Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability (vs. Boston Celtics) | January 8, 2024

Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability (vs. Boston Celtics) | January 8, 2024

He what’s the feeling like for the team after a game like that with such an impressive second half such an awesome win but at the same time your star point card goes down in the middle of it yeah it’s a good it’s a good team win I mean

It’s good for our morale um it’s good for us um you know moving forward because uh you know when your best player goes down like that it’s hard not to you know deflate a little bit as a team and so you know as soon as he went

Down kind of pulled the guys in was like we can’t let this affect you know the way the game goes for us um and I think we did a good job job you know he did a good job of making sure we you know kept the foot on the gas

Pedal um no I think it was just on us like you know the mentality we had going into the second half of keeping our foot on a gas pedal and not letting it deflate us what were you see this um pretty much just just trying to make

The right plays you know I was reading what the defense was giving me um I feel like the rest the rest was was uh taking care of itself what was going through your head with point six to go at the foul line there in that tie game just

Got to make them free throws to win a game to be honest were you what were you feeling in that moment anything you hadn’t felt before in terms of um I I was excited you know it was the first time I really you know got the chance

To you know to know it’s a even game and then you you know really win the game so um you know I was it was a pretty good thing to be to be a part of what was going through your head when you saw Tai hit the floor in the second quarter

There say it again you saw Tai hit the floor in the second quarter there um was very tough you know when you know we got the best one on the team gets down um you know we really can’t do about anything about it know in the moment but

Uh I feel like we know we had pretty good guys who had uh who who had a pretty good role I’m twe you got it uh I guess to to keep going off that theme I mean obviously it was around last year that uh that Tyrese had the elbow Sprain and

He missed 10 games and I think he guys lost nine of those 10 you guys have already won a big one without him you beat Miami without him you know looked really good in that game obviously looked really good in this game you know after he went down do you think you know

Obviously you’re certainly hoping to get as good lo as possible in the next couple days that he’s going to be all right and back soon but do you think you’re better built if you have to play without him than you were a year ago and

If so how uh I think we have a better mentality moveing forward than we did last year um you know without him um we have a really good next man up mentality especially because we’re just so deep and you know everybody on this team you know works hard deserves to play um and

They always showcase what they’re able to do when they get the chance um so um I think we’ll be we’ll be all right obviously you guys had a lot of balanced scoring in this it seems like I guess on some level that’s Tyrese’s kind of you know kind of pass first mentality that

You know move the ball Ral mentality kind of being infectious and showing up again is that a big piece to this that even when he’s not there that same uh that same mentality and that same approach to offense is there I mean make no mistake we’re going to miss him like

You know he’s a phenomenal player he makes life easy for everybody and you know we’re going to have to guys are going to have to step up and find ways to you know do some of the things that he did pretty much the same thing you

Said I want to ask you guys both about the and one I guess that that Aon had basic off the pass from you it seemed like that was just a really big galvanizing for moment moment for you guys I guess just each of you guys if

You could just take us through that play from your perspective it seemed like they brought a double and you you know made a good read there just how did that play work out together I was going to shoot it no I’m just playing I’m just

Playing um I mean I seen that as soon as I seen the double you know and I seen Aaron you know cut it was it wasn’t no braining for me to throw the ball um I knew he was going to make a good play so

I seen the pass and I and I made it with uh I guess just you know the last couple minutes basically from that play on obviously they came back a little bit I mean just what it but before the free throws I mean what were you just trying

To do on that play with 2.0 to go um you know just what were you looking for there and just how did you manage to draw a foul oh man that’s a great question get a shot up pretty much just get us you know trying to get to the rim uh score a

Bucket to win the game uh how you know TJ obviously seems to come up big in these moments but you know how important was he today the energy obviously the big a big bucket late um just how big was he all the way around to keep you guys in this it was

Great I mean obviously having TJ you know um just just him being a dog you know and having big plays like that raises the energy not only for the fans but you know for the whole team so it was great to see you know seeing seeing

TJ out there being TJ yeah TJ always going to be TJ like we always know what he brings to the table and he never disappoints really uh amazing effort from our team a lot of emotions in this game uh for a lot of reasons playing the best team in basketball um you know

Tyrese’s injury situation is a is a very deflating moment and so um we hope uh that that’s that it’s not serious we find out more tomorrow I know you guys know that he’s getting M tomorrow which is pretty obvious um but you know uh Drew nard TJ McConnell in his stad uh

Did an amazing job of just keeping speed in the game Rim pressure in the game uh defense loose ball plays and you know this is an important game I mean every every game that we play has the the ability to be a season defining game you

Know especially when you get down to the end of the year and you’re you know you’re trying to trying to get to the playoffs and you’re trying to get to a good position in the playoffs said hbert and MRI tomorrow correct just took AP yeah what did you

Say to your team at halftime to kind of you know keep them undef flated like you just said and they came out so strong in that third quarter to kind of keep them steady and going well two nights ago we were uh we were down nine at halftime um

Same situation we came we came back in that game we got it to one but we never got the lead you know we had we had traded leads quite a bit in this game um and just felt that if if we played really solid and really

Hard um and got and got the fans going uh and got the building going that you know that we were right there and Boston’s a great team I mean they’re just they’re almost impossible to guard even without Tatum I mean it’s they’ve got the shooting they’ve got the

Playmaking at you know so many positions but in order to beat them you’ve got to outlast them somehow and you need a a really strong Collective will and our guys demonstrated that and and that’s what we did we outlasted them you can see mine’s Improvement you know as the season has progressed what

Did you think of what he was able to do tonight to get to the spots he wanted and score important buckets for you guys well he’s one guy on our team that has the special ability to go get a shot anytime he wants to um you know the last

Play of Regulation we were going to him um to get aggressive try to get downhill they took the foul U TJ did a great job getting him the ball on the on the the following play and we have no one else on our team that can create that kind of

A look and that kind of a foul situation so what he his abilities are special and he’s growing more and more into the role really he he’s a sty he’s a starter let’s be honest um but he with him we have the luxury of having a starter off

The bench and it’s it’s really as simple as that the length of his absence in what ways do you feel like this team is better suited than last year’s team to sustain success with halberton out well we’ve got another year of experience we’ve added we’ve added some

Depth you know and look you saw it out there in the second half um we’ve been a together group we’ve got to stay together um we’ve got to have a very strong you know Collective determination with each game um and you know they’re coming fast now this isn’t like that

First month and a half where you know every week you’d have at least one two day stretch off I mean these these things are coming um you know at the speed of sound uh want to go back to Albert another I thought interesting play was you know what he got double teamed and

Found Aaron for that and one I guess you you talked a lot about Is AO to create and make which playes it’s the so he gets double teamed he had porzingis in an isolation they white up Benedict mat okay yeah he was on the right elbow and then Aaron comes cutting across about

The free throw line he had Brown on him he went up he hit the shot and he he drew the foul you’ve talked a lot about Ben’s just him making smart reads and obviously that was a pretty obvious but still smart read at a at a big moment I

Guess does that show I guess some continual growth in terms of you know completing uh for lack of a better term his game his his window is getting wider in terms of what he sees and it just comes with experience you know he he didn’t handle the ball a

Lot at Arizona um handled the ball more last year probably than he has in his whole life um you know this year he’s just continue to work on reads and um watch film and and and and study things and you know we we’ve stressed to him that thing things don’t have to be

Complicated you know make make the simplest possible play you know you’re a guy that can really cause problems and the play with Aaron was typified that you know and and then Aon made a really difficult jot but you know we get up five we have a free throw free throws

Missed and now and then they come down and they go 5 like in the next 15 seconds you know it’s just a crazy game where we we needed to be uncommonly resilient I know we talk about all the time with TJ you know as you said you

Always get the same kind of thing from TJ but I guess how just the fact that you can rely on him you know in that circumstance where he has to step in you know after Andrew picked up his fourth foul and I think he’s plus 13 uh in that third quarter I

Mean just how important again is he as always in in a stretch like this when you’re losing Tyrese for him to be able to M you know keep up and maintain that level even when you’re suddenly down two point guards well I mean TJ McConnell is a is

A great backup point guard I mean he’s one of the very best and you just run out of things to list as intangibles with him um whether it’s a six sense you know to get in a passing Lane um whether it’s the courage to dive on a loose ball

Um whether it’s getting the fans going after he’s made an n one I mean the guy has a an internal motor and an intrinsic um you know exuberance for the game that just gets people into it and so he’s unreplaceable you’re kind of building on that a little

Bit I think you mentioned a little bit just the the togetherness I mean it seemed like both the ball movement and then some of those hustle plays become infectious with this group and that that it’s sort of something that even without with with Tyrese out obviously he’s the

Guy who starts this whole sort of you know sharing of the ball um you know kind of philosophy that you guys have but I mean is that a big piece of this team that is that so much has become sort of positively infectious with this group that you can trust it when Tyrese

Isn’t there with us it’s always going to be about the group you know it’s going to be about what the group can do together you know I mean look at buddy heel he he this is a prime example I mean this guy you know made history last year as a

Starting player with this team um he’s in a contract year and you know he started a lot of games this year and now he’s back back to the bench I mean he could drop his head and be difficult about it but he spirit is is infectious and it’s consistent and tonight was a

Night where we absolutely needed him and what he does which is movement shooting spacing and even got a couple of key rebounds um and he made the he made the play on Brown you know at the end of the game um that uh that was the key Play

Play that gave us the possession back so um every night it’s probably going to be different a different one or two guys that are the that are the heroes and truthfully that’s how it’s got to be with this group uh Buddy’s block at the end there

Um you’ve been talking a lot about his defense and improvement over the season did that kind of feel like a culmination of just the effort he’s been putting in um you know to improve in that area yeah the time it was it was timely um it was

On point because he made a percentage play on the ball um from the angle that he was at and you know he was he was confident that it wasn’t a foul and he was right and he came up with a couple big rebounds in the fourth quarter as

Well so um he’s he’s become a two-way weapon you know and that’s that’s saying a lot hard to prepare for the emotions of a game like this especially you who were involved in bringing tight off the floor how were you guys able to respond in the manner that you were and and

Really able to come back in the third quarter and kind of change the energy level you know it’s always uh sad to see when uh you when the guys go down no matter who it is you know where it’s ahead of snake or 17 but you know

Especially like guy like Ty like he brings so much to this team you know and important p with our team you know uh uh you know sad to see him go down you know one my brother we love him a lot but uh you know we can fin me pick the energy

Up you know and uh come halftime he was just positive you know giving guys energy you know yes his towels over his head but like we all feel like we need to respond right and uh you know just bring the same type of vibe he brings uh

When he’s with us or not on the court so uh you know we there and uh try to get this one for him but uh you know we got see how long he’s going to be out we continue building you were able to get it for him with a a pretty stellar

Fourth quarter there can you take me through the final few minutes you guys are trading blows with Boston you hit a couple threes some really nice play from Benedict mathine oh you know just staying aggressive saying you know TJ find me a couple plays and uh just just

Playing the game playing playing the system and uh you know Ben you know stepping up you know and uh just making plays you know TJ stepping up Aaron Mak Ste plays you know everybody just contributing in the right way and uh just and everybody responding uh locking

Up and finish up with stop what’s going through your head is the review is happening and you’re kind of waiting to hear the verdict on the foul or the no foul Angel was with me I feel like you know Angel was with me but uh I hit ball

But I feel like I touched him but like I feel like it wasn’t like a lot of contact towards about it I can’t really tell with you I didn’t really look replay yet but uh you know uh that’s why I at the replay Center uh the they have

Three referees out there so you got to honor their call regardless of how long you have to go without Tai here what’s the key to continuing to having nights like tonight I just keep playing P basketball staying connected having fun defens and guarding and uh getting stops

And getting get not running out of pace and get open shots and uh make the offense contagious maybe an angel on the shoulder of buddy heeld good tonight JJ you said Ty was in here at half time yeah he was talking he’s talking we talked to him he like’s get this one you

Know and after the game just contributing with us and uh just he looks in High Spirit you know you never know until the MRI comes tomorrow but uh if he was in high Spirit you know Tyreese he’s always going feed off good energy so you guys are close but

Carrying him off with JJ I mean was he saying anything to you what was that kind of moment like for all of you guys oh he was emotional cuz you know I my brother you know was picking up and I’m hearing him like you this know I can’t

Talk about it but like just was emotional time you know and uh just tell him stay with it and I go get it back no matter what what was key for you guys sticking together at halftime after something like that happening you know Rick said it could be deflating you guys

Came out better in the second half to get it done you know just fond in the right way you know I feel like when TJ Keem and Drew and everybody just stepped up in the right right right place right time and uh miles and everybody just and

Aaron making big plays Ben making big plays uh it was right timing for everybody to step up and show show them show show show us what we they can do you’re obviously hoping for the best possible news tomorrow but I mean like this was about the same time last year

Was he when he had the ly I was thinking about it too soon as he get down I was like but uh you know go do makeing mistakes and uh I feel like we’re better this year uh and uh this is a good test for our team and see how we going to

Spond you know and uh we’re ballot tested now and now we point where we have six game we up same yeah same thing last year too so uh let’s see what we made of I was say what that’s what I was going to ask why do you think you’re

Better built for this now what what’s better this group handle something like that it’s just a more seriousness Vibe you know from the coaching staff preparation players everybody locked in and I just just more everybody has a goal and the goal get the playoffs and

Uh we’re going to do one through 17 to get there what was your Joe said to us that you had a little discussion with them you came back onto the court you said yeah F them what was your recollection of the interaction with them afterwards uh I mean I told youe I

Told youe but uh like I say they have three reps up there and and I had the replay Center and that’s what replay is for I guess know where how I was thinking I thought I might have hit him a little bit but they have three there

And they have cameras and they get to SL down angles of I felt like it was not SE contact towards I know I touched the ball but I maybe Nick Brown and the head a little bit I’m not sure but the end of the game I can’t nothing about that uh

You have three refs they made the call and you got to honor it I think obviously a big thing for you guys was you have so much balance scoring guess is that a big piece of what’s going to carry you through I guess if if you do

Is tyres the fact that you guys move the ball as much as you do when you’re getting this this next man up to mentality but everybody has been up next you know we’re we everybody has not played this season everybody has played 20 plus minutes every game so uh yes

Tyres greatness yes it would be missed but uh everybody gets to Showcase their time talents and I’ll be able to be a play more and uh get opportunity from the crack at it and just the last one how important is TJ moments like that obviously it seemed like he really TJ’s

Tough man you can’t uh can’t resemble what he does in the court you know he I think he’s one of the guys that brings a different type of energy that no sty plays nobody plays in the NBA and that’s on both end which is the offense and

Defense so uh he’s a tough man he’s tough his nails man I love being a part of him and his being as his teammate and uh just hopefully we can get turn the table around and uh starting with Washington and uh see how far we can do

This Al you’ve been here a long time you know there’s emotions ups and downs but do you describe the emotions in the course of the game you dealt with today um I mean obviously just up and down especially coming off of last game you know um we knew we owe these guys one

And then just uh you know with ti going down and just the highs and lows of the games and whatnot it was uh we we we were able to band together and actually just make something happen you know I think when when a star goes down like

That it’s important for um everybody to you know come together we had we got to halftime we were just telling ourselves let’s get through the first half we regroup at halftime we do as such and uh win the game you’ve been vocal throughout especially the last three or

Four seasons but when he is down would you feel even more responsibility to be that vocal leader um you could say that I think we have a team full of leaders which is actually you know makes my job a lot easier but you know being one of

The longest tener guys of course you want to be able to be that level-headed guy that comes in and you know just speaks whenever it’s necessary but I think we all did a good job of just uh you know banding together tonight mil he went on that losing streak right after

He got hurt last year in January why do you feel like if anyways this team is better equipped to hand an absence from him if he’s out yeah all ask for it bro like I think that you know we have a very deep roster and um we all play you

Know a good certain style of offense so you know we’re just going to keep you know sticking to our principles you think that second half is the blueprint for what you need to do going forward um we still got to tweak some stuff for sure I think that we were able to escape

Tonight you know I think we played well but you know just being disciplined you know at the end of the game especially defensively it’s something that we need I think we gave up three four buckets in a row and you know that’s something that uh can hurt you down the stretch so like

I said we were you know Big Ups to Ben obviously like um you know stepping up and hitting those free throws is huge with that type of pressure moment but I think someone like him you know lives at those moments so you know he did he did

An incredible job to keep going on him a little bit Ben obiously just wanted to get in position to get fouled there he had a couple other big ones you also had the I think really key pass out of the double team to find Aaron for that one

And one I mean just what what impressed you about his whole approach I guess uh in the fourth quarter of the plays he made and just the growth that you’re seeing from him he’s always been a Poise he’s always been very poised but I think his confidence is another thing that

He’s always had as well and it’s just starting to grow game in and game out from the beginning of the season to being yanked out the starting lineup to where he is now you can tell mentality shift and whatnot he’s in a great great mode or just um I guess a good Flow

State over these past you know couple of weeks and you know for us to be successful we need to stay there what did it take to keep the team’s mentality raised after a deflating moment like that at the end of the second quarter um

It hoops at the end of the day man we all had one goal I mean we we we’re not like a team that’s going to put our heads in oh man it’s over like you you talked a little about just the offensive style I mean I guess how much the the

Fact that it seems this this team’s ability to move the ball it’s it’s willingness to share the ball and you know balance scoring all those kinds of things I mean like the fact that that’s this seems ingrained in this team even when tyres isn’t around U gu how

Important is that piece to it that that that kind of is still there even if he’s not the one that’s just ball movement and stuff ball movement the player movement the balance scoring the desire to share the ball with this group well Tyrese obviously is a big part of our

Off so we still have an offensive you know system and whatnot that we fall back on at the end of the day and it’s very free flowing we don’t really call a whole bunch of plays and whatnot I mean we leave it up to our point guards that

Make the right decisions and what not you got TJ McConnor you got Drew n har and guys that are you know you know Adept to feel that position you know obviously it’s big shoes to feel at that but I think they’re very uh very capable

Aaron Nesmith, Bennedict Mathurin, Rick Carlisle, Buddy Hield and Myles Turner speak with the media following the Pacers 133-131 win over the Celtics on Monday night.

0:00 – Aaron Nesmith
0:51 – Bennedict Mathurin
4:51 – Rick Carlisle
13:47 – Buddy Hield
19:24 – Myles Turner