How good can the Indiana Pacers be? | The Athletic NBA Show

How good can the Indiana Pacers be? | The Athletic NBA Show

It’s like so how good guys can they be and I asked that because everything’s got a shelf life you know Turner’s deal is up after next season so obviously that’s a bridge they’ll have to cross at that point um and I also asked this because the level of enthusiasm from the

Sakam side is so high and it’s largely because it does appear that his opinion basketball-wise is like you know we joke about the Pacers being ahead of the heat like no they they are envisioning a title cont ending Pacers team down the line um that that he is used to making

Deep playoff runs with the Raptors obviously has a ring uh you know in his in his uh on his resume how good can they be in terms of where this is going as far as uh you know this addition my opinion either I think they’re probably different uh I still

Think they’re AIG they’re a big player away from like being a real contending threat it’s goingon to be difficult to get that third big player you know um but Fred will probably come on and and declare that Championship contenders now and a dynasty potentially in the making

No I just I I still I particularly defensively you know Pascal helps a little uh but I don’t I don’t see them competing with like the Giants of the East and I still think they’re like I said a big piece away from realistically competing for a championship Fred before

You answer real quick contest uh last two weeks and this was you know pointed out to me by the Pacers uh and specifically Jim boan who’s part of their staff who I talked to yesterday they were in town um last two weeks they’re 15th in defensive rating so that

Side it’s small sample size but it’s gotten a little better um and there’s like this kind of internal feeling like they might finally be just you know developing and improving a bit and then SE yakum obviously gives you a little injection on that front yeah you know what’s helped their defense Tyrese

Halberton is yeah he’s been out for four games three games yeah I mean and it’s hurt they’re all like don’t get me wrong Tyrese halberton is just like a fantastic no I should have mentioned that yeah know he’ll be back soon yeah as we talk about winning on the highest

Level like you know his defense is going to be under a spotlight at that point whenever that comes down the line Fred right right declare your champion this year wow wow ni how about a Nicks Pacers East finals with you covering it just feels like regie regim what do I do what

Do I do which team do I cover that’s true that’s true uh no I don’t disagree with Slater’s analysis I’m not putting them in some sort of contender range I I think they could get up I think there’s a world where they get up to Fourth I think that’s that’s definitely plausible

If they play Milwaukee in the playoffs I’m sure Milwaukee is going to be like crap if they have to play like a 36 cover in that series he loves that match up oh I do give me oh yeah you do give me the conflict yeah I’m not even

Talking about seeds I think we’re you know because sure they could be the four seed I think we’re talking about like playoff ceiling yeah I mean defensively I agree with you they’re they’re not going to be there because because at the top they’re they’re too vulnerable but

They can put out some better defensive lineups now like Turner is a is is a good defensive Center yeah he can get a little jumpy but like is a good defensive Center rim protector he’s mobile he’s he’s good protecting the rim like he is a good defensive Center SE

Yakum is going to be good on the wing for them nemh har can guard a little bit uh n Smith has been really solid for them defensively like they can put together some defensive lineups in important moments where they need stops where it’s like that’s not the worst

It’s not going to be like you know it’s not it’s not the timber wolves it’s not the Celtics but it’s like that is capable that is that is going to be a sufficient defensive lineup I worry about the ones with like you mentioned Obi toppen you know toen on the floor

But maybe he just ends up playing way less because he’s behind SE yakum now which is quite ironic if if if toppen by the way gets traded from the Knicks because he’s stuck behind Randall and then get stuck behind SE yakum uh but I I yeah I’m with you I don’t think the

Defense is quite enough there I don’t think they’re as good as those top three in the East uh I could see them finishing fourth Cleveland has been I mean props to Cleveland man like they have been playing incredible ball with no Garland and no Moy their defense is absolutely revving right now their

Defense has been unbelievable for weeks at this point uh they they’ve been the best defensive team in the league over the last few weeks and you know not really having Moy for so much of the year and not really having Garland and then being able to hold this up I think

Has been so impressive I think that team when they get healthy is is really really dangerous but the Pacers will be good like the middle of the East with them and Miami and the Knicks like those three maybe Orlando if they can get back up a little bit but I think specifically

Those three the Knicks Miami and the Pacers that and we’ll even throw the Cavs in there like that is a that is a dog fight that’s that’s four good teams who actually all play very different very different identities like that could be a fun race all right Fred you

You got your dream scenario you got us talking Pacers add nauseum on the tampering pod your dreams are coming true you’re manifesting all this stuff Tyrese is in a good place he got help he got the keys so uh Pacers are going to be a you know routine topic on the pod

The Athletic NBA Show discuss the Indiana Pacers’ potential with Pascal Siakam.