Caitlin Clark, you know the cows would have come home.
- 43:43[SPEAKER_01]: It'd been that big of an issue but
- 43:45[SPEAKER_01]: It's just, I, I'm tired of this state, you know, getting the short end of the stick because um, other organizations and people's actions, it's, it's unfair to the people here.
- 43:58[SPEAKER_03]: Mike will, John Robertson, thank you so much for your time.
- 44:02[SPEAKER_03]: Appreciate it.
- 44:02[SPEAKER_03]: It's always thanks for the bonus time and can't wait to be talking, Pacers all year.
- 44:07[SPEAKER_03]: So pumped.
- 44:08[SPEAKER_03]: Co-pacers.
- 44:10[SPEAKER_03]: Fuck the next.
- 44:12[SPEAKER_04]: El Pacers.
- 44:18[SPEAKER_03]: Make sure you're subscribed to the Central Indiana Sports Report so you get our Pacer's podcast all year long.
- 44:26[SPEAKER_03]: Thanks again.
- 44:28[SPEAKER_03]: The Pacer's Report and the Central Indiana Sports Report are products of ITG Media, and out of season.