Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability (at Chicago Bulls) | December 28, 2023

Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability (at Chicago Bulls) | December 28, 2023

Pretty uh pretty wild game um you know their previous nine wins eight of them were comeback wins we talked about uh when they get down they’re just a tough-minded team they’re going to they’re going to keep coming at you they made a furious run and you know our guys

Responded the best way that you could with poise and aggression and by giving each other energy and uh this is just all part of because a battl tested team for us so uh really good win obviously a very very good trip um defensively we’re continuing to make some progress which

Is which is really good uh Tyrese had a uh 2020 which is is the second in team history and only the second all time without any turnovers so he and Chris Paul are the only two guys to go for 20 and 20 in single games and not have any turnovers

Which is pretty remarkable so uh congratulations to him that’s that’s an amazing feat and then obviously you know this morning you know he had to step out of the shoot around he just his back was tight they worked on him for a couple hours and uh I was I was I was surprised

That he played based on how he was presenting this morning but uh you know we’ve got the best medical staff in the league and uh they were able to to figure out the problem and get it corrected and um obviously he did well rck has you continue to make subtle

Changes to the defense throughout the season to see you have these last four games that you keep referencing have you know been lower point total spe opponent and then tonight to have it be the reason that you can go on a 9 Minute run of no baskets and still hang on for a

Win how pleased are you with that progress on that end and do you think it can continue to be at that level going forward we just got to be process driven with the whole thing um you know time will tell but our approach is going to

Be the same um we’re going to keep working on it religiously um I think our guides are realizing that how important it is to to be better defensively and you know we’ve got to take we got to take pride in it as a group and

Uh so you I was I was I was real proud of the way that you know the guys really stuck together this is as loud of building as you’re going to get in in that kind of situation you know everything’s going wrong they come back take a three or four-point lead whatever

It was and uh you know we just kept playing and and we finally got a couple of good stops with with some momentum going the other way and then went on a big run back at him and you know that’s how you got to do it you got to keep you

Got to keep attacking you got to keep playing um the other good thing for the majority of the game we we did a good job of of avoiding fouls and uh you know I mean d rozan was was getting was getting baskets in the first half but he wasn’t living at the free

Throw line and that that’s something that is important so um you know some very good things obviously you know the Run they went on we made mistakes we took some bad shots we you know we had turnovers we didn’t defend well um we’ll study that stuff learn from it and uh

And get ready for Saturday you have any trigger in the fourth quarter on when Tyrese comes back in whether that’s a specific score margin for their team or a time on the clock or anything like that or is it just a feeling kind of moment at tonight specifically what did

You tell him when he came back to the game it seemed like when we had gone from a 25-point lead to a two or three-point deficit it was time to get him back there sure you asked and look it’s you know you can play him the whole game I

Mean he’s that good and but you know we’ve got to get him through the season and you know 37 minutes is about my threshold you know and U Drew and some of the other second unit guys were stuck out there when the thing was going haywire and you know they those guys did

Some very good things um during that tough stretch you know uh Matan got to the basket one time time and got fouled you know Drew got got uh got the ball in the basket once or twice and you know it’s It’s just tough sleding out there

Um cuz they are they are a tough-minded team and you know you know at some point in the game it’s going to be a rock fight you know and that’s that’s what it was and so we weathered it and um you know the score will will be will be a

Bit deceiving but uh it’s a good win for us Ricky you mentioned the hostile environment tonight and everyone will pay attention to Tyrese’s 20 assists but he me he looked like he displayed some composure some leadership on the bench when the Bulls were making that run what

Did you notice when he was clapping up everyone yeah no he listen he he’s he’s a he’s a player that plays with great emotion but he has really he’s really learned how to channel those emotions the right way to be the ultimate leader of this team um the timeouts when things

Were going haywire you know he was just saying hey hey we’re good we’re good you know let’s just let’s just uh stick together you know give each other energy couple stops and and and and you know we’ll be we’ll be in good shape and he he was absolutely right and uh so you

Know it’s it’s it’s it’s a great environment for growth and you know certainly certainly winning the game is is is is very helpful too but uh you know for for a young team as I mentioned this is an important experience to have we had to

Get bigger I think we did just you know rebounding in you know phenomenal think Obie OB topping that like rebounds tonight that was huge and um just us as a whole lineup you know getting bigger just getting more active on defense helped a lot game like this tonight

Where they go on that huge run you guys couldn’t h a shot for like 9 minutes but you’re still ahead when the stretch ends does that kind of speak to what you built on that end of the floor these last couple weeks um that’s just NBA basketball Man game

Of runs you know wearing their house um you know they got started getting downhill they in the bonus you know give credit to them they took the B so had opportunity and um you know we weathered the storm they’re up three you had a block I think that kind of jump started

Everything do you remember that sequence getting things started yeah know had a block I think either buddy of Tyrese hadit a three after that and kind of got us going the Tyrese came down hit another three and then um then he just took over you know he’s just doing

Pretty much since he’s been here and what not it’s been watch all a part of but everything does start with our defense I think this is probably our best defense in the game you I think held him to like 104 points and season low um and just overall man I think

We’re just we’re growing as a group and that was a goal you know from training camps to grow as the season came along uh just you know slowing down being patient uh getting stops they didn’t run anything special they just you know DH dho got downhill and just you know got

To the rim when they wanted to uh we had to take a stand FR a away to get some stops and then get out and play and transition situation you guys go on the road you’ve been struggling how big are these two wins against Houston and Chicago I think they’re big because

These are two Scrappy teams two teams that are playing really well we’ve made defense in emphasis over the last couple weeks we know that’s going to CH make or break our season honestly we know offensively we’re putting together one of the best seasons ever and that’s we

Don’t plan on slowing down on that end making or missing shots that’s a part of the game so you can’t really be worried about that uh something that travels well can be done on an early basis and get getting stops and we figured out a

Way to do that and I think kudos to the guys who have been a part of the lineup change guys who have went the starting lineup guys who came out of the starting lineup everybody’s been awesome about it done a great job contributing and having 10 nine 10 guys contribute every uh

Every night so it’s been really good midaf afternoon we weren’t sure you were going to play what changed as the day went on medical staff we got best medical staff in the NBA after shoot around I went back laid on the treatment table saw every trainer just to see

Difference of opinion and stuff like that and everybody was we need and everybody was confident that I’d give myself a chance to play today and then I went to my room and I refused to sit down or lay down I played Super Mario Strikers and came here and just didn’t

Sit down just got ready to play Tyrese what’s in your DNA that in that fourth quarter down the stretch game is tied you hit two big threes where where do you find that from I just love the moment I love playing basketball who doesn’t who doesn’t love that moment you

Know it’s a lot of fun people look at me to be a closer for this team guys trust me guys are getting me the ball in the right spots guys are making shots when passing the ball you don’t get 20 assists without guys making shots so got a lot of different guys contributed

Speaking of that you did something that’s only been done by Chris Paul since 1985 20 or more points 20 assists no turnovers can you comment it’s cool it’s cool um I just have done a terrible job taking care of the ball lately so it’s good to see Zero turnovers again and

Like I said you don’t get 20 assist guys making shots so just you know spread spreading the ball around you guys are making shots for me a lot of different guys contribute who brought the GameCube stri no brought the GameCube I got a steam Deck with Dolphin emulates

GameCube and play standing yeah play it standing we set up my suitcases on my desk and popped it up had my controller who are you against me and Isaac we’re playing we’re we’re in the middle of a little season mode right now trying to win some games we upgrade to

Professional level so it’s been it’s been we’re are you guys have up the focus on D last couple weeks a couple games in a row allowing less than you have basically Caesar again tonight especially as that you go on that run 9 Minutes of no scoring for you guys can

You see the progress you guys are making on that end that you’re still ahead after a run like that you can win a game like that for sure I think everybody should see it you you know I think anytime you don’t score for that long especially a team like us two three

Weeks ago we don’t score like that we lose that game you know cuz we’re not getting any stops we never in that position cuz we didn’t get any stops in the first place so I thought we did a really good job of that pulled away but

Part of the maturation of this group is when you get up like that can you maintain that we shown that we can get down big and come back now can we show we can get up and maintain leads and that’s part of maturation of any young

Group so just got to keep growing great thing about is is 82 games great thing about it is we weren’t very good defensively early we’re getting a lot better now you got to keep improving you feel how going bigger has changed the dynamic of these team these last two

Games I think so I think so I think we just done a and honestly I think it’s a kudos to the guys we have in this locker room of being able to adjust on the Fly and contribute I think Obie’s been really good in these last two games he’s

Really good today in that first half and you know to be a guy who started the whole season and then go to that role I think he’s handled it really well I think we have a lot of guys who have buddies handled it well Ben Ben got you

Know Ben was starting early in the year we got a lot of different guys handling that well and contributing the right way so I think it’s just a kudos to the the guys we have in soccer tyres we’re all going to focus on the 20 assist obviously but your leadership stood out

Especially at the bull start of the run in the third quarter I believe clapping the guys up on the Ben what were you trying to communicate to your teammates in that moment just to stay poised understanding that you know we’re we’re on the road you know there’s not anybody

With us you know what I mean we’re we’re here alone and we all we got we got to you know just have each other’s back I understand basketball is a game of runs and the NBA is a game of runs you know 20 points in the NBA is really nothing

Like you have one little 6 70 run 13 now it feels a little different for the team that’s up you know so everybody just got to stay poised and that’s just all part of the growth of this group how was the back feeling throughout the game and

Especially at the end when you took over uh it’s sore right now um but we don’t play tomorrow thank God godone so get some rest and uh I’ll be ready to go you got one game left in 2023 you got the Knicks Jaylen Brunson your teammate from Team USA your thoughts about Saturday

Night I’m excited I’m excited to compete against him uh anytime you get to play one of the best guards in the NBA it’s a lot of fun there’s obviously be little added added with Obi you know just coming from there and uh I think it’s

Going to be a lot of energy in our building a lot of fun obviously basis Nicks in the history of that of that matchup but I think just playing it the right way last year they they they took care of us I think they swept us last

Year so and we were in a lot of those games so just want to handle it the right way and come on and compete any significance to the postgame celebration song Aon lock though uh butd he’s been playing defense we’ve been playing defense so that’s uh that’s the main

Part of it hey T you talk about the uh the maturation of the group what about the maturation of you and as such a young player and what do you think is next in your Ascension yeah I think there’s no no secret that I’ve went through a little

Bit of a slump lately and and it’s been pretty cool you know to to to feel that and feel what it’s like and understand that every guy in the league has slumps like that you know and I just have never really had had that before obviously teams are guarding me a little

Different than they usually do and so it’s been it’s been cool to see see that and grow from that and it’s been a lot of fun so that that’s all part of the growth of of me as a person and a player and just handleing the right way and I

Think I’m doing a good job but just want to keep leading keep winning

Rick Carlisle, Myles Turner and Tyrese Haliburton speak with the media following the Pacers win over the Bull on Thursday night.

0:00 – Rick Carlisle
6:11 – Myles Turner
7:14 – Tyrese Haliburton