Basketball, She Wrote posts
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The Definitive Pacers vs. Knicks ECF Preview
Breaking down the East Finals in a cross-over episode with Knicks Film School By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper To preview the latest installment of Pacers versus Knicks, Samson Folk and I joined DJ Zullo and Benjy Ritholtz of Knicks Film School fame to discuss what's changed in the match-up from an Xs and Os perspective. To keep everything fair and balanced between both sides, each of us presented a foundational strategy question to the group in a roundtable format, while also layering in other topics and observations with both an inside and...
How change for Aaron Nesmith could change the East Finals for the Pacers
Previewing the Eastern Conference Finals through the lens of the player who the Pacers need to star in his role against not just one, but maybe two, opposing starsBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper When the Pacers lost 123-98 to the New York Knicks in what was the second game of the regular season, they looked "awfully" different, despite relying on continuity for improvement, from the team that downed the Knicks in the second round of the playoffs a few months earlier, let alone this version of the team that will soon be facing off agains...
Pacers slay Cavs in Game 5, return to East Finals
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, discussing how the Pacers closed out the Cavs to return to the Eastern Conference Finals, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIn what was a 114-105 win to clinch a return to the East Finals, the Indiana Pacers slayed t...
Tyrese Haliburton leads Pacers over Cavs, back to ECF
For the second season in a row, the Pacers are headed to the Eastern Conference Finals By: Samson Folk I @samfolkkNot every game can start with a whole heap of triples, and Game 5 certainly didn’t for the Pacers. There was a change in their approach to ball pressure, and there was an inability to keep the wraps on Donovan Mitchell - especially in the open floor. The Pacers were hacking, to some degree. Mitchell and Evan Mobley combined for 12 free throw attempts in the first quarter, and obviously, a handsome amount of points.The Mobley stuff...
Pacers find comfort zone in Game 4 win over Cavs, lead series 3-1
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, discussing how the Pacers dominated Game 4, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIn what was a 129-109 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pacers found their comfort zone -- not only by poking and prodding more effici...
Obi Toppin & Pascal Siakam power the Pacers forward
I ate a creamsicle and played basketball today. If ever there were markers for future success…By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk There’s a lot of things that change schematically game to game in the playoffs, but there is something to be said for playing with more “force”. Platitudes rock sometimes, because sometimes they’re true, and they can perfectly encapsulate what changed.The Pacers, flat out, opened the game by getting to every ball much quicker than they had been at any point in the series. No clutch shots, no insane shot variance, j...
Pacers zone out in Game 3 loss to Cavs
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, discussing Game 3 as a convergence of every nagging concern from the regular season, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIn what was a 126-104 loss at home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Pacers zoned out -- not only a...
Vexed and Perplexed: Pacers get crushed by Cavs & their zone
Nothing gold can stay… an apology from myself and Robert Frost. I wanted the run to keep going.By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk Everyone hit the lineup. The bill of health was clean. Best on best. A heavyweight fight night in Indiana.It made sense then, that Darius Garland's burst and creativity was what led to a wide open triple to break the seal on Game 3. No wasted time or motion. The Cavs, with the added danger of Garland (and his very sticky, grabby, aggressive defense on Haliburton to start) and the defensive potency of Evan Mobley patro...
What the Haliburton!?! Pacers stun Cavs to take 2-0 series lead
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, discussing an all-time playoff sequence for the Pacers, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperFor the second time in roughly a week, the Pacers barely mustered 15 points in the first quarter. Also, for the second time in...
Tyrese Haliburton snatches victory from the jaws of defeat once again
Ahem, wins, not tragedies… anywayBy: Samson Folk I @samfolkk Andrew Nembhard stole the tip. How does Caitlin Cooper correctly predict everything this guy does?Jumpers went long and short, over the first handful of minutes, for the Pacers. Drives went short, and only short. A bit too passive off the bounce to begin with, and they opened up the game shooting 1-of-7 from downtown. Which, if that's the bulk of the looks? Bad news. They were down five points after seven minutes of play.The defense didn't look too bad, all things considered...
Pacers "pass" by Cavs with shot-making, go up 1-0 - w/ Caitlin & Samson
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, discussing the extremes of a Game 1 semi-finals win over the Cavs, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper Darius Garland didn't play, and the Pacers outscored the Cavs by 30 points from three, with T.J. McConnell kno...
Pacers steal Game 1 in shot-making extravaganza
I write wins… not tragedies…By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk Grab. Go. Grab. Go. Grab. Go. The Pacers knew what was up from the moment the ball tipped off and they ran with frenetic pace until the first break in play six minutes into the opening frame. A 19-14 run – is that even a run? probably not – that saw backcourt pressure, and a comfortability to coax shots from power forwards from both teams. The Pacers got to ride a flurry of shots from Pascal Siakam and a whole lot of transition looks to fuel them early on. Evan Mobley and Donovan M...
The Definitive Pacers vs. Cavs Preview
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk and Evin Gualberto, going deep on the nitty gritty of Pacers-Cavs, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the Pacers.By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperTo forecast the future, we're often told to look to the past. Well, that’s difficult to do in this series, wh...
Pacers Advance to Semis, Playoff Mailbag - w/ Caitlin & Samson
Reveling in the mayhem that was Game 5 and answering mailbag questionsBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperThe Pacers opened Game 5 in a 13-0 hole. They only had 13 points at the end of the first quarter. They trailed by as many as 20 points, and they were down by seven with 40 seconds to play. And yet, somehow, even with Pascal Siakam playing the entire overtime with five fouls and only chipping in 10 points on the night as the team's season-long, most rock-solid performer, Indiana still managed to find enough heroics to steal the game and the s...
Tyrese Haliburton's heroics steal Game 5 and the series
Wow. By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk One of the worst quarters of basketball I have ever had the displeasure of watching. The Bucks elected to start their good and successful lineup of Giannis-KPJ-Green-Portis-GTJ and switched everything out above the break. The Pacers response to this, initially, was to saunter and meander above the break with very little purpose. To shy away from the ball pressure by backing up. Scared.I hate to put on my youth basketball coach hat, but when someone is jumping your dribble, it means it’s easier to clear their h...
Pacers take the "driver's seat" in Game 4, cruise to 3-1 lead over Bucks - w/ Caitlin & Samson
On earning a "get right" win by attacking left - repeatedly By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIn leading from start to finish and speeding ahead by as many as 26 points, the Pacers put themselves in the driver's seat, both at the macro-level, in taking a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Bucks, as well as in the micro-sense, with respect to their change in approach as drivers to cruise to a 129-103 win in Game 4.For the night, after spending most of Game 3 left of center, Tyrese Haliburton recorded his third-most drives to his left i...
Myles Turner & the bench steamroll the Bucks for Game 4 win
On the rubberbanding and counterpunching of the Pacers By: Samson Folk I @samfolkkSmash mouth hoops, baby. Bodies were colliding early and often to kick off Game 4. Both teams jumped handoffs. Both teams put shoulders squarely in chests. Fiserv Forum boomed for every possession. Myles Turner, who struggled so much in Game 3, granted his finesse to the Pacers early on to take a 13-7 lead after the initial flurry of action. As has been the case for much of this series, the Pacers were finding offensive answers in a physical environment.Also of no...
How the Pacers too often collapsed in Game 3 collapse against Bucks
On the double whammy that was double teamingBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIn what was a 117-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers collapsed in more ways than one, surrendering a 12-point lead in less than four minutes as they made a series of defensive errors to start the third quarter that saw them too often collapsing on the ball.Without further ado, here's a look at what led to, and resulted from, both meanings of the word "collapse" as it pertains to Game 3, with an eye on whether the Pacers can avoid further collapsing i...
How the Pacers flipped the switch against switches - w/ Caitlin & Samson
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, breaking down how the Pacers attacking Milwaukee's increased volume of switches to take Game 2, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperIn what was a 123-115 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers led from wire-to-wi...
Haliburton, Siakam counter punch to take Game 2
Indiana takes 2-0 lead over Bucks By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard were finally lining up, together, across from the Pacers for a playoff series. We made it. The Bucks were running double drag with Lillard on ball, and playing zone on the other end. Players hit the lineup. Several courtside crowd members dressed up in their brightest oranges along with their camo. Stops had been pulled out. And yet, the Pacers stuck to their process and worked the ball from end to end, and threatened after the catch.The front...
Pacers make Game 1 look (Nemb)easy -- w/ Caitlin & Samson
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, breaking down how the Pacers took advantage of homecourt advantage, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperLeading by as many as 28 points in what became a 117-98 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, you might say the Pacers mad...
Pascal Siakam dazzles as Pacers open playoffs with win
Indiana takes advantage with homecourt advantage By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk The hypotheticals immediately go out the window. The basketball is here. The Pacers have Nembhard going under screens in the backcourt, they're starting Siakam on Antetokounmpo and switching the 4-5 actions. The theme of this series: Giannis vs Pacers bore out in the 15-8 run that opened the game in the Pacers favor. The Pacers favoring, erm, pace, movement, depth. The Bucks handing the ball repeatedly to their star and asking for a world of creation.The teams exch...
The Definitive Pacers vs Bucks Playoff Preview, The Sequel
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, going deep on the nitty gritty of Pacers-Bucks, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the PacersBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperTime is apparently a flat circle. After previewing Bucks-Pacers as a first-round series a year ago, Samson Folk and I are back with ye...
For Jarace Walker and the Pacers, how ready is ready?
Previewing Pacers-Bucks through the lens of the player who didn't play in the two most recent games against the BucksBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperOn March 17, when the Pacers dug deep into the bench to snap Minnesota's eight-game win streak on the road with Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner all unavailable, Jarace Walker hadn't played in any of the prior three games and his play during the fourth quarter and overtime, up until he limped off the floor following an awkward landing, seemed to indicate ...
Obi Toppin is perfectly additive
The writtenworkat Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This article from monthly contributor Samson Folk, on how Obi Toppin tops off the Pacers, is available as a free trial. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, on to his words about the Pacers.By: Samson Folk I @samfolkkWhile Pascal Siakam canned the late triple over the Sacramento Kings to put them up 103-98, Obi Toppin stood in the corner to provide spacing, and pushed to...
New Merch: Nobody said it would be Nembeasy
Heyyy, do you like t-shirts?By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperDown five with 35 seconds to play, the Sacramento Kings needed a quick score. As Zach LaVine rounded the bend of an off-ball screening action, it appeared as though he might have an easy shot at the basket. Crouching low on the catch, he attempted to snake his way to the rim while leaning into the body of Andrew Nembhard.Then, he air-balled a layup."LaVine missed everything," Mark Jones said on the play-by-play of the Kings broadcast. "That one is really injurious. Now they&...
Why the Pacers shouldn't fight that "sinking" feeling
Previewing a potential playoff tacticBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper The playoffs start in less than two weeks. At the time of this writing, the Pacers are in solid position to claim the No. 4 seed, which means hosting a first-round series against Milwaukee or Detroit, rather than facing a top-three team on the road. Those two teams play each other twice to close out the season. So, even if the Pacers lock up homecourt advantage early (as they likely will), they could still potentially be waiting until the eleventh hour to find out who they'...
How the Pacers are spreading their wings
On the emergence of Aaron Nesmith and Jarace Walker, along with a potential playoff trendBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper Before the Oklahoma City Thunder went ultra-small, amassing 41 points in the third quarter with 6-foot-6 combo forward Kenrich Williams starting the second half at nominal center, there was a fleeting, yet thought-provoking, curiosity that occurred just prior to halftime. With 4:38 remaining in the second quarter, actual starting center Isaiah Hartenstein re-entered the game and immediately started defending not Myles Turner,...
Pacers Mailbag: Looking ahead to the playoffs w/ Caitlin & Samson
Assessing potential playoff match-ups, determining which players on the roster are most mission critical, gazing at how bright the team's stars are shining (or dimming?) on defense, and much, much moreBy: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_CooperAs promised, this is the last mailbag of the regular season. Also, as promised, there is a twist -- monthly contributor Samson Folkjoined me to record this final installment as a video podcast! With the playoffs just around the corner, now seemed like the perfect time to add a second opinion, looking ahead at pot...
Bennedict Mathurin swings wildly
The writtenworkat Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This article from monthly contributor Samson Folk, as a top-down look at how Bennedict Maturin swings the Pacers' fortunes, is available as a free trial. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribingand/or sharing it around. Alright, on to his words about the Pacers.By: Samson Folk I @samfolkkEvery time I tune into a Pacers game – which is, admittedly less often than Caitlin, but still quite often – I am ...
