Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability (at New Orleans Pelicans) | March 1, 2024

Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability (at New Orleans Pelicans) | March 1, 2024

Obviously the biggest problem was the first quarter um they put up some historic numbers and we did not get a defensive rebound which I’ve never heard of that happening um this is uh a Pacers thing it’s not any individual guy don’t don’t turn this into a Tyrese thing it’s not a Tyrese

Thing it’s a Pacers thing and we had a lot of guys that struggled give them credit for how they came out and the force that they came out with um jerus Walker was a big bright spot in this game uh plus 15 I believe and you know he didn’t shoot the ball

Particularly well but he demonstrated that the work that he’s put in with the g-league team is really paying off and you know he show tonight that he can help our team and so uh he’s going to need to be ready uh we put him on Ingram in the

Second half to see how he would do that matchup and he did a did a very solid job there so a lot of good signs there uh love that our uh second unit guys won the fourth quarter on a night where there isn’t much else to celebrate uh

And we just got to move forward and take our medicine and get ready for the next game that’s kind of H all my topics but there yeah don’t make it a TI it’s not a tie Reef thing so don’t don’t even go there and whoever does the headlines you

Know for the in the indie star give it up just leave it alone it’s not a Tyrese thing okay all right all right uh to go back to the defense obviously well look they hit a lot of tough they hit a lot of tough shots but on nights like this when you

Have you know players like Ingram and Zion and McCollum that can rise up in your face you’ve simply got to find a way to turn those guys off and a lot of times it just it simply comes down to you know an exceptional individual effort and we

Just you know the the momentum got going and um they had a special quarter and we had a stinker and you know but in the second quarter we had some hard playing guys in there that got it to 11 that was a big bright spot um and

That was that was nothing more more than putting our heads down and getting after them that’s that’s all that was and so you know that’s that’s where this is at this the great thing about this this game this is a perfect simulation of a playoff series you know where you win a

Game at home and then you turn around play the same game same team the next night in their building and and this it’s important for our guys to feel this um does it make it fun doesn’t make it you know good but it’s a reality to go back to jar I especially

To what do you like about defensive you know that’s obviously a big reason why he drafted in the first place you talked about him just with you know gambling being an issue in play through that how are you seeing as him grow as a Defender and and what particular did you like

About theow saw well he’s got much more solid defensively um and his last stint with the g-league team we asked we asked him to rebound more concentrate more on rebounding he did that he had double figure rebounds at least a couple of those games uh we know he can score I

Like his feel and his vision and playmaking and there were a couple times he got to the rim tonight and that’s another thing that we’ve been um talking to him about so uh he did uh he did he did many good things and and he was

Ready and I told him before the game you know TJ was almost a late scratch he had a um something going on with his neck and his shoulder and and Josh was able to address it but um you know with with Shep out and TJ possibly out I told walk

Before the game that you know be ready this this you know we could we you could definitely be in the mix tonight and he said yeah yes sir and he was ready

Rick Carlisle speaks with the media following the game against the Pelicans on Friday night.

0:00 – Rick Carlisle