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.
The best Pacers trios and two interviews
Nov 20, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) celebrates with center Myles Turner (33) after scoring during the first quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina/Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Pacers Trio Analysis: Unveiling the Best and Worst Lineup Combinations
As the Indiana Pacers season pauses, it’s fascinating to explore the team’s most effective trios and how they impact the game. The starting five has been exceptional, with various combinations of Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Tyrese Haliburton, and Myles Turner dominating the top spots in net rating.
The best trio this season has been Siakam, Nembhard, and Mathurin, boasting an impressive 116 offensive rating and 98 defensive rating. This combination has been particularly potent since Nembhard’s return in December, solidifying the Pacers starting lineup as a force to be reckoned with.
Interestingly, the top-performing bench trio consists of T.J. McConnell, Thomas Bryant, and Ben Sheppard. Their success can be attributed to their clearly defined roles and high-energy play style, which has proven effective in limited minutes.
Surprising Struggles
While the starting lineup has thrived, some unexpected challenges have emerged. The pairing of McConnell and Haliburton, traditionally a strong duo, has struggled this season. Despite a stellar offensive rating of 122.9, their defensive woes have resulted in a negative net rating. This is a stark contrast to last season when the McConnell-Haliburton combination was one of the team’s most potent weapons.
Another area of concern is rookie Jarace Walker’s impact on various lineups. While Walker has shown improvement lately, his presence in several of the team’s worst-performing trios highlights the challenges of integrating a young player into the rotation.
Looking Ahead
As the Pacers continue to fine-tune their rotations, keep an eye on how Coach Rick Carlisle manages the McConnell-Haliburton pairing and Walker’s minutes. With Aaron Nesmith’s impending return, there may be further adjustments to the lineup in the coming weeks.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Pacers lineup analysis, tune into the Locked On Pacers podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Pacers Podcast:
• Two-way player updates: Quentin Jackson and Myles Turner’s G League performances
• Interview with Dakota Matthias, standout unaffiliated player for the Mad Ants
A midseason report for seasons to come: part three
Jan 9, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. | Rick Osentoski/Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
I’m far from being an insider (mostly I like sleep too much, and those guys never do), but there’s information you glean just from being proximal to the game. There are trends in questions and answers from coaches and players, plus recurring conversations with fellow media, team staff, scouts and agents. When alongside the pulse of NBA basketball, you pick up its reverberations.
One big, undeniable beat I’ve picked up on this season is the growing awareness that vey soon we’re going to start losing perennial stars. I say “we” and not only the league because the realization really does feel collective. Case in point, when the topic of the Warriors dynasty drawing to a slow, potentially quiet close comes up, it’s never solely in relation to the team.
The decline of Golden State is always held alongside the state of the league as a whole, either what it means for competition or in broader strokes, how the mechanics of the game itself will change without a dominant Steph Curry. And that detail is never explicitly mentioned. Even the most primetime of pundits have a reticence to predict when we’ll see the last of Curry, as if giving it consideration is a kind of jinx.
The counter to that is LeBron James, who cannot be discussed enough in relation to his retirement, but that endless guessing feels safe because James has proved prediction wrong so many times in what were meant to be his quieting seasons.
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.
Biz Jalen Green becomes the face of his longtime favorite brand, Stone Island. (High Snobriety)
Rumor With the trade deadline looming, the Indiana Pacers are reportedly among the teams interested in acquiring a highly coveted center, potentially reshaping their roster dynamics. (Sports Illustrated)
Rumor Paul George recently shared that he nearly joined an Indiana Pacers rival to form a formidable big three, a move that could have dramatically altered the Eastern Conference landscape. Learn more about this intriguing what-if scenario. (Sports Illustrated)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Five NBA Players to Buy Low in Fantasy Basketball
Jan 20, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) stands on the court after meeting with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) before the start of the game at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | Cary Edmondson/Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
As we approach the midpoint of the NBA season, it’s time to reassess our fantasy basketball strategies. Today, I’m sharing insights on five players who are prime candidates for “buy low” opportunities in your leagues.
Paolo Banchero tops our list. The Orlando Magic forward is currently the 79th ranked player, well below his potential. His shooting percentages are down, and he’s only averaging 21 points per game since returning from injury. However, I believe Banchero is a top 40 player in points leagues and has room for significant improvement. Don’t be fooled by his current struggles – this is an excellent time to acquire him at a discount.
Next up is Evan Mobley. The Cleveland Cavaliers big man is dealing with a calf strain, which has impacted his recent performance. His defensive stats and usage are down, but this presents a perfect buy-low scenario. Mobley is a third-round talent you might be able to snag for a fourth-round price. While there’s some injury risk, the potential reward outweighs it.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Pacers podcasts. Pacers trios and more interivews The Indiana Pacers best and worst trios by net rating are very revealing. What groups have been good and bad? Plus, Tony East interviews Quenton Jackson and Dakota Mathias.
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.
