Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability vs Cleveland Cavaliers (Game 4) | May 11, 2025

Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability vs Cleveland Cavaliers (Game 4) | May 11, 2025

are tied for the largest halftime lead in playoff history. When did you realize that your team had it to that extent tonight? Uh we haven’t done anything yet. Um you know, we’re we’re we’re a pretty significant underdog in every game we’ve played in this series and that will continue um till the end. and uh we’re going to keep approaching this um like we have everything to prove and we know people don’t believe in us and so we’re going to just stay in the fight and keep fighting. Um all things about scores and all that other stuff is meaningless that this game is now history and so we got to stay in the present moment as much as we can try to maintain an edge. Um, you know, there’s going to be a big haymaker coming on whatever day it is, Tuesday. And, uh, you know, that building is one of the few buildings that that rivals Gamebridge for noise and and you know, fan um fan enthusiasm and everything else. So, you know, we respect the heck out of um their fans and and and you know, what they got going there. So, um, a lot of work to do. you’ve continually including just now said that each game will be harder than the previous one. What has allowed your team to continue to meet those challenges throughout the playoffs? Yeah, it’s just it’s just a dayto-day hour to hour thing. You know, a playoff series is I don’t know some sometimes they’re 10 12 days, sometimes they’re two weeks. Um they have incredibly high and low es and flows. Um a lot of things going on, a lot of conversation. Um, you know, back in back in the old days, uh, before social media, you know, you had newspapers and there was plenty going on then. Now there’s stuff going on in real time, you know, as you as you sit and breathe, you know. So, um, you got to try to know the things to um, ignore and just stay in the moment and stay in the process. What was your view of the Benedict Matherin ejection moment? I had a lot of questions about it. Um, I saw one still shot where it looked like he had his hand flat, but you know, I they have a lot of different views. Um, whatever happened happened. You know, he he’ll accept, you know, the the ejection. Um, whatever else happens from it and we just got to move forward. It’s it’s it’s a learning experience for him. Um, and you know, it’s playoff series are are are physical. They’re chippy. They’re personal, you know, and we got to we got to stay out of the weeds of things that take us away from what we do best. So, obviously Pascal and Obi got you started offensively getting some post ups against the back line of that 3-2. Uh what what kind of showed you that was the way to attack this thing and what impressed you about just the way Pascal and Obi both handled getting, you know, buckets around the rim and also moving outside? Yeah, I listen, we just had a better attitude about attacking the zone tonight and we did it with with greater urgency and and and more and more attitude and that’s that’s the main thing. I mean, you know, we we’ve seen more zone than anybody in the league this year. So, um, we had to make some adjustments, but the biggest the biggest adjustments were adjustments in in attitude and, you know, um, you know, sort of how we how we brought a certain level of aggression to it and we did better tonight, but we did better also because we rebounded better. With Miles obviously hit some big shots for you down the stretch, also get some of those post up buckets. Just what did you like about his game? How important was those shots he hit to kind of make that thing start to snowball? Yeah, there was there were some we we had some very good runs when we needed them. Um particularly in the first half and uh you know, look, I’m not crazy about the way the game ended. You know, it’s just, you know, garbage time is ugly. It can be ugly and but we did we did a lot of good things to get ourselves enough of a cushion to finish the game. So, uh I’m grateful for that. Um, we had a lot of guys that did a lot of good things and uh, now it’s over. Eight of 32 in the first half you guys held them to. Just what did you like defensively? 14 turnovers as well. I think they were like.77 per possession. Just what stood out to you just on that end? Got to play with intensity and and play clean. You know, you know, I you don’t like seeing them shooting 40 free throws and they’re shooting um, you know, um, an an inordinate amount of free throws in this series. And so, um, we’ve we’ve just got to look at it and and figure out ways to, um, play cleaner and and still still have a level of aggression and physicality without without having him go to the line all night, you know. So, we’ll look at it and and we’ll try to do better. Think Obie provided you with just from a shotmaking standpoint off the bench and also the Dr. J Escala. Well, you know, when they go to small lineups, um, having Obie and Pascal is a is is a blessing for us because it allows us to match small and still maintain some size. I mean, those guys are still pretty big. And so, um, he did a lot of good things tonight. Um, he’s going to be aggressive. He’s going to shoot open shots. Um, he’s going to be able to create late clock when you’re in a bit of a bind. And he’s and he’s a mover, you know, he moves well. He’s one of the guys that that fuels um us when we play well offensively. So, um it was uh it was much needed. You know, look, game three was was ugly. It was ugly. And our our crowd was another thing that really fueled us tonight. Um and our guys responded well, but you know, as I said, it’s over and now we got to get ready for the next. You guys are 41 at halftime. Was there a moment in that first half you realized or felt, oh man, we really have it tonight? Um, we just came out with good energy. Um, I thought last game they set the tone from a physicality standpoint. That’s been a talking point from from them all series and they set the tone. Um, and today we came out set the tone from the jump and um, you know, really just rode that wave. But, uh, you know, I was really really proud of our performance. I thought obviously the first half was pretty amazing, the shot making and I thought we were really good on the defensive end. Um, you know, but there’s still, you know, we still got a lot of work to do and just taking it a day at a time, you can feel good about this for the night and and move on. But, um, you know, we had a lot of different guys step up. Our bench was amazing. Obie, um, TJ, Shep, TB in his first half stand, I thought was really good. So, we had a lot of different guys chip in and um, that’s why you see such a balanced scoring effort from all of us. You guys have three 20point losses the last two playoffs. You won the ensuing game all three times. What is it about you guys or strategically or mentally that makes it possible to respond like that? Um, well, I think first of all, our film sessions are always pretty ugly after a after a loss. Um, especially when I think over the course of the last two or three years, you’ve seen when we are in like a twoame series with somebody, we lose the first game, we typically come come to play that second game, you know. Um feel like coach is uh you know a savant when it comes to adjustments and getting the best out of guys and um you know I think uh we kind of just follow that lead and his intensity come playoff time is is uh it’s easy to follow and you know when we have a game like we had last game such a let down um you know he sets the tone with you know our energy in practice or you know film or whatever and we just kind of follow that lead. So I feel like we’re a resilient group. We’ve been through a lot and we’ve been together for, you know, some time now. So, um, you know, I feel like you can always count on us to respond the right way. Shit’s ugly. Is it the film itself that’s ugly? The mood in the room? What what can you describe that a little? Well, the film’s ugly. The film’s ugly, but I think coach does a great job of challenging guys as well. Um, me, I typically get the the brunt of it first and then it kind of trickles down. But um you know I think he does such a great job of creating you know having equity within his relationships with all of us that we know he just wants the best for this team and this organization. So we have a lot of conversations me and him him with other guys. You always see him sitting down with guys in the gym and things like that. So um you know I feel like that’s really important and you know that’s why he’s one of the best at what he does. Seemed like out of the gate you guys looked to Pascal and Obie to kind of attack the back line of that 3-2. just how did you guys kind of see that as an opportunity and what made them how important was that? How good were those guys just taking advantage of those just getting smaller guys they could post up and score on? Yeah, I think those guys just setting the tone. Um, you know, really sealing, especially P to start the game. Um, you know, really got going. And then when Obie checked in, he did a great job when he was setting screens, sealing the smaller guy and just finishing over the top, you know. So, thought those guys were really good at setting the tone, you know, um, I feel like last game we weren’t in the paint as much and um, you know, I feel like they did a great job of setting the tone. We all just followed it from there, but I felt like our level of aggression on both sides of the floor really set the tone and we just kind of followed that lead. So, um, you know, those guys were huge for us tonight. Beyond that, Miles obviously gets into that a little bit, but also hits those big shots. I mean, just what how much did he kind of take it up another notch when he starts hitting some threes and getting the post ups on top of that? Yeah, I mean, obviously what Miles brings to the table is is amazing. His ability to space the floor as a big and um, you know, with with them kind of going all out to deny and blitz me. Um, I feel like we can really get him some open looks and, uh, he’s taking advantage of those and just playing the right way, letting the game come to him, not forcing anything and, um, yeah, you know, I think he poses a different threat than, you know, most teams have at that five position. But thought he did a great job of, you know, not only shooting the three, but establishing himself in the paint when they want to switch. And, um, yeah, I thought he was thought he was really good. Tyresese, hey, uh, Rick was in here saying that that playoff series get personal and get chippy and all that. Can you talk about what happened in the first half when you hit a technical free throw and then you hit a three and the bench was giving it to you, I guess, or you were giving it back? Like what’s going on? What’s going on there? Um, well, Tristan Thompson, as many of you know, is like my big brother. Uh, we got traded here together. We’re really close. We talked very often. Um, and we haven’t really said many words to each other all series. And, uh, last game he was letting me hear it on the bench. So, it was really just like little bro, big bro banter between me and TT. Uh, you know, but that’s that’s family and that’s all uh it’s all part of the fun. You guys scored uh 35 off turnovers. Uh what allowed you guys just to generate so many turnovers in that first half. Um I think just uh our level of aggression picking up full court. Um you know getting getting into guys as much as we could. Um, you know, I feel like, you know, that’s that set the tone on them turning the ball and rebounding. I thought those were the big things. You know, they’ve been re out rebounding us, killing us on the glass, you know, every game this series. And that’s allowed them to, you know, if they do get the rebound, get more shots and more opportunities to rebound again. But if they don’t get the rebound, they’re getting hits on us, you know, and then Strus is up full court after he crashes, you know, face guard and all that stuff. Um, so I thought we did a good job of rebounding off off the jump and then that allowed us to play in transition more. Um, where we feel like, you know, we’re one of the best teams in the world at doing that. So, um, you know, we can, you know, get a couple buckets where we get out and run, you know, I feel like the momentum really starts to go our way and especially when this crowd gets behind us, you know, it’s we’re tough to beat. So, I thought we did a good job of um, you know, getting stops, holding them to one shot. You know, if we were for forcing a turnover, we were rebounding, getting down and running and just playing pace of basketball. was, you know, basically guarding you the same way as last game. Just kind of how do you feel uh you sort of handled and adjusted at this game points wise like you know 11 still below your scoring average but just how did you feel you impacted the flow of the game tonight compared to last game? Yeah, I mean I thought I uh did a better job of moving without the ball. Um you know I feel like I’ve caught myself standing too high like a half court then I’m really doing nothing at that point. But if I can get lower, uh, become more of a screener. Um, I got a bunch of offball foul calls because he’s grabbing me with two hands the whole time. Um, so I did a thought I did a better job there, but still room for me to improve. Keep watching the film, see where I can get better. Um, but I thought I did a good job of not allowing him to take me out. And I thought my teammates did a great job of screening for me, getting me open, and telling me to screen for them as well, because if they’re going to guard me that way and try to make it play four on four, and he’s not going to leave me if I screen, I can get other guys open. So, um, just trying it’s just all it’s all all the game within the game. Tyrese, what have you learned about just starting? I know you had a piece with Jared recently talking about everything you’ve been through just mentally and stuff like that. Criticism gets loud after game three, the performance, not talking. So, how have you kind of navigated what it means to be a star? It’s just basketball, bro. I get paid a lot of money to play a ch child’s game. So, um, I love what I do. I love my job. Um, yeah, I don’t even really look at it as a job. I have a lot of fun with what I do and I you know I think there’s you know always commentary behind what I do positive or negative and um I mean it’s hilarious because a lot of times it’s people who know nothing about me have so much to say. It’s usually the people who you know don’t come around or don’t spend any time around me that have the most to say. Um you know but that’s that’s all part of it. I just I’m a basketball player. I love what I do. I love being here in Indiana. I love playing for this organization. And I feel like, you know, um, criticism, sometimes it’s warranted, sometimes it’s not, but it’s all part of it. And I feel like, you know, as far as, you know, last game, I feel like our PR team does a a great job of, you know, putting me out there when it’s time to talk. And I, you know, I got to come out here and talk when it is time. And, you know, I think, you know, Mike and the staff did, you know, tried to protect me a little bit, uh, last game. Maybe went a little a little overboard. maybe I should have overruled it and come out here, but um I wasn’t really in the mood to speak and he told me that he didn’t want me to speak so I left. And so if that’s a problem, you know, you guys are more than will I mean obviously you guys are more than willing to talk about it. So keep having commentary around it. I’ll continue to do what I do and live my life the same way. Uh but it’s all part of it, man. But it’s just basketball and I uh I guess I’d rather have this issue. I’d rather have you guys talking about me positive, negatively, talking about me than not care who I am at all. So, I mean, life’s good. Did you think it was a mistake at all? Um, going back on it, maybe I maybe I I should have spoke. Yeah. Sure. Yeah. Sure. Probably. Yeah, I probably should have spoke, but I’m a human being, so you know, we all not everybody here is perfect all the time. And uh you know, yeah, I answered all your questions the next day. I’m here again today. any questions you guys have. I mean, for most of you guys that are here who come to every game, I am on this podium after every game. So, the one game that I’m not, I know that, you know, somebody had to put out an article about me not showing up when I mean, they only show up for negative things that happen with our team. So, you know, it’s all part of it. Pascal, how would you describe the the film session you guys had looking at game three and how did that help you guys respond and play well tonight? Um um yeah, it was ugly. Um obviously we just we just know we didn’t play the way we’re supposed to. Um and um yeah, those games supposed to hurt. Um but I thought the guys responded well to, you know, to to the film. Um and and we knew, you know, like we just it had to be different. Um just the way we approached the game. Um it just wasn’t us. So u we we try to get back to, you know, to who we are. you’ve drawn on your past play have experiences a lot for these guys. What do you think makes this group capable of responding after big or tough losses all the time? Yeah. No, because I think, you know, like we have guys that that that care um at the end of the day and it’s like when we we watch film or we we we look at things that we didn’t do well, you know, it’s not it’s not emotional, it’s all about correcting it, you know, it’s all about getting better. Um, and the guys know it and and we just have that um same understanding that at the end of the day like we all care about winning and that’s and that’s all it is. And um if you if you didn’t do well, you know, you just I have the trust and the confident that we’re going to come back and um and do better. You know, it doesn’t always mean winning, but um as long as the effort is there and the things that we do and and who we are as a team like are there, like um I take that every single night. How did that first half feel compared to some of the best stretches this group has ever had? I mean, I think obviously, you know, you score points, that feels good, but um I thought our energy, our effort was there. Um I mean, I I don’t know what the rebounding was, but um you know, just trying to, you know, keep him to one shot. Um and and just fight, man. I just thought we had fight. Like I I don’t really look at, you know, the points and all that stuff. I just thought our fight was there, which is important. And and who like that’s that’s paces basketball. What uh I guess obviously it seemed like you and Obie basically you kind of attacked some of those opportunities to post up basically on the back line. I guess how did you guys sort of see that as an opportunity and what was uh what do you think you guys each of you did well in terms of just getting a smaller defender back there and being able to get I just got to take whatever is there um be aggressive. Um that’s that’s really all it was like just being aggressive and um then doesn’t matter if it’s me, Obie or Miles or whoever just be aggressive. What how do you feel like that just opened up everything else? It just seemed like after a while just the ball was popping after you two in particular got started. No, we got to keep moving the ball. That’s who we are. Like that’s the that’s our brand of basketball and um and and that’s who we want to be. So just I think at the end of the day for us is just continue to be us um no matter what. And and there’s going to be some games where it’s going to be tough, but um we got to keep our identity and and who we are. Um and it it doesn’t matter who does what. It’s all about, you know, have that getting the win at the end of it. And um that’s all that’s who we’ve been. And um you know if you look across the board like it’s everybody’s contributing and and that’s that’s who we want to be as a team. Just to keep going on that what impressed you about Obie and Miles you know just the way that they played obviously Obie was taking advantage of a lot of same situation same same situations but Miles hit some big threes. Just how big were those two guys? Yeah they were great. I thought I thought the first unit it was great. We had the energy from the beginning and then the the group that came after followed um and and you know Miles played you know big minutes obviously made some big big shots. Um Obie did the same. He was just active, I think. You know, like and and when Obie is active, athletic, and running, like that’s like, you know, he’s he’s he’s unstoppable out there just because of, you know, like just his how gifted he is, like just being an athlete and and I thought that’s what he did tonight. Pascal, what is it like when you see Miles just lighten it up like that at the end of the second quarter? Oh, I mean, yeah, it feels good. It’s going in, right? I mean, but I guess when you know all he’s been through with the franchise, things like he is the, you know, like he’s pays his basketball, you know, at the end of the day. Um, and for me, like um I love the effort that he givers on defense, you know, blocking shots um and all the things that he does for us and um and again, he he he has the ability to shoot also and on nights like this, you know, yeah, it feels good at the end of the day. Like, yeah, it’s going in, we’re good. Pascal. Um, I feel like this whole Pacer season has really been defined by resilience. Um, and Tyrese even talked earlier, he was saying you guys are a resilient group and I I believe that you are. Um, where would you say that resilience stems from? Would you say it’s stem from your belief in each other? Um, where I don’t know where would you say that No, I think Yeah, I think we work hard. We work really hard. Like I think you have a group of people that um probably wasn’t given anything. um we in a situation where like at the end of the day nobody really cared to see us win you know so when you have that and and you have that belief of like it’s us against everybody like we we we are who we are like that’s our team and and the guys around and I said that in the summer look at everybody around this room like this is who we are and this is what we have and um and we’ve believed that from the beginning and and that’s what we got to continue to do um and and when when times are tough um you know, we just rely on each other and and that’s that’s that’s all it is to be honest. And and like I said, there’s no ego, there’s no, you know, like no emotions and it’s it’s just about correcting the mistakes and and getting better as a team and and and you know, that’s what you want to have on a team. Um and talking about correcting mistakes, I think the second half they had like what 70 something points. Like that’s not us. So we’re going to go back. I’m sure there’s going to be film on that. We got to get better. How did that feel in the moment? Um it was great, man. I think that um when we get going like that, you know, we’re a tough team to beat, you know, but it all comes with our ball movement, you know. I forget how many assists we had, but um that’s our solid play, you know what I mean? When the ball’s humming and um you know, everybody gets to touch the ball and everybody feels good. What about this group makes responding to 20 point losses something you guys do routinely, even in a postseason setting? I think we thrive in adversity. Um I think that um you know, when after last game, obviously, we know what the what was wrong. you know, it was a rebounds. Um, you know, they were more physical than us. And then once we were able to actually watch it on film and see what was going on, it just I don’t know. I think it just it woke something up in us. You know, I think that’s typically what happens, you know, especially this time of the year. And um, you know, I think that we have a special group and again, you know, adversity is something I think we thrive in. Ty just talked about Rick yesterday. What about him, you know, do you think stands out as his best skill between games, especially ones you lose and in terms of adjustment, how he go takes you through film, stuff like that? Um, well, one, it’s Rick and his staff. I mean, Rick is he’s someone who doesn’t just try to take control of all situations, you know, whether it’s, you know, Jenny, Mike, Lily Pierce, um, all these guys, man, they they work tirelessly, you know. I think that um um our honestly our staff, our our red team, that’s what we call them, our green team, you know, our guys who go over scout, you know, day before, and those guys don’t get enough credit. So, I think Rick is um he’s able to listen. Um he’s able to command respect, too. I think that’s one big thing that’s um you know an underrated skill in most coaches. You know when he talks people listen you know and um yeah I think that he did an amazing job of just getting us ready. I guess keeping with the theme of the adjustment. How did you guys kind of identify that your opportunity against the 3-2 was to kind of find a smaller defender on that back line and post him because it seemed like you were able to do that. Pascal was able to do that. Obie how did that get you guys started and and how did sort of everything open up with the ball movement from there? It was a multitude of things. I think it was good to, you know, see it on film, you know, and see, you know, where we, you know, we struggled, where the ball, you know, stuck a bit and, um, you know, I’m not going to go here and dissect the entire offense, but yeah, I think that, you know, it was, it was good for us to, you know, see it, you know, feel it and, u be able to adjust. What just got you going personally? At what point could you just feel there was some opportunity there and that that you had some clean looks basically and got a chance to just get going? Um, it was nothing particular. I just think it was just being aggressive. You know, I you saw daylight, you just take advantage of it. But, you know, whenever you’re able to pass the ball, too, um, now that I don’t really know what happens, I was able to hit, you know, Hobie on a cut in the baseline and I was able to hit Aaron in the corner and, um, other assists, not even sure what they were, but, you know, now you had the defense on their heels and over shoot or pass it. So, I think that got me going as well. So, what impressed you about Pascal and Obie both? It seemed like they were they really got you started going offensively. What, you know, what do you think they just did well in those post ups and how big was it to get those guys started and especially get Pascal rolling early? Yeah, Pascal, you know, he got an early foul trouble and, you know, for any player, they’ll tell you like that, you know, it eats at you a little bit because, you know, you can’t be out there, you can’t be as aggressive, but I think did a good job of coming in and picking and choosing in the spots and really picked this up. I mean, Obie um has been consistent all year with his shooting, you know. Um I think that he did a good job of, you know, being aggressive and going to the post, but um you know, Obie’s just doing Obie things. I mean, there’s nothing that’s very different, you know, to me personally. I just think that he was able to, you know, be a little more aggressive tonight. You talked a lot yesterday at practice about playing with more force. What did you think about the fullcourt pressure you guys put on the Cleveland’s back court and just kind of making it harder for them to get into their offense early on? Yeah, know it’s we call it the wear down effect. You know, over, you know, being picked up in 94 ft over the course of a 48 minute game and a seven game series. You know, you’re going to start to feel that and um we’re in shape for it. You know, we’ve been preparing preparing up for it for years honestly just over the past three four years we’ve been stealing it and um yeah know I was I was impressed with uh we was able to keep them off the glass. That was obviously, you know, a big part of, you know, our our goal tonight. Um, and yeah, I think overall it was a great effort. Miles here in the back. Uh, after a dominant win like this, what does it do for this team knowing you’re one win away from repeating getting back to the Eastern Conference Finals? Doesn’t do a thing. Job’s not finished. You know, great quote the great Kobe Bryant. I think that um that’s real. You know, you got to be able to go into hostile territory and um you know, be able to stay focused. You know, I think that you know, people are going to start talking about us now. Oh, we’re this, we’re this, we’re that. You know, we got to keep our heads down, you know, keep our blinders on and just keep rolling, man. Just, you know, ignore the noise and, you know, continue to keep playing our brand of basketball. Miles, um, last one, I believe, but you wrote the Players Trivia article. You come out, have a Q&A tonight. When you’re like living in the moment you talked about in the article, what is that like and what compelled you to, I guess, put yourself out there in that format? Um, well, to answer your first question, you know, it’s dope, man. It’s just when, you know, preparation meets opportunity. you know, I’ve really been, you know, once I got my first experience, you know, last year getting out the first round, I mean, it became addicting. You know what I mean? I wanted to experience that again. And, um, you know, here we are a year later, you know, doing the same thing and, you know, continuing to do the same thing. So, it’s a it’s really a beautiful moment in sports. You know, not a lot of people get to experience this level of success. And, um, I don’t take it for granted. You know, I actually I met with Tyson Chandler this summer. Um, you know, um, you know, obviously has a great relationship with Rick and I think he said he was in the league for 17, 18, 19 years, whatever it was. He said he only had two legitimate opportunities, you know, to try to win a championship in that 17, 18, 19 year career. So, you know, I don’t know, you know, where my career would take me, but living in the moment and being present is something I’ve been very keen on and something I’ve been trying to, you know, um, get our guys to, you know, understand as well, you know, just being in this present moment. And as far as the article is concerned, um, I’ve never had a problem being vulnerable, you know, and just, um, sharing my journey and because I know I’ve been through a lot, but I know I’m not the only person out there who’s been through a lot. At the end of day, this is sports, man. It’s entertainment. You know, there’s people go through stuff on a real life basis. So, you know, if I can share a little bit of my, you know, journey or a little bit of my just um my livelihood, you know, I don’t know who I’m helping out there, but hopefully it’s somebody. And I think it was just a great timing obviously just for the city, you know, being able to experience, you know, us playing at a high level and um just having fun with it overall. Miles, Rick had mentioned that you guys were underdogs in every playoff game so far. You probably will be again. Is it possible to still keep an underdog mentality when you have a 3-1 series lead? Absolutely. Yeah. No, bro. We again, this is a seven game series at the end of the day. You know, I think that we know the opportunity. You know, that’s kind of like low hanging fruit right in front of us, but um you know, that team was number one in the East for a reason. You know, you’re not just going to lay down. So, we got to go in there and um and earn the the series as opposed to, you know, just letting it just

Rick Carlisle, Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner speak to the media following Sunday night’s win over the Cavaliers in Game 4.

0:00 – Rick Carlisle
6:02 – Tyrese Haliburton
15:19 – Pascal Siakam
20:49 – Myles Turner