The Pacers Post Up

The Pacers just pushed every chip to the center of the table. Indiana lands Ivica Zubac in what can only be described as a home-run, win-now trade by Kevin Pritchard. Giving up Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a protected 2026 first, the 2029 first, and a Dallas 2028 second isn’t cheap — but this is the exact type of swing championship teams have to make. Zubac brings elite size, physicality, r...

It was a busy and telling stretch at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the Pacers navigated back-to-back home games — and watched the trade landscape begin to shift around the league. The week starts with Pascal Siakam earning his spot as an NBA All-Star, a deserved recognition for being the steady anchor through a season filled with change. On the floor, Indiana runs into a physical Houston Rockets squad...

What started as an AI autocorrect gaff has turned into a running joke — and now, maybe something more. Brad and Ryan lean into the accidental nickname Jarace “Karate” Walker while breaking down the very real rise of Jarace Walker after an incredibly rough start to the season. Once written off by much of Pacers Nation, Jarace has quietly emerged from the ashes with a stretch of play that’s changing...

With the NBA trade deadline fast approaching, Brad and Ryan zoom out to survey the league — and then zoom back in on where the Indiana Pacers fit into the chaos. The conversation starts with the biggest potential domino of them all: Giannis Antetokounmpo — and what ripple effects a shift at the top could create across the association. From there, we work our way through other notable names and sit...

For most of the night, it felt like another quiet, forgettable performance. Then everything flipped. The Indiana Pacers erase a 14-point deficit with a stunning 26–9 run to close the game, storming past the Chicago Bulls at home for win No. 12 on the season — their third victory over Chicago this year. Pascal Siakam led the charge with 13 points in the fourth quarter, while Andrew Nembhard and Aar...

With All-Star reserve spots up for grabs, the margin is razor thin. Brad and Ryan break down the crowded field — roughly 9–10 legitimate candidates for 7 reserve spots — and make the case for why Pascal Siakam deserves to hear his name called. Despite the Pacers lack of team success, Siakam has quietly done more with less than many of his peers in the conversation. While others benefit from stabil...

There comes a point where potential, flashes, and hope have to give way to reality. In this episode, Brad and Ryan lay out the case for why it may be time for the Indiana Pacers to move on from Bennedict Mathurin — and do so while there’s still real value to be had. Mathurin, a former lottery pick, has shown undeniable scoring talent and delivered unforgettable moments — most notably his eruption...

The Pacers walk back into Oklahoma City and do the most Pacers thing possible — they beat the NBA’s best team and exorcise some serious demons. Indiana avenges last year’s Game 7 heartbreak with a cathartic win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, delivering one of the most fun nights of an otherwise frustrating season. A career night from Jarace Walker, elite defense from Johnny Furphy in the starting...

We wrap up our three-part midseason report card series by tackling the most debated position on the roster: Center. Brad and Ryan hand out letter grades and classroom-style comps for every big man who’s logged minutes this season, breaking down roles, production, fit, and limitations within the Pacers’ system. We discuss what’s worked, what clearly hasn’t, and why the position remains the biggest...

Part 2 of our midseason report card series turns the focus to the wings and forwards — the most versatile and identity-shaping group on the Pacers roster. Brad and Ryan hand out letter grades and classroom-style comps for the Pacers frontcourt and wing rotation, including Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, Jarace Walker, Johnny Furphy, and the rest of the group tasked with defending, spacing the floor,...

We’re kicking off a three-part midseason report card series with a deep dive into the Pacers guard rotation. In Part 1, Brad and Ryan hand out letter grades and classroom-style comps for every guard on the roster — including Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, T.J. McConnell, Kam Jones, and the two-way contributors. We evaluate roles, consistency, growth, and fit within the team’s identity at the...

At the halfway point of the season, Brad and Ryan step back to assess what we’ve learned so far — and what it all means moving forward — with a Top 10 takeaways breakdown of the Indiana Pacers. We dive into the evolving core, including what we’re seeing from Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith, and how their roles and responsibilities have shaped the team’s identity through the first...

The Pacers knock off the Boston Celtics behind a late-game winner from Pascal Siakam, extending their winning streak to three games — their longest of the season and currently tied for the longest active streak in the NBA. Andrew Nembhard once again controlled the game with his playmaking, while Jay Huff delivered one of his best offensive performances of the year. Brad and Ryan discuss what this...

Two weeks after giving up 142 points in Miami, the Pacers flipped the script in emphatic fashion. Indiana goes wire to wire in a blowout win over the Miami Heat, holding Miami under 100 points and delivering one of their most complete performances of the season. Andrew Nembhard led the way with a big night, pouring in 29 points, 9 assists, and 0 turnovers, continuing to flourish in an expanded lea...

The streak is over — and history finally breaks the right way. The Indiana Pacers take down the Charlotte Hornets behind huge veteran performances from Pascal Siakam and T.J. McConnell, snapping the franchise-record 13-game losing streak and delivering Rick Carlisle his 1,000th career win, making him just the 11th coach in NBA history to reach the milestone. With the game tied and four minutes to...

It was always going to be a historic night in Indiana — just not the kind anyone hoped for. The Pacers fall 120–116 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and instead of celebrating Rick Carlisle’s 1,000th career win, the franchise sets an unfortunate mark with its 13th consecutive loss. Indiana controlled much of the night, winning quarters one through three, but a complete dud in the fourth proved costly a...

Ryan is back in the fold as we recap a frustrating — yet competitive — loss that ties a franchise record: 12 straight defeats. The Pacers played solid basketball for long stretches against the Orlando Magic, but one disastrous stretch proved too much to overcome. A 17–0 run in the second quarter, capped by Orlando pouring in 41 points on 72% shooting, swung the game and forced Indiana to play uphi...

The Pacers’ skid continues. Brad joins Alex Golden on Setting the Pace to break down Indiana’s 11th consecutive loss, a frustrating home defeat to the San Antonio Spurs that leaves the Pacers one shy of a franchise record losing streak. Rebounding and second-chance points told the story all night, as Indiana once again struggled to finish defensive possessions. The guys discuss a rough outing for...

It’s a new year — and a new era for The Pacers Post Up! In our first episode presented by FanDuel, Brad and Ryan go all in with a Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions episode for the Indiana Pacers in 2026 — and this one sets the tone for everything that comes next. From the future of the roster to the urgency of finding a long-term answer at center, to Tyrese Haliburton reclaiming his superstar trajecto...

We’re ringing in the New Year with a big announcement — The Pacers Post Up is officially partnering with FanDuel, with our sponsorship kicking off January 1, 2026. To mark the moment, Brad and Ryan take a midseason look at the betting landscape across the NBA — revisiting preseason over/under win totals, playoff odds, championship futures, and individual award races — and how the league has shifte...

The Pacers have now lost eight straight games for the second time this season, surrendering 140-plus points to both Boston and Miami over a brutal weekend stretch. Despite moments of competitive play, Indiana once again couldn’t sustain defensive stops or close games when it mattered most. There were a few bright spots: Aaron Nesmith returned to the lineup in Miami after missing time since mid-Nov...

The 12 Days of Centers series comes to a close with a full-circle finale — and some much-needed clarity. We’re joined by Alex Golden from the Setting the Pace podcast to revisit every center we’ve discussed throughout the series and stack them up. Alex brings a tier-based approach to the conversation, helping separate realistic options from dream scenarios — and short-term fits from long-term solu...

Day 11 of the 12 Days of Centers takes a step back into Pacers past to answer a fun but loaded question: If you could drop any center from franchise history onto the current roster, who would it be? Brad and Ryan debate a wide range of Pacers bigs—from the dominance of Jermaine O’Neal, the skill and shooting of Rik Smits and Brad Miller, the playmaking of Domantas Sabonis, the rim protection of Ro...

Day 10 of our 12 Days of Centers series shifts the focus from trades and free agency to the draft — because sometimes the long-term answer is found on draft night. In this episode, we break down three early 2026 NBA Draft prospects who could factor into the Pacers search for frontcourt help. We start with Cam Boozer, who may not be a traditional center but is very much in play if Indiana finds its...

Day 9 of our 12 Days of Centers series brings a special 2-for-1 — and it’s a dream scenario. We take a deep dive into Miami Heat bigs Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware, two very different centers who both feel unlikely based on contract and availability… but would completely change the Pacers ceiling if the door ever cracked open. Bam represents the ultimate plug-and-play veteran: elite defensive versat...