Setting The Pace: A Pacers Podcast

On today's episode of Setting The Pace , Alex Golden and Mike Facci break down what the loss means for Indiana’s Top-4 odds and why the jump from fourth to second is important. We also dive into the on-court developments: Jarace Walker’s big game and what it says about his continued growth and confidence Jay Huff playing meaningful, productive minutes and making his case in the rotation Taelon Pet...

Alex Golden and Mike Facci wrap up the February Mailbag with Part 4! This one dives into long-term planning and front office dynamics. With Tyrese Haliburton working his way back and TJ McConnell battling injuries, do the Pacers prioritize drafting a young point guard in the second round… or bring in a proven veteran to stabilize the bench? We discuss: When Indiana should realistically address the...

Alex Golden and Mike Facci are BACK to answer more of your mailbag questions! With Bennedict Mathurin gone, the Pacers are clearly missing that spark-plug scoring punch off the bench. Do you replace that production with a veteran 6th-man type in free agency? Or, if Indiana lands a Top-4 pick, can a rookie realistically fill that void right away? We also debate: Has Quenton Jackson earned a rotatio...

Alex and Facci are back with February Mailbag Pt. 2 , and this one is all about big-picture roster decisions. We dive into the 2026 pick scenario — if the selection conveys to the Clippers at 5–9, do the Pacers pivot aggressively in free agency to make up for the lost asset? Or do they stay patient and bet on internal development, hoping Jarace Walker (or another young piece) makes the leap? Then...

On Episode 1 of the February Mailbag, Alex Golden and Michael Facci answer your questions.  “Lottery & League Politics” Tanking fine — could this cost the 2026 1st or future draft capital? (Iron Charger) Will the recent fine deter the Pacers from tanking? (VerRuddison) What should they do after the punishment? Get creative? Lean in? (Crystal) How creative do we get with lineups now that the NBA is...

Indiana Pacers General Manager Chad Buchanan joins Setting The Pace for an in-depth conversation about the direction of the franchise and the decisions shaping its future. We discuss: The trade deadline deal for Ivica Zubac and why Indiana felt it was the right move The reality of this team’s championship window What fans should realistically expect when Tyrese Haliburton returns The continued gro...

It’s Part 2 of our crossover with The Pacers Post Up — and this one is all about tough decisions. Alex Golden is joined Brad and Ryan Knight to break down a hypothetical expansion draft scenario: if Indiana can only protect 8 players, who makes the cut? We debate: The untouchables The tough calls The young upside swings And which veterans might be left exposed Then we zoom out. Looking ahead to ne...

The Indiana Pacers walk into Madison Square Garden and stun the Knicks in their own building. No fear. No backing down. Just execution. Alex Golden breaks down what this win means, how Indiana controlled key stretches, and why winning in that environment still carries weight, especially against New York. Then, Tomer Azarly joins from Clutch Points to dive into Ivica Zubac’s media availability, as...

Today, Alex Golden and Mike Facci zoom out and rank every starting center in the Eastern Conference. Who truly anchors a contender? Who’s replaceable? And where does Ivica Zubac stack up among the East’s best bigs? We break it down tier by tier and have the honest conversation about value, fit, and ceiling. We start off the show with unfortunate news. Johnny Furphy will miss the remainder of the s...

Facci is back from his work trip, and he might just have a little pep in his step about the move the Indiana Pacers pulled off on Thursday. Alex Golden joins, and the two discuss the trade and what this means for the Pacers future! Episode Recorded before the Pacers-Raptors game. We will discuss more on Johnny Furphy's injury soon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for...

On today's episode of Setting The Pace, Alex Golden is joined by Tyler Christian! The Indiana Pacers fall 105-99 to the Milwaukee Bucks… but was this the kind of loss that helps more than it hurts We break down the implications for Indiana’s lottery positioning and how this is the type of outcome that benefits the franchise long-term. With Bennedict Mathurin now in Los Angeles, what does this mean...

On this episode of Setting The Pace , Alex Golden is joined by Adam Auslund of Clippers Talk to break down everything Pacers fans need to know about Ivica Zubac. What makes him a nightly defensive anchor? How dangerous can he be as Haliburton’s roller? And what does he bring off the court? The conversation also covers Kobe Brown’s upside, Bennedict Mathurin’s fit with the Clippers, Isaiah Jackson’...

Wow. The Indiana Pacers make a blockbuster trade for Ivica Zubac, starting center from the Los Angeles Clippers! The Indiana Pacers give up Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2026 protected pick (1-4 and 10-30), 2029 unprotected pick, and a 2028 second round pick. Tom Lewis of Indy Cornrows joins to me break it all down! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informat...

Alex Golden is joined by Big Dave of CHGO Bulls to discuss all the deals that were made today, buy specifically focusing on some of the transactions Chicago made. Big Dave then dives into what makes Ayo Dosunmu such a beloved Bull, and how he would be a great fit playstyle wise in Indiana. The guys then discuss if Mathurin were to be dealt to Chicago what that would like, and Dave shares what he l...

Alex Golden goes solo to discuss the Pacers loss to the Utah Jazz, where the high minutes players were held out, and younger players got an opportunity to showcase their abilities. After a quick game recap, Alex then dives into the latest trade news around the NBA. Blockbuster moves were made today, and potentially two of those deals could directly impact the Pacers. To keep up with all of the lat...

Mike Facci is joined by Kyle Taylor of iPacers to break down the Pacers’ hard-fought loss to the Houston Rockets. The game featured plenty of back-and-forth action, but Indiana struggled to get key stops and secure crucial rebounds when it mattered most. The guys discuss what went wrong, standout performances, and what the loss means moving forward. Plus, be sure to check out Alex Golden’s work ov...

Alex and Facci share 9 trade ideas for the upcoming NBA Trade Deadline! Trade 1 - 1:22 (Facci's) Trade 2 - 8:05 (Facci's) Trade 3 - 14:40 (Facci's) Trade 4 - 23:15 (Alex's) Trade 5 - 30:05 (Alex's) Trade 6 - 34:00 (Alex's) Trade 7 - 36:15 (Alex's) Trade 8 - 43:55 (Alex's 3 team deal) Trade 9 - 52:27 (Alex's 4 team deal)   For audio listeners, numbers will be off by 1:30 - 3:00 with advertisements...

Alex Golden and Michael J. Facci join forces to discuss and celebrate Pascal Siakam being named a 2026 NBA All-Star. The guys then share their Top 3 Trade Targets for the 2026 NBA Trade Deadline! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alex Golden goes solo on today's show to discuss the Pacers recent play in the month of January, and why Indiana has been winning more games than losing as of late. Alex then dives into why the Pacers defeated the Hawks, key moments that stood out to him in the game, as well as sharing a story about a fan interaction with Benn Mathurin.  In the final segment, Alex shares some fun facts about the P...

To Conclude our Center of Attention series, Alex and Facci share their rankings! Facci shared his Top 5 with 1 honorable mention, and Alex shared his Top 10 with 4 honorable mentions. Let us know what you think of our lists of centers to trade for and what you would like to see the Pacers do to address the hole they have at the position.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.c...

Alex Golden and Mike Facci closeout this series diving into the current depth chart of the Indiana Pacers. Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson and Micah Potter are the last three standing after a slew full of centers have been on the roster this season. What do the guys think about this group, where do they rank amongst the other center groups in the NBA and what is the best long-term option for each of them...

Alex Golden and Mike Facci reunite on this series to discuss the Milwaukee Bucks. Former Pacers center Myles Turner left this gaping hole for the Pacers to fill, but would it make sense to negotiate with Milwaukee to see if maybe there is a deal to bring Turner back to Indy? We discuss the cons of that, why the pros are slim and briefly touch on Jericho Sims.  Now at the end of each discussion, th...

Mike Facci is joined by Destin Adams to recap a heroic 4th quarter effort from the Pacers against the scrappy Chicago Bulls. The guys discuss the gutsy plays made down the stretch of the game, what Indiana had to do to overcome Chicago's 14-point lead, a little trade deadline talk and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use o...

Alex Golden goes solo to talk about the Detroit Pistons terrific frontcourt of Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart and Paul Reed.  Jalen Duren is a RFA this season, but will the Pistons offer him the contract he deserves? If not, could Indy swoop in? Isaiah Stewart is crazy, but he is a high-level impact player. Is he too crazy for the Pacers to send a trade offer for? Lastly, Paul Reed has one more year...

Alex Golden and Mike Facci answer these three questions to get a better feel of how things are going this season in terms of development for individual players: Who is the player that has surprised you the most this season? (good or bad) Who is the player that your opinion has changed the most on from the beginning of the season? (good or bad) Who is the play you believe is impacted the most when...