Who needs to step up for Indiana Pacers with Bennedict Mathurin out? Haliburton recent shooting #s

Who needs to step up for Indiana Pacers with Bennedict Mathurin out? Haliburton recent shooting #s

Who needs to step up the most with Benedict mine Sidelines and is jerus Walker ready to do that we’ll talk about that today plus Tyrese halber and Aon shooting and Pacers Thunder all on today’s locked on Pacers podcast you are locked on Pacers your daily Indiana Pacers podcast part of the locked on

Podcast Network your team every day happy Tuesday y’all and welcome into another edition of the lockon Pacers podcast where are we of course talk about the Indiana Pacers as always my name is Tony East I cover the team for Forbes and Si and today I am back from

Florida I am back from Orlando at the Pacers played the magic and so now you can all see my sunburn with my better camera yay we’re also diving in to the Benedict Ma and injury talked about it a little bit yesterday he’s out for the season with a torn labram what does that

Specifically mean for the Pacers dove into that myself a little bit but better to do it with someone else so Tyler Smith is going to join us from Indie sports legends and the Journal Review in Crawfordsville to talk about who needs to step up and how the Pacers can

Mitigate his absence for the last stretch of this season big loss to the Pacers what can they do in his absence plus we talk a little bit about Aaron neith and tyres halberton shooting slump air quotes you’ll see why and we dive into Pacers Thunder tonight’s game very

Interesting matchup so much to get to Let’s Just Jump Right In with Tyler Smith Benedict Maan season is over is it maybe jerus Walker time some shooting slums ending lots to talk about today on lock down Pacers and joining me to do it the man who let me know that Liam mcne

Decommitted from IU which was very much not a fun thing to hear right before the Pacers host of the Timberwolves it’s Tyler Smith from covering IU for Rivals and covering the Pacers for IND Sports legends.com and The Courier up in Crawfordsville it’s Tyler Smith Tyler

Did I get all that right first of all and hello how are you yeah you got most of it right Journal Review out of crow but you were so close that it’s fine it’s fine good to see you I hate being wrong I’m never I’m never good at this

That is what it is uh good to see you as well IU has L has won Lots since we last talked the Pacers have won lots and yet the big story around the team if they didn’t play a team right in front of them in the standings I would have led

With this yesterday Benedict Maan out for the season after 59 games it’s gonna look different that is to me it’s not obviously he doesn’t like he’s a really good player it’s not the biggest loss on the team but it’s significant in that they don’t really have anyone else who

Does what he does how do you kind of feel like the Pacers will need to adjust stylistically because they don’t like I said they don’t have anyone else who can be that kind of self-creation off the bounds kind of score yeah they’re going to need uh

Buddy heel to oh just kidding that was that was a habit I guess yeah it’s going to be tough I mean that’s obviously he was one of the reasons why they were okay making that trade uh giving him a little more little more run a little more

Responsibility uh they’re off to a good start I mean it seems like I don’t know if I’ve ever felt this way where it’s you feel better when they play better teams um it’s kind of wild but you know they they showed out they played really well they’re fully capable they still

Have a a deep roster but as you said it will be different and you know it’s going to be a it’s going to have to be a collective effort that’s when you’re really excited about the SE yakum addition to have a second guy to you know go off on certain nights because

That’s one thing mathine gave them occasionally yeah it’s strange that you know I used to be like all right let’s check out the strength of schedule for this team I’m like okay it doesn’t matter like maybe they’ll would maybe they won’t against literally anyone in the league yeah the the thing that’s

Going to be fascinating about this to me is that the guys who n like usually when an injury happens the natural inclination is okay who’s gonna play more now and then can they fill that that role naturally and the answer is no to the second question for literally any

Player right I talked about this a little yesterday but like jerus will probably play more Doug mcder will probably play more maybe Ben Shepard’s role just looks a little different but none of them none of them at all can get to the rim right or create their own

Shot in any meaningful way and so it almost seems like this injury isn’t about that it seems like to me without maing is you nailed it is going to be ball handlers who already can do those things and finding ways to kind of spread them out in different ways right

And they’ve kind of already been doing this right Rick’s been loving the McConnell plus halber lineups right is that a way for them to consistently have ball handling on the floor even with the bench they’ve been trying to make sure seak or hurn is out there at all times

SE yakum especially like in a game last night you can see how much having a ball handle where SI really helps them against Orlando but now it’s like it’s not just like okay let’s make sure we do this it’s like Paramount their rotation is perfect every game because you know

Outside of those guys that Andrew neard They Don’t Really and Andrew neard doesn’t get to the rim that much he’s still a good ball handler but you know they don’t have that kind of pop and burst and like late shot clock excellence in the same way anymore and

So I think that’s going to require just some that’s going to be the biggest tweak to me is less about who’s playing or what role they’re playing and like tweaking it to make sure they always have that sort of pop with the ball in every lineup because it used to be

Really easy they had five guys who could do it it’s only one less but in a rotation that’s a big deal yeah it is a big deal a lot of those decisions that R Carlo has been talking about which we we knew even from you know the preseason

How difficult some of those decisions would be yeah uh it’s just gonna it’s just going to continue because you think even without Maan that you think you may have kind of a set rotation but um you know I think it can still be a little bit matchup based um especially we talk

About Walker getting some more run potential I I think they still have to kind of pick their spots and we’ll talk about him later yeah but that’s going to be important for for Rick to to make those decisions ideally this team continues to put together a better defensive effort which will alleviate

Some of that pressure that the offense has had all season long that’s probably their ticket if they want to stay out of the playin and make some noise is can the defense um you know improve and and they played well last game so can that continue to improve

Yeah if if it’s going to be harder to score getting more stops is certainly a a good way to go 97 I did not expect that even though the magic not playing well offensively Rec 97 allowed for this Pacers team is extremely impressive and they can get in transition more and play

Their way like they looked they looked a lot like the at their best this season Pacers in that third quarter in a way that they haven’t all the time recently so that is certainly another way to do it so what I’ve been thinking about that you know I said yesterday is of every

Player who’s going to play I think the guy who will benefit the most in terms of just like touches responsibility uh going towards their strengths is TJ McConnell assuming the rotation doesn’t change because now with the bench he’s gonna have the ball and chances to do his thing whether that’s

Create gets to the rim whatever more often and they’ve been playing with Albert more already but now they’re like okay we we’re gonna need McConnell to be like a scoring threat at times for this Pacers team but I like the fallback of that to me is if you’re G to play

McConnell more or at least in units like it can’t be all the time he’s running the bench and so the other guy who naturally would benefit from that to me is Andrew nard who they’re going to need to handle it a little more like as his Seasons kind of progressed he keeps

Shifting out of ball handling roles which isn’t any against anything he’s doing it’s just that when he’s a shooter and Defender is when the pace are starting FES at their best but I think they’re gonna need him to also maybe run some stuff a little bit more if they’re

Going to go two-point guard lineups more often that might not be a necessary tweak but if they need creation as much as as they can get he also could stand a benefit and so ironically a two3 wing getting hurt the biggest Pacers like who I think need to step up air quotes to

Fill a role or aoid are two point guards Andrew neard and T.J McConnell because that’s how they can get as much as possible of that shot creation back yeah it’s pretty wild before the season started I was thinking you know McConnell third stram point guard I was

Even questioning some of you know his importance for this year and now he’s one of the most important pieces they have um it’s pretty wild but when you asked me that question I was thinking Andrew NIMH hard as far as you know who needs to step up and he’s a pretty steady

Player you know typically what you’re going to get from him but you know I don’t think the Pacers can ask too much of the rookies to step up in this moment so to me and Nim har is the guy if he can get closer to his January production

Granted most of those games were without halberton so that’s why his usage rate was was up but he’s proven over the last couple years that you give him a bigger role and at times he can step up I mean people remember the the game at Golden

State you know last year and some of those moments gamewinner in La he’s had some of his moments he averaged 12.1 uh 5.7 assists on 50% shooting in the month of January so they played well against Orlando without him doing much but I think um with mathan again you lose that

Occasional burst and I think NIMH har is he’s not at that level but he is capable some nights when other guys are off to step up and uh and you know take more of the scoring load so not looking for it every night but nights when other guys

May be off you know maybe NIMH hard to step up and kind of carry him a little bit so he’s since he got hurt on that road trip where they traded for yakum uh and M hard rejoined the team at that point he’s averaging 10 and four at 1.4

Turnovers per game on 50 39 83 splits right and had that stretch where he was just terrific from right after that return to right before halberton came back where he looked really good and and he he really struggled to start the season right he was banged up his shot

Wasn’t falling there were like so many weird turnovers and all of a sudden that’s really gone away to the point that he’s almost caught his per game averages from last year on less minutes all of his efficiency numbers are better if you use per 36 his scoring’s up his

Assists are up his turnovers are down and he’s shooting better like that’s all great the thing that’s going to stand out the most about Andrew Mard I think if they’re relying on him a little bit more with Ma and out is this season uh his three-pointers are about exactly the

Same as last year as the percentage of them that are assisted from someone else but his two-pointers it’s down by about 3% that’s going to be the important shots for him is if he can keep generating his own shots inside y he loves that like push shot eight-footer

You know if he can keep getting to that he sometimes he Fades away and does it over his right shoulder whatever if he can keep getting to that and making it right because that didn’t fall early in the season but has progressively The Season’s gone on he’s been pretty good

For mid-range actually that can be a way that they can they can mitigate it a bit and he could become a lot more important of that shot Falls yeah especially for a team that that relies so heavily on the three-point shot to have that that luxury you know it’s not not a complete

Lost Art you know to get to you know 12 15 feet um when you’re kind of you know close to a lead at it as he has been at times but yeah he’s almost this underappreciated player I feel like because maybe he’s not as flashy as what

Some people look for but you talk about a steady piece that knows the game is really smart um down the stretch here this is an incredibly important piece for the Pacers they’re they’re lucky to have him and hopefully he keeps playing well and gives them a real shot he still has a

Month to make my preseason he’s the Pacers xfactor the season prediction look good that has not been the case he’s been good but not uh The X Factor to the point that I predicted this next segment is brought To Us by our sponsor betterhelp sometimes we only the opportunity to

Just get something off our chest big or small certain things can really start to get to you it’s important to let that up especially to someone who’s unbiased on your life so today I want to say how I really feel about something you want be thinking about the same thing this week

I can’t stand it when people stand up the second and a plane lands one you’re not going to get off any faster and two sometimes if people need to get off for an emergency you’re just in the way you can stretch your legs in a second just

Chill out for a second therapy meanwhile can be different for everyone most of us have much bigger problems when people getting up on planes are our favorite sports team it’s important to get things off your chest every once in a while and therapy with better help can be entirely

Online give better help a try if you’ve been thinking about starting therapy it’s designed to be flexible and suited to your schedule so visit betterhelp.com lockdown MBA to get 10% off your first month that’s betterhelp hp.com lockdown MBA okay the other thing that happened in Orlando before the game Rick Carla

Talking about Ben mn’s injury and he said jarus Walker coming for more more minutes now we will see if that’s a permanent decision Doug mcder still out with his calf injury but jerus did play uh on in the Timberwolves game man was down he played a lot in that game he

Played kind of well and then in Orlando last night he had a really rough three minute stretch and then did not play again throughout the rest of the game he only played three minutes the whole night as his season’s gone on and I’ve gone to a number of Madden games he has

Gotten a like he was a point guard at times in high school right he’s gotten a lot better as ball handler to me at the pro level his shot is what everybody on the team says has gotten better throughout the season like nobody thought he’d be a good shooter in the

Pros and he’s at 37.5% I’ll be it on 40 attempts but still in the NBA that’s there it’s just not you know it’s not all the time right it’s very up and down so far so this is as vague of a question as I can give you Tyler but do you think

Jarus Walker is ready for like consistent everyday 10 plus minute rolls or is he going to be like this where some nights it looks like he fits in really well and has five points and five rebounds against Minnesota in 15 minutes and some nights where he looks miserable

Against the magic and can’t play the rest of the game I mean I do think he’s ready to contribute and I think he’s good enough to be in the NBA rotation um but I still think they they probably need to be selective as I think Carly will be on

His minutes on what nights he’s given a bigger role depends on matchups you know I like the the look at times to be uh to backup n Smith as the three um but I I think like you said there’s going to be nights when he looks like a four

And you know fans will be screaming for this is the guy we’ve been missing all year and then there’s going to be other nights that you know and it could be in the same game you know like you said a good stretch and a bad stretch um that’s

To be expected you know and I think for me defensively he’s starting to improve you know like all season fans were screaming that you know he’s he would help them defensively and you know as we’re watching you watch film and you’re like he’s you know he’s not there yet he

Could get there U but I think lately he’s looked better on that end and I think that that will help if he has some some rookie moments as we think he will if he’s holding his own on the defensive end then that’s going to help but um you

Know I I as I was trying to I was mentioned earlier that you know Carla’s gonna have to pick and choose and and be selective um because it’s all about wins at this point you know it’s no longer uh development it’s like they’re trying to they’re trying to make the playoffs and

Uh say out of the play in so uh certain nights um I think we’ll see him other nights if he’s not looking good maybe he’ll be he’ll be yanked out and and they got other guys that can play those minutes it’s perhaps the right word is convenient that right now the only way

Their best path of winning is playing both of their first round picks from last year but yeah it is risky in terms of like to play the thunder tonight like it’s tough to play you know two rookies against a team like that and Ben Shepard’s proven that he’s good enough

To play every game but jarus hasn’t done that yet and that’s why we’re having this discussion at all yeah to me that so you mentioned his defensive improvements and Rick’s talked about this a lot it’s like he’s not gambling as much he’s not trying to jump these

Passing Lanes to the point that even if he doesn’t if he does get it great but a lot of times he wasn’t and then his whole team is in rotation trying to make up for it or someone’s just wide open he’s gotten better at that reps with the

Mad ANS a road trip with the Mad ANS has helped with that that helped his maturity because he had to be like a vocal leader for the team for a few days right that’s all been important right that’s all great uh at the same time it’s not there all the time and and

Sometimes that’s going to be the case like he had a big spot up against Minnesota and I remember right in the moment being like okay that like that’s going to be the thing if he’s just filling in with the second unit he’s not going to take touches from TJ McConnell

Like he’s not gonna be able to create that much so I think he’s gonna have to make his shots or at least be able to like if he’s given a lot of space take some of it make a good pass and he’s gotten better at that stuff and I think

Some nights when the reads are easy or is the second unit’s clicking it’s going to look good and there’s going to be some nights where like the first quarter against the magic where the whole I they scored the Pacer scored two points in the first six minutes that game right

They the whole team looked awful and so when the whole team’s kind of out a rhythm their rookie who’s learning is going to look really bad and that’s exactly what happened in that game so I think that I think he it’s fine if he’s your tenth guy I think for the next

Couple games that’s going to be a thing the Pacers can can be okay with and not feel like they’re gonna get killed I will be curious the second Doug mcder is available what they do because like you said they’re winning they’re trying to win right do they just go back to Old

Reliable shooter or do they say you know what it’s more important for us to develop jarus Walker even though we’re trying win games right now yeah we’ve seen Carlile do this which I don’t feel like many coaches do this there’s a couple guys who are they’re trying to

Figure out there may be one that plays in the first half doesn’t play very well for a few minutes and he goes to the next guy in the second but yes um I I am real curious to see if it’s more matchup based or if it’s just strictly veteran

Over rookie um or who’s who’s got the hot hand currently um you know I I think to both the rookies are guys that um not necessarily when they’re out of rhythm but if there’s a night when they just need some energy and need a spark and

Again maybe not at the same time but one of those two guys that’s maybe the the time that that you put them in and see what you can do because they’re both uh you know fully capable of bringing that spark most of the guys on this team are

But um hopefully at this point here in the middle of March there’s not one of those lackluster effort kind of nights against a bad team where you have to do that um but I feel like that’s kind of in in the the back pocket of Carl outa

To turn to one or both those guys at different points for some energy the thing about rookies too is like Ben Shepard has been terrific I’m not gonna say any of what I’m about to say to like stomp on what he’s doing or rate on the parade or anything I’ve sang his Praises

Many times having good production from your rookies is good having being forced to align them going forward and expect production from them is scary right especially if you’re a team trying to win that’s why rookies don’t tend to have a big impact in the postseason like ever right and sometimes they’re good

Enough to do it but usually they’re not because it’s scary you never know they haven’t been in a postseason before they haven’t been in a playoff Chase before and so every they’re playing Ben Sheard specifically too is playing really well he’s up for it right that’s good they he

Has proven that they can continue to rely on him but it’s still scary you never know like against the magic he just didn’t look as effective in that game like that’s gonna happen sometimes so jarus is going to be in the same boat where and you’ve already said this but

You know some games you can rely on him it looks great some games you can’t even when he was in that rotation for that little stretch they had on that road trip right one of the games was awesome and one of them he was three for 11 in

Utah and like you just you just never really know what you’re going to get so to answer the question I have on the screen if you’re watching on YouTube which is is jarus Walker ready for more I answer that as yes he is because he’s gotten better with his shot all season

His ball handling and passing has gotten better he’s not gambling as much on defense all sorts of stuff he needed to get better to play to play consistently and to for the pitch think okay we think you’re ready to do this do I expect that every single game he’s going to give the

Pacers quality rotation minutes right now is they trying to make a playoff Chase no I don’t and so that’s why I think it’s going to be fascinating to see what they do with his rotation spot down the stretch I agree it’s kind of a game by- game situation and you know when again

When that not to keep harping on it but when that trade happened it was kind of like there’s a lot of guys ready to step up but then you lose one of those guys one of your important guys injury and all a sudden it shrinks and it’s like

All right there’s still a lot of depth but now you do have to rely on probably at least one both rookies in some game so as you said a little scary at times we we break here guys so we could talk about Nissan are you the kind of

Driver that likes to push things a little further ever wonder what Adventure could be around the corner while our friends at Nissan have aligned of SUVs with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level like the 2024 Nissan Rogue which is perfect for City drives and Great Escapes class

Exclusive Google buletin is your always updating assistant to call on for almost anything gone to the days of connecting your phone the Google Assistant Google Maps and Google Play Store are built right into the 12.3 in HD touchscreen infotainment system the 2024 Rogue is the perfect midsize crossover for your

Next adventure there’s also the 2024 Nissan Pathfinder which has room for up to eight expensive cargo capacity and advanced available 4×4 capability with 284 horsepower up to 6,000 pounds Towing when Adventure calls the Pathfinder is there to answerer and don’t forget about the armana so take the Nissan Rogue

Nissan Pathfinder or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure find it yourself and shop now at nissanusa.com Doug mcder will be a factor here as well we’ll talk about that when it happens but I mostly just said that to say let’s talk about shooting because I think this

Has been let me it’s time to be lazy Tyler I hate when I do this but it’s time to it’s a lot of discussion recently about Tyrese halbert’s slump and I think that that is a word to use he’s playing well like two 20 point

Games in a row uh over 10 assist average in those three games his last three games right so getting back to that Dallas game they won on the road to end their last road trip he’s averaging 20.7 and 10.7 per game but he’s like six for

23 from deep in that stretch since uh the allstar break let’s just do that that’s a nice clean break Tyrus halber is shooting 23.4% from Deep that’s atrocious that’s terrible Aaron n Smith who was great in Orlando last night he hit the three the tie of the game in the first or right

After halftime he was reigning in threes in the whole second half he finished four for six from Deep since he returned from injury it’s only been five games but still he actually last night’s game ruined it but he wasn’t shooting well from Deep prior to that I will get to

Him more specifically in a second but do you think it’s fair to call it tyres hurns in a slump I think the zero point game makes that possible or is it just that he’s not making threes right now and we know he can and will because he

We have two plus full seasons of evidence of him doing it with Pacers yeah if it is a slump it’s a it’s a prolonged one um and it’s hard to evaluate is it still related to the injury not saying he’s not healthy but just the the mental side of that when he

Was on a historic run I mean just an unbelievable first half of the year to have that halted and the mental gymnastics of getting back and then facing a little bit of a slump um clearly he can help in many other ways besides shooting but he was just so

Incredibly Elite when that shot’s going down I mean we’re at games and he can pull from anywhere and you just think it’s going in right um so I do think a little bit of his mental and I feel like once he has maybe a weekend or like two

Three games in a row of of good three-point numbers it’s probably it’s not going to be just one because he’s had like he’s had one or two sprinkled in once he has two or three good games in a row I think we can we can have the

Old he’s back kind of moment and uh you know this team just feels and looks different you know their ceiling changes when he’s back to that Elite you know Steph Curry like kind of range and and a percentage so I think it’s a little bit

In his head and uh as you said I think uh he’ll break out of it eventually 42.5% from the field in that same stretch which is fascinating to me because that’s held down so much by his thre he’s taking a lot he’s taking five or more in every single game in that

Stretch three times only in those nine games he’s been under 50% from two right that was the Dallas game or excuse me not I one off that was the Toronto game they lost by eight he was one for five on twos that night this Pelicans game that they got smoked in New Orleans

He took one two and he missed uh and the other one was was much closer uh the Spurs game he was four for 10 so one away from 50% all the rest he’s at 50% or better on twos so he’s like making shots still he’s finding space he wants

He’s just not making threes and it’s at some point it’s you know we’re one game away from this being 10 games since the break it is a prolonged slump perhaps but again like we’ve seen for years this guy’s a 40% three-point guy he was his both of his seasons in Sacramento he was

His his time with the Pacers in the full season with the Pacers where he was an All-Star he was 40% from team so 34 excuse me 37.4% this season is his worst maybe it’s related to some injury maybe it’s not but I am of the mind that the

Body of work is that it’s going to go in again at some point and so maybe that’s all this is may look I know that they’re trying to work him in at some more off ball stuff because he’s their best shooter well that’s ironic that we’re saying that now um because he’s their

Best shooter they’re trying to make him screen to get seaka open sometimes like that’s good that’s valuable they’re playing him with TJ more because they like to two ball Hender looks like it’s just different than it was before the break and their team looks different but that that stuff can contribute to what

He’s doing but I just think eventually he’s gonna make him and that’s gonna make the team look really good again I don’t know if that’s lazy or not though well I mean water finds his level and he’s again he’s been so El leite for so long that um it’s just it’s going to

Happen you know you hope sooner than later but you know there there’s enough games left that you know I I feel like with all that that has come with the trades the injury the All-Star break all that stuff like it’s it’s a mental game it’s hard and he was so incredibly

Comfortable with everything that was going on and playing at such an elite level that a lot of things kind of got in the way of that and you know once he sees a few few go down or I would say even once he hits one of those daggers

At the end of a game um I feel like that might that might be the moment where uh you feel pretty good about you know the the following games they play the Bulls on Wednesday I think he hits a big three against the Bulls every time they play

The Bulls so maybe that’s the time he’ll break out of it but like you know they they win a like a two or three games every year where it’s just like oh you couldn’t guard a tie race from three and you lose like that’s how that’s how the

Opponent leaves the game right that happened in Miami last year and he had four 40 whatever right before Christmas and they won like that just happen sometimes and we haven’t seen that in a while and so maybe it won’t happen again right but I mean we have three years of

Evidence that he’s above a 40% three-point shooter and he’s well below that this season and his recent stretch is a big factor in why I think he gets out of it I don’t know that but I think he gets out of it and we will see and I

Think he’ll look really good when he does the other guy who was slumping prior to last night Aron Smith this one’s a little different to say because all his shots are catch and shoot but he was missing everything even twos and I’m get right about this still Rick

Carlile mentioned it before a game early last month that the game was slowing down for him right he could catch he could attack a little bit that hasn’t seemed as obvious to me since he returned from injury but how much of his Effectiveness especially after he had a

Great game he was awesome in Orlando do feel like is similar he’s just not making threes right now yeah I think it’s part of it and he also you know had uh you know not as long of a of a time off but um he had after playing his best basketball of his

Career of his life um you know he had some uh some Paws in there as well and uh you know dealing with you know a couple new teammates and all that stuff but it’s this is a hard game like the guys make it look so easy at times and

Especially the elite players but man when shots aren’t going it’s it’s difficult to uh to find it again and really good sign yesterday excuse me was looking up some numbers too and you know this team when when n Smith plays well 23 and 11 when when n Smith’s

Figures um they’re 31 and 19 when they hit 10 threes as a team and 23 and six when they shoot 40% or better so these two guys you know once they find it you just think about the ceiling of the team and how dangerous they can be once again

That we’ve seen uh at flashes throughout the season so good sign from Orlando for n Smith for sure I shudder to think what could have happened in the this stretch where halberton was recovering if n Smith wasn’t awesome right that last month before the All-Star break he

Averaged 15 and five on 52% from the field 42% from deep and had like four 20o games 5 like he was awesome in that stretch and that was often without or with a hobbled of the best Creator on the team so maybe he’s just working back

From injury to I again maybe this is just lazy analysis and there’s something more going on but I kind of think if those two get going from Deep or at least get a little more consistency and look like the players we saw earlier this season and with halberton I believe

It’s going to it’s just a matter of n Smith we don’t have the track record of him being what he was earlier this season where he was like I think he led the league in three-point percentage for a couple weeks yeah yeah yeah and I don’t you know I don’t expect him to

Fall back to like below average but you know if either of them or both get going again I think that’ll bat well for the Pacers chances obviously making shots is better than not um but I kind of think part of their this the starting lineup’s little mini slump going on and halberton

Stretch is just that they’re not making these threes that they made for so long Tyler let’s talk about the thunder before we get out of here can you how is this possible that they haven’t played a team yet this season how have they not played the Thunder yet this year they

Haven’t played the Nets yet either how is this possible yeah yeah they they they’ve played uh the Bucks and Celtics all the other games so yeah that was wild I was looking back I was like I I don’t remember playing Oklahoma so yeah I saw that they play

Him in I think early April back at home so that’s pretty wild it’s going to be fun I mean this is another team currently top the Western Conference and that’s usually when the uh when the Pacers show up and and win so obviously on the road going to be tougher Thunder

Are amazing at home so yeah golly they haven’t played the Thunder the Lakers or the Nets yet The Season’s like a month away from ending like how how is this it’s so strange the End season tournament made some wonky stuff happen yeah I think that this is gonna be maybe

The toughest scheme in the league for the Pacers to contain five out as often as possible I mean look they’re they’re top five in offense and defense like this isn’t like breaking news this is GNA be a hard game for the Pacers but that’s a lot of movement and rotation

And communication to to slow the Thunder as much as you can and that has kind of been where the Pacers stink on defense like they run a guy off the line and then they just can’t rotate at all they get beat at the rim and so I kind of

Think unless they’re really crisp on that end they’re just going to have to be lights out on offense to have a chance and this isn’t to kill them for losing a lot of teams lose to Thunder this year but I think specifically against the thing the Pacers stink at

The most the Thunder are going to be an extremely challenging match up they have very little they can throw at Shay and they have very little they can do to you know they haven’t shown at least consistently that they can communicate and rotate effectively yeah especially

For a team that’s still trying to figure out their identity on the defensive end and again some improvement lately but yeah this team is just stacked they’re 26 and six at home and I look their average uh margin of Victory is like 12 and a half points in home games I mean

It’s just like an an unnatural sounding kind of statline when they’re at home so you know they’re they’re no joke uh a lot of guys hard to guard and the fact that they also hold their own on the defensive end it’s goingon to be tough I

I like the Pacers chances when they play him at home after um kind of seeing it and then uh you know being together for another month so I I could see them maybe splitting the home games but yeah this is going to be an awfully tough one

Yeah I agree front and of a back to back but on the road Tyrese alurn loves playing on the road Shay’s really good maybe they’ll be I mean they’re going to be up for it they need to win every game they can the rest of the way it’s just

Like you you gota they they they can score against anybody they’ve kind of proven that but they they’ve had I think three two games at like 125 plus since the start of February and they’ve had a lot of good reasons to be a little worse on offense but like they’re I think to

Win they’re gonna have to hit that level like that number on offense because I mean I’ve already said a lot of stuff but even like think you think of the matchups you someone really good on OKC is going to have a very easy matchup or very easy opportunity to just

Cook somebody and create open looks and that’s generally a recipe for failure already even outside of their ability just to score and setad all these guard guard screens and make a defense panic and their own defense is fantastic and chat’s amazing so like the miles trump card that’s worked sometimes against

Young teams isn’t there so I think this would be a good time for our uh our prediction that tyres hurn will shoot better from three to happen that’s I think how the Pacers can beat the Thunder yeah they’re going to need it I also saw these are the top two teams in

Effective field goal percentage in the NBA and and they’re two I think they’re first and third in uh in total points but um really intriguing game with a lot to lot on the line Oklahoma trying for the one seed Pacers trying to stay out of the playin a lot of bunched up teams

I mean I I can’t imagine you know talking you know a month from now or so but the the races and how the playoff matchups are going to heat up it’s going to be insane but this is a this will be a fun preview whether the Pacers win or

Not it’s going to be a fun one knowing them they’ll win this one and then lose to Chicago on Wednesday so Nicks and Sixers play tonight as well um and so I think the way it’s shaking out with the wins is the Pacers are guaranteed to be

Top six if they win Tuesday I mean the what matters is where they are when the season ends but like I’m G to be tracking that like an idiot for the rest of the season so much to like and enjoy about Pacers Thunder and this team right

Now except for Benedict ma injury that sucks that’s no fun Tyler this was great thank you for the time uh I did a bad job of it apparently but where can people find you at your work covering the Pacers and the hooers Big 10 tournament coming right up baby that’s

Right so on Twitter Tyler smithore ISL uh Indies Sports legends.com the hoo.com and the Journal Review out of Crawfordsville so close I was like that that’s like a 95% I think I get a good grade on that test H tomorrow and Pacers Thunder looking ahead at Pacers Bulls

Every Pacers Bulls game is fun um which will be fun and potentially like a play in to get the eighth seed preview potentially so uh got to be dialed into that game as well we’ll be talking about that game on Thursday gotta gas Lin up for Friday lots of fun stuff coming as

Usual here on the lockdown Pacers podcast check out Tyler and everything he’s putting out about of course the Pacers but also my hooers who had a good end of their season at least I can be happy about that six in the Big 10 that’s all that matters not don’t worry

About the rest of the season just look at the high level numbers things are great back tomorrow talking more Pacers tell then everybody have a wonderful day

The Indiana Pacers won’t have Bennedict Mathurin for the rest of the season. Who needs to step up in his absence? Host Tony East is joined by Tyler Smith from Indy Sports Legends and Journal Review Sports to break that down, including a discussion about many guards. They also break down Tyrese Haliburton and Aaron Nesmith’s recent three-point shooting as well as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOPacers?sid=YouTube

Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA

📲 Follow Locked On Pacers on Twitter
Locked On Pacers https://twitter.com/lockedonpacers
Tony East https://twitter.com/TonyREast

#Pacers #IndianaPacers #NBA #PacersPodcast #IndianaPacersPodcast #TyreseHaliburton #BennedictMathurin #MylesTurner #PascalSiakam
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Stitch FixStyle that makes you feel as good as you look—get started today at StitchFix.com/LOCKEDON

NissanOur friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV’s with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level. Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Shop NissanUSA.com.

LinkedInLinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Terms and conditions apply.

eBay MotorsFor parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.

BetterHelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month.

PrizePicksGo to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100!

GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.

FanDuelGet buckets with your first bet on FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your bet wins! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)