Keep doubting the Pacers at your own risk
By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers continue to be doubted. And the Indiana Pacers continue to prove the doubters wrong.
This team was projected to be a six-seed or even a play-in team by many experts heading into the season. They finished as the four. This team was then listed as the underdog in every game of the series against Cleveland, and they won the thing in five games. The next challenge for the team nobody believes in: Another date with the New York Knicks. This time, there’s a trip to the NBA Finals on the line. While the franchise has been given a little more respect recently, it’s still an “us against the world” mentality for a team that has been repeatedly underappreciated. Insert Roy Hibbert quote here.
Regardless of what happens in this series with the Knicks, Pacer fans should take the time to fully appreciate what they’re witnessing with this group of players and coaches. You can start at the top and work your way down the entire list. In one way or another, each and every person on this list has been doubted time and time again.
Kevin Pritchard: The man at the top received his fair share of criticism for previous draft picks, and for the lack of playoff success over the years before this current two-year run began. If you’ve been living under a rock and haven’t noticed by now, this man has been a genius in trades and has really delivered in the draft in recent years. He had a disgruntled star requesting a trade with just one year left on his contract, and he turned that into Sabonis and Oladipo, which turned into Haliburton and more. The minute Pritchard was given the green light to do a true rebuild, the entire trajectory of the franchise shifted. Somehow, KP wasn’t even on the list for Executive of the Year. That’s so Pacer, isn’t it?
Rick Carlisle: “Hasn’t won since 2011.” “Didn’t win a playoff series in a decade.” “What are these rotations?” In this business, every coach will receive criticism. It’s part of the gig, and it’s a very challenging position to be in. Make no mistake about it: Rick Carlisle has been the perfect fit in his return to the franchise. He has adapted flawlessly to the new era of NBA basketball, and also adapted flawlessly when Tyrese Haliburton walked through the door. Carlisle’s teams used to be robotic and highly structured, and now they are one of the hardest teams to play because of the lack of structure. Carlisle will still have his doubters, and yet he’s still here all these years later, four wins away from another trip to the NBA Finals.
Tyrese Haliburton: Where do we even begin with this guy? Haliburton could go for 30 and 15 in a clinching game on the road, and still have haters everywhere. Those who actually know ball will tell you how much this guy impacts the game, even though he doesn’t have the same kind of bag that some stars have. The casuals will look at box scores or find other reasons to hate on Haliburton’s greatness. The truth: Indy’s star point guard is the perfect face of the franchise and worth every penny. He was a 3-star recruit out of high school, so he’s been doubted every step of the way. If you want more insight on his impact, check the pinned story on this site, called the “Haliburton History Tracker.” If you still have doubts after looking at those numbers, I can’t help you.
Andrew Nembhard: From a second round pick, to a playoff riser, Andrew Nembhard continues to prove the doubters wrong on a daily basis. A lot of people knew he was a valuable player, but very few thought he could ever be a starter on a title-contending team. The biggest steal of the draft continues to get the big steals late in games, while stealing the hearts of Pacer fans everywhere. Kevin Pritchard locked him up through 2028, so Nembhard will continue bringing Nembhell to opponents for years to come.
Aaron Nesmith: The Celtics had no room for Nesmith, so they shipped him to Indiana. Even on the Pacers side, this looked like a trade simply to clear some cap space and to send Brogdon elsewhere so Haliburton could run the show. From cast-off to mainstay, Nesmith has proven his worth and deserves your attention. This guy doesn’t back down from any challenge, plays as hard as anybody in the league, and has become an even better version of the “3 and D” player every team covets.
Pascal Siakam: Nobody has really doubted Siakam’s ability, but they definitely doubted if he was worth a max contract, and if his addition to the Pacers would really move the needle for the franchise all that much. Fans remember the impact the veteran David West brought to those Pacer teams. Pascal Siakam is a more talented version, and playing a similar role with his leadership. Siakam was drafted with the 27th overall pick and even spent some time in the G-League. And now, the 3-time All-Star continues to prove the doubters wrong on a team full of similar stories.
Myles Turner: This guy has seen it all in his 10-year career as a Pacer. Many Pacer fans would definitely admit: a lot of the doubters for Myles Turner have come from within. Whether it was the Sabonis-stans, or the fans obsessed with rebound totals, Turner has had a lot of doubters even in the state of Indiana. Over the last few years especially, Turner has proven his worth to this organization. And now, it’s hard to imagine him wearing any other uniform. Nobody deserves this more than #33.
Bennedict Mathurin: When you’re the highest draft pick for a franchise since 1986, a lot of pressure will instantly come with that. Mathurin has had his ups and downs through his young career, but he has maintained his competitiveness and drive. The guy drafted 25 spots later than him is the one who starts on this team. And there are some fans who question Mathurin’s overall fit. The bottom line, however, is that Mathurin is an incredibly important piece to this Pacers puzzle. The minute you doubt him, he’ll come through with a big game.
TJ McConnell: The 6’1 point guard has made a living being the world’s greatest pest. McConnell was more impactful last season, but each time he’s doubted, he throws in one of his vintage McConnell games. McConnell went un-drafted and has had to earn every second of his success, proving the doubters wrong each and every year.
Obi Toppin: The Knicks didn’t want him, so they dealt him away for two future 2nd round picks. Now, the Knicks will have to deal with Toppin all series long. He’s been a huge addition to Indy’s depth and ability to run. Could we get another Eastbay in the Garden this year?
(I joined “In Touch with Indiana Sports” to preview the Pacers/Knicks series. My segment begins around the 41 minute mark.)
After a long lay-off, the stage is now set for the Pacers and Knicks to do battle once again. We know about the history, and we know what’s at stake. We also know the Pacers will be doubted once again.
What are the keys if Indiana wants to shock the world once again? They need to keep knocking down 3’s, and they can’t get crushed on the boards. The Pacers have more depth and will continue to run while trying to wear the Knicks down, but they can’t expect to win if they’re giving up too many second-chance opportunities. Winning four out of five games against this version of the Knicks would also be a very tough task, so Indy will do whatever they can to steal a game in the Garden before coming back home.
Win or lose, it’s time to put some respect on the Indiana Pacers. You can continue doubting them if you’d like, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
