Tony East here, the host of the daily Locked On Pacers podcast, with your daily Locked On Pacers newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Pacers and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
How the Indiana Pacers turned their season around
Nov 20, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) celebrates with center Myles Turner (33) after a play during the second quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina/Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Pacers Midseason Turnaround: Defense and Health Fuel Playoff Push
The Indiana Pacers have hit their stride at the midway point of the NBA season, and the transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. After a rocky start that saw the team stumbling to a 10-15 record, the Pacers have found their footing and are now firmly in the playoff picture.
The key to this turnaround? It’s a combination of improved health and a renewed focus on defense. Since December 11th, the Pacers have boasted the fifth-best defense in the league, a stark contrast to their early-season struggles. This defensive resurgence isn’t just a fluke or a result of facing weaker opponents. The team has held their own against some of the NBA’s top offenses, including the Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Health has played a crucial role in this defensive renaissance. The return of key players like Andrew Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith, and Ben Sheppard has allowed the Pacers to implement their defensive game plan more effectively. These players’ ability to guard multiple positions and take on tough defensive assignments has been a game-changer for the team.
Tyrese Haliburton’s Impact
While the team’s success isn’t solely dependent on one player, it’s impossible to ignore the impact of Tyrese Haliburton. The young guard has found his rhythm and is playing with a newfound confidence that’s infectious. His ability to orchestrate the offense while also contributing on the defensive end has been crucial to the Pacers’ recent success.
What’s particularly impressive is how the team has managed to win games even when Haliburton isn’t dominating the stat sheet. This speaks volumes about the depth and versatility of the roster, as well as the coaching staff’s ability to adapt their game plan.
Looking Ahead
As the Pacers enter the second half of the season, the challenge will be maintaining this level of play. The schedule becomes more favorable, with more home games and slightly easier opponents on the horizon. However, the team can’t afford to become complacent.
The Eastern Conference standings are tight, with only a few games separating the third and ninth seeds. Every game matters, and the Pacers will need to continue their strong defensive play and balanced offensive attack to secure a favorable playoff position.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Pacers midseason turnaround, tune into the Locked On Pacers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Pacers Podcast:
• The importance of Andrew Nembhard’s return to the lineup
• Rick Carlisle’s approach to managing rotations with a fully healthy roster
• The team’s upcoming trip to Paris and its potential impact on momentum
Jan 19, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) dunks against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Paycom Center. | Alonzo Adams/Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Back with the second half of our midseason report specifically focusing on changes with a farther reaching affect than just this season. A midseason report adjusted for inflation, if you will. If you missed the first half, you can find it here.
Shifting hardware
If Shai Gilgeous-Alexander takes home the MVP trophy this season (as predicted in this newsletter back in mid-October), we’re in for a shift. While merit for the award comes down to performance, it also hinges on a slew of other factors, and some of those skew intangible.
The pool of MVP candidates, season-to-season, stays largely the same because athletes who are that good tend to stay good for stable stretches of time and because once someone has gained our attention, we don’t tend to shift it. We’re creatures of habit, and the people tasked with MVP voting are, too.
Thunder fans have been banging the SGA drum for seasons now, but it’s just this year that he’s finally managed to break through into the broader collective consciousness. We give a lot of weight to the concept of “readiness”, as in, when young athletes break through an invisible barrier and are able to handle some combination of the spotlight, leadership responsibilities, consistent high-level competition, and yes, award consideration.
The reality of readiness is that it’s mostly reached through repetition. Occasionally that’s accelerated through a trade — Henry Abbott at TrueHoop wrote a compelling case on how this could be true for Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr.
Household names get that way because we’ve said them so many times, not because some invisible cue or professional marker was met.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis The Sixers and Suns’ struggles won’t end “Big Threes” in the NBA. (Forbes)
Watch Inside the NBA: On MLK Day, a look back at the movement to overcome. (ESPN)
Rumor Former Pacers star Myles Turner is rumored to be a significant candidate in the buyout market, which could see him joining a new contender soon. (Sports Illustrated)
Roster Head Coach Rick Carlisle has stated that there will be no guaranteed rotation minutes for any player moving forward. This decision emphasizes competition and performance. (Sports Illustrated)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
NBA Tuesday Fantasy Basketball Preview: Streaming Options and Injury Updates
Jan 11, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) dunks the basketball during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images | Troy Wayrynen/Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
As we look ahead to Tuesday’s NBA action, there are several key storylines and player situations to monitor. With five games on the schedule, fantasy managers have some interesting decisions to make regarding lineups and streaming options.
The Brooklyn Nets are dealing with multiple injury concerns. Ben Simmons is probable to return from illness, while D’Angelo Russell is questionable with hamstring tightness. This creates uncertainty around playing time and roles. Nic Claxton’s value is also in question due to inconsistent minutes and performance. For streaming purposes, Noah Clowney could be worth a look if Simmons sits.
One of the biggest spots to watch is what Miami does with rookie big man Kel’el Ware. Ware started the second half last game, next to Bam Adebayo, and is a guy to grab in case he begins a run of being a starter.
In Orlando, the Magic will be without Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, and Goga Bitadze. This opens up opportunities for Wendell Carter Jr. and Cole Anthony to see increased usage. Both are solid streaming options in most formats for Tuesday’s matchup against Toronto.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Fantasy Basketball Podcast:
• Schedule analysis for the upcoming week
• Five-game and two-game team outlooks
• Deeper league streaming targets
3peat (ICYMI)
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Pacers podcasts. Assessing the first half of the Pacers season Indiana is halfway through their 2024-25 NBA season. What defined their first half, and in particular their turnaround? Sideline reporter Jeremiah Johnson joins to break it down.
Pacers mailbag with the team in Paris The Pacers are in Paris, which is the perfect time to answer your questions. Trades, the future of Mathurin and Turner, rotations, and the best NBA arenas are discussed.
Another nice win for the Pacers The Indiana Pacers beat the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, and while it wasn’t pretty, it was a win against a team that beat a worse version of the Pacers earlier this season. The defense and bench were great for Indiana.
