Indiana Pacers Media Availability | May 19, 2025

Indiana Pacers Media Availability | May 19, 2025

When we talked to you last year, what’s the official in the mix now that it is, what challenges do you feel like they presume that you guys have? Um, I mean, they play really hard. They got a lot of different guys. Uh, obviously they add a cat this year. Um, you know, I’m excited to compete against those guys. We played against them last year and, uh, this obviously a story rivalry between two franchises. So, to add another, uh, chapter to it is going to be a lot of fun. And, um, yeah, just excited to compete against those guys. Difference is huge. How do you go about making sure the game is played at a tempo you guys are? Uh we’re going to have to get stops. We have to get stops offensively. We are who we are. But if we’re not getting stops and we kind of if we’re not getting stops not making shots, then you kind of got to play at the other team’s pace. So, uh if we’re able to get stops um and finish every possession with a rebound, like that’s the most important thing. Their points per possession goes way up as as they grab more and more rebounds. So, if we can try to hold them to one possession as much as we can, rebound, run, uh you know, we we’ll feel good. But we got to be able to rebound. That’s the biggest thing. Looking forward to the WWE stuff with Jaylen in the series. Uh it’s exciting. Obviously, you guys know I’m a diehard WB fan. Still trying to get your place to come to a game. Working on it. Uh yeah, it’s pretty cool that uh you know that happened this summer and here we are. So, uh yeah, it’s pretty cool storyline. I’m all into long-term booking and and all those things. And I’m sure it sure it goes along with uh everybody who thinks there’s a script. You know, they think they think Triple H had something to do with it. So yeah, no, I’m excited about it. How did you guys pull that off last year in the first place? Well, uh, obviously I have a really good relationship with WWE, really good relationship with Triple H and, uh, I got a call that they wanted me to come to their garden. It was like, no question, I’ll be there. Uh, had no idea Jaylen was going until I got there and they’re like, “Where’s Jaylen?” So I called Jaylen. I’m like, “Are you coming?” And he’s like, “Yeah.” And I said, “Oh, so we’re really doing this like you know, we’re tying it all in.” I had no idea till we got there. I think he knew, but I had no idea. Yeah. Uh but yeah, it was a pretty cool moment. Obviously, lifelong dream line to do anything with WWE and to do it there and be booed and and all that stuff was a was a lot of fun. So, uh yeah. Yeah, it was a good time. Did you know he was into it? That’s something you guys talked about during Yeah. Yeah, we talked about during World Cup. Uh yeah, I always knew he was into it. So, uh, it’s pretty cool that they were able to pull it off and, uh, without like any like real leaks or anything. It’s pretty cool that we’re able to pull it off. From the playoffs and even that moment in the Garden, just how much do you like forming being in that building? Like, does that hold a special place to you to go in there? For sure. Yeah, it’s a lot of fun, man. Uh, you know, I I think uh last year the series was a lot of fun back and forth. You know, felt like nobody could win two games in a row until we were able to do it. Um, and I think that we’ve they uh going into the series, I think that, you know, they didn’t like the organization, but I don’t think there was certain guys that they that their fans didn’t like, and now they don’t really like us too much. So, it’s it’s all the fun with it, man. And, uh, like I said, excited to add more chapters to this, you know, storyried uh, rivalry and just continue to be a part of it. And, uh, yeah, man. I look forward to playing in that building and I look forward to the uh the crowd environment. You know, it’s a good thing. Maybe it’s a good thing that my dad won’t be able to go. So, uh yeah, I look forward to the environment for sure. And speaking of just that playoff series, they obviously made some personnel changes. Do you feel like they’re a completely different team to prepare for? You can draw from based off that last year. Yeah, I feel like obviously Cat presents a whole new challenge, you know, and having OG healthy obviously they present and and male. Yeah, they they present completely different challenges, but I think at the same time, Tibs is uh a guy who he’s not a gimmick guy, you know, everything is very square what he does. He doesn’t change his offense much. He doesn’t change their defensive concepts much. It’s very, you know, the way he wants to do it. He’s old school, I think, in that way. So, uh I think they run a lot of, you know, similar stuff, but I think there’s definitely different personnel out there. So, you know, we’ve played them three times this year. Obviously, early in the year was a awful game. uh there in the garden. The last time we were there, uh we beat them once and then they, you know, beat us one time here. You know, Aaron and Andrew were both kind of hurt both time, you know, a couple times. Miles and playing the third game. So, you know, it’s a little funky when it comes to looking at, you know, full film and stuff, but there’s obviously bits and pieces you can take from every game. So, definitely excited about that. How do you view how do you view that? I mean, obviously you guys play a lot of guys, they’ve played those five almost entirely and certainly they I think they play more part and five. How do you guys view how that could shake out? Obviously, they’re really well conditioned. Been doing that all year, but you guys run a bunch of Yeah, I mean, we’re going to keep being who we are, you know, keep leaning into our depth. I think the biggest part here is like obviously we we feel like we have the best bench in the NBA, you know, so when it’s second group or second group, we’re very confident what our group can do, you know, uh we’re confident at any time, but it’ll be a little different, you know, with majority of the time it be our second if our second group’s in there. you’re seeing more starters than you usually see. So, our son groups got to continue to be who they are, not worry about, you know, who’s in front of them necessarily. Just continue to play the way they do, you know, fly, keep the pace in the game. Uh, you know, the wear down effect. I keep talking about TJ and those guys picking up full court, continuing our pace within our offense. Um, them having to if they’re keeping their guys on the floor, keep playing the way we do, and then when our, you know, our first group gets back in there, keep it going. So, um, yeah, I think it’s definitely a contrast of styles. they they they play a slower, more methodical way a lot of lot through JB. We move the ball more, you know, play a lot more guys. So, it’s definitely a different, you know, different styles here. But, uh, I think that’s what makes our game beautiful. T, how have you seen uh, Aaron evolve as a shooter looking catching shoes off the dribble, driving, like, how have you seen that kind of take a step forward? Yeah, I mean, Aaron’s always had a strap. I mean, when we came into the NBA, yeah, I think that we were always talked about being kind of the two of the best shooters in our class, you know, and so to be here with him, see how hard he works every day, uh, see the extra work he puts in after practice, uh, before practice, all those things, it’s no surprise he works so hard. And I think that we’ve talked about many times like that’s just a guy that I think every every player in the NBA wants to go to battle with a guy like uh, you know, Aaron Eastman. he’s just unbelievable when it comes to his work ethic, how hard he plays, and he’s just been a big part of what we do. So, obviously, he’s shooting the ball well, but I think it’s where he’s really taken a step is, you know, being able to dribble ball up in transition, finishing at the rim. He’s always been able to guard, you know, I think he just keeps evolving every year. And so, uh, really a big part in what we do. So, it’s really good to see him playing well and we look forward to, you know, seeing him continue to do that. You guys haven’t had a game for almost a week now. Can you talk about the benefits of having that time off and are there any downfalls to it? I mean, does it kind of throw your groove off? Uh, no. I don’t think so. I think the benefits behind it are, you know, being able to get proper rest. You know, we’ve had a couple off days. Had a couple good hard practice days. Uh, downfalls. I think that people could say it’s like a trap, you know, you know, so you can’t really look into that that much. Just be ready to go game one. And I bet if you ask certain guys, the downfall would be you got more Rick Carlile practices. So, I I I mean, it depends on who you ask, but I think uh I think those are all good things for us, you know, to have more time to scout even in the days where we didn’t know who we were going to play. Uh being able to work more on what we do internally. I think defensively knowing if we played Boston or New York, we were going to have to rebound. So, continuing to harp on that because we weren’t very good on that in the Cleveland series, especially early in the series. So, um yeah, I think it’s been it’s been good for us to get more days to work and, uh, you know, hopefully be ready to go Wednesday. throughout the you had some outstanding defensive bullets to it another pretty physical match up. How will you know when to like pick the spots back? Yeah, I was trying to be solid. Um, you know, playing these guys many times knowing how they operate. Uh, you know, depending on who I’m guarding, it all poses different threats and different challenges. Obviously Josh Hart is unbelievable at crashing. So, you know, don’t want to pick up any silly fouls there. Um, you know, with male, male will back you down and just shoot fadeaways over you. So, it kind And you guys know I I I like to think I’m a good shot blocker. So, uh, with Male, I can kind of get baited into wanting to block every time he shoots the ball and then foul. So, I just trying to be solid and just be as good of a team defender as I can be, picking my spots, figuring out how I can be in right position to help and how I can help rebound. you know, if I can rebound, you know, at at at a decent level, I like our chances. So, I’m going have to be able to do that. Ben had a couple of his higher scoring games this season against the Knicks. Is there something about that matchup that allowed that to happen? And what do you anticipate from him in this area? He’s just got to be ready to to do his job uh within our system. Um when shots are there, take them. Uh the rest of the time, do your job within the defensive system and block out. How have you seen him get better at doing exactly that in the playoffs, staying within the system, but still doing the things that he does best. He’s a young player that’s growing all the time. He’s just, you know, and there’s there’s things to be learned every time he steps on the floor. And uh, you know, the things that happen um that are things to learn from, he gets it very quickly. How much obviously the Knicks are a different team from the playoffs last year, but how much in that playoff series can you take? Um, some Yeah. You know, I mean, I mean, I don’t know what what’s your question. Well, thanks. I know you want to take all strategy necessarily, but it doesn’t feel What you say about strategy? I I’m sure you don’t want to observe your strategy. No, I’m not going to. Yeah. But as far as you know, does it feel like a very different team to prepare for or They are they are a different team to prepare for. Um in what way? They’re they have more weapons. Um and they’ve maintained their their rebounding, you know. So, you know, when you add um you add Bridges and you add Towns, I mean, those are those are two long range, mid-range, at the rim threats. Both guys move great. Um they’re both just exceptional players with with what they can do from a diversity standpoint. And so, uh and you know, Anobi’s healthy. You know, he was he was banged up last year. So, um, it’s it’s it’s it’s quite different from a personnel standpoint. How does how does pounds just change the geometry? You mentioned him obviously from the long range, but him. I mean, you got to you got to guard him at 35 ft, you know? I mean, he he makes those shots. um he steps right into him and you know and he uh you know and some of the stuff is just you know for for a 7 foot guy it’s just just different world you know different world you’re living in you know um because he he shoots it with ease he drives the ball really going either direction um and in the post he’s still one of the best in the What does Richard Robinson, I guess, do for their team from a rebounding standpoint and also defending on the perimeter in space? Well, he his productivity as a rebounder is really um quite remarkable. Uh I think he’s getting four four offensive rebounds a game and he’s and he’s tipping the ball out another three or four times. So, you know, on some in some games he’s generating seven or eight extra possessions for them. So, um, he’s a major factor. Um, and you know, it’s just it’s just another thing to prepare for. And then the other guy that people don’t talk enough about is a Chua. You know, Chua gives him another big defender and another guy that that that can crash and and um and generate possession. So, you know, it’s just it’s going to be a constant physical battle in there and uh you know, we’re going to need to be ready. You mentioned Anova being healthy. Obviously, everybody knows how great of a defender he is. And how have you seen him progress as an offensive player? Yeah, he’s he’s been he’s been great in the playoffs. Um he can create his own offense and he’s also a highle um spot up player, you know, off of other action. And so, you know, it’s he’s he’s I mean, he’s a great player. Everything he can do, he can play multiple positions. He can guard really any any position on the floor with his strength. So, um yeah, I mean, it’s it’s a it’s a different dimension that that that he brings to their team and and and the versatility is uh one of the key characteristics of it. uh somebody who uh haven’t seen you haven’t been with you guys all year necessarily but welcome record uh it’s a lot of fun isn’t it? It has been um and especially since January you guys record wise been prior you know December playing a lot different than we started the season those first 6 weeks or so what do you what flipped and what do you think was maybe sustained into this team? Well we weren’t healthy the first two months and we had a a very difficult schedule so you know, January we had no back to backs that helped. Um, we became healthier. Um, but I don’t I I’m not going to get into a big diet tribe about what happened in the past. Right now, none of that none of that matters. I mean, we’ve just got to prepare ourselves to be ready for um the environment um all the challenges that come with starting a playoff series on the road. And you know, we’ve got to we’ve got to really work at uh doing the things that we do well as well as we can. On your high scoring game, this is your team against this Knicks team. What do you remember about that night and the opportunities that you had? Benny, which one? 38 in early November. Oh, I mean it was good. Legs were fresh. Nah. Um, you know, just just about watching film, watching how they play and um shooting shooting the right shots. How do you feel like you’ve gotten better throughout the playoffs at doing what’s the way you need to to help? You know, I feel like every team is going to give you something different, especially, you know, teams get to adjust every game and um, you know, I feel like I pretty much was able to watch a lot of film and and pretty much adjust quick uh quicker than expected on what to do for the next game. Has that gotten easier those adjustments remembering game to game, what you need to do different? For sure. For sure. I mean, we have we have a lot of help. You know, I have uh personal coaches at home. I have coaches over here who help me watch a lot of film and just pretty much just uh study the game. You’ve obviously, you know, you guys picked up before, but you got you’ve taken the ball handler a lot more uh in these playoffs. How do you think that’s helped you grow as a defender and how well you think you’ve done in those circumstances? A lot. You know, I always know I could do it. It’s just about uh you know, being being put through those those situations. Um, and I think I’ve done a pretty good job, you know, but I mean, we’re we’re I feel like as far as we made it, you know, we’re far away from the goal. And uh I think we we have to have the right mindset into going um to the next game. You know, we play in less than 48 hours. So, it’s pretty much just staying staying locked in on uh on the basics. you know, we were able to have uh a few off days to go back to our, you know, to the to the setting, I would say, and pretty much just just uh doing what’s us. You guys obviously play a lot of players. They don’t play very many. You kind of stick with that five and and roll with them. You guys run, you know, 8, 9, 10, 11 guys. What’s important for you I guess is as a second unit to um you know just maintaining pace turning maintaining pressure just to try to tire them out just going out there and and playing hard you know um you know we know the advantage that we the advantages that we have and it’s all about uh putting them in the game and you know second unit we go out there and with legs legs going to be fresh um you know the atmosphere going to be even even better than than any than any, you know, series that we played before. So, it’s all about going to the game with the right mindset and, you know, just playing playing the game like it’s our last game playing. Rick’s talked about you all being in great shape all year, obviously, but how much do you think that was just the personal commitment in the offseason from you all? And did you see that early on like, okay, we can kind of break teams down just by being in better shape? For sure. Um, you know, I mean, it’s all about it’s all about knowing how we play, you know, our style of play. um you know I had to had to lose a few a few pounds of muscles because I even me training camp I was I was in shape but I couldn’t run you know what I’m saying and that’s that’s the style of play that we played. Every style every team has a different style of play. So um you know the quicker every player is is able to know the style of play that we’re playing uh and and commit to the team I mean you know it’s going to take us wherever we are right now. you guys uh just you got your whole season got off to a slow start before really start playing well into December January. What do you think flipped and is that something that you’ve been able to carry over into the playoffs? For sure. I mean, you know, we started the season, everybody was, you know, saying that we weren’t last year was a fluke and all this stuff, you know, we don’t we don’t really forget stuff, you know, and we’re not the kind of team to go out there and and and and say, “Oh, you remember when, you know, you said this or you said you you said that.” It’s all about, you know, staying with us. You know, at the end of the day, we have we have a goal or goals to win a championship. Um, we know what it takes for it and, you know, we don’t we don’t really talk. We just just let our game talk. You know, that’s one of the main thing that we learn when we’re when uh when we’re young and you know, we we stand by it. And then Brunson has been obviously so good for them in the clutch especially. What’s kind of the key to slowing him down and not letting him control what he wants? He’s he’s amazing. He’s a great player. You know, I feel feel like we have uh we have what it takes. You know, you can’t stop him, but we can try and slow him down. And u feel like we have all the depth on the team to be able to slow him down. And you know, I feel like we have we have uh JW I seen that uh we have we have the right mindset to go into game one and you know we’re not only trying to trying to steal one game away going out there to win every single game, you know. So, uh that’s that’s that’s my mindset. That’s the team’s mindset. That’s where we stand and everybody’s ready. So, you like MSG? Say it again. You like playing in MSG? For sure. I love it. I I think it loves me more than I love it. Uh I’ll keep it. I’ll keep it. Um you know, I mean, who doesn’t like playing MSG, man? Grew up watching all those all those guys playing MSG. Um, you know, I was I was telling Jay Walk, I said, “Uh, yo, you remember when we were in high school and I should have I was supposed to be doing my homework, but I was watching LeBron James playing in Cleveland, uh, and doing all this, you know, pregame routine and throwing a powder and stuff. So, yo, look where we are right now. You know, we’re standing exactly where we was watching the video.” So, I said, “Listen, as much as we we we would want to be involved a little bit more, you got to appreciate where we are, man.” You know, like winning a championship, how many how many different players in the NBA has won a championship? You know what I’m saying? Uh I’m not saying if I win a championship, I’m going to retire, you know, but I’m saying that you just got to take you just got to take advantage of the opportunity and be grateful. The Knicks, what strikes you about what challenges you guys are looking forward to in this series? Um I mean, they’re just they’re just a great team overall. They’re super well coached. Um, they got a phenomenal player and Jaylen Brunson and the addition of of Cat and MueL Bridges. Um, we know what challenge is ahead of us, so we just got to we got to be ready for the fight. A lot has made in the series about how you guys use your depth so much and they barely use any. Does that change how you approach those benchm guys need to do well when you’re out there as a second? Um, I kind of think for us it’s as a bench not really changing who we are. It’s just bring in a ton of energy on both ends of the floor and try to make it as difficult as possible for them on both ends and um you know get guys tired. What’s um as far as break concern the style of play just believing in randomized movement trusting you guys what what makes that work? What what does it take from you guys to be able to put together to kind of play a flow game today that that he can trust in you guys? I mean, I feel like it’s it’s a credit to all of us kind of sacrificing a bit of a role um and just moving the ball to get the ultimate best shot. And like I said, that’s I got you. It’s great. Um it’s a great philosophy from the coaching staff obviously, but credit to us for kind of putting it in motion and and being selfless. the continuity. I mean, how much does it help that that you guys have had two, you know, two, three years mostly this week together to figure out how you guys move when you don’t have to play? Yeah, I mean, it certainly helps with the chemistry. So, um, you know, credit to the front office for trusting us to bring this group back and, um, we just got to continue to be who we are and that’s selfless on offense and getting people easy shots and making them work on the defensive end. How much did have you played in that in a system like that before? How new was it coming to you when they were kind of implemented basically and how much you think it helps your game? Yeah, I mean I feel like you could see the vision that Rick was trying to bring once he was hired here and um kind of slowly but surely started to develop it and I think it helps my game a lot just playing free, playing fast and and puts me and other players in positions to do what we do best. to that point. Um, how much do you think you all you all put emphasis on just being in shape because we run on offense a lot, pick up 94 feet on defense. So, how much do you think that helps different style of play? Yeah, I mean, I feel like the stuff we do in the summer and especially what we do in practice um gets us prepared for the way that we play um cuz we’re doing that against each other in practice all year in training camp and um you know, it’s it’s a difficult style, but um we all love it and obviously have to be in great shape for it. So, I mean, I feel like strength and conditioning staff does a great job of getting us ready and so do the coaches as well. This is obviously a different mixed team than the one you played last year, but what kind of things can you draw um off the experience of playing at MSG and playing that series last year against them? Yeah, I mean, I think everyone that was here last year and and played them in the second round knows the type of environment we’re walking into at MSG. Um, they got a phenomenal fan base who’s going to be really amped up. Um, and we kind of just have to go in there, you know, feeling like we have our backs against the wall cuz it’s us against the world. Um, in that in that environment, um, it’s just we’re all we got. So, um, we have to be we have to stay together um, and play together as well. Squad, you guys are a lot faster than them. How do you avoid getting into their speed in these games? Um, I feel like kind of referring to what I just said, we’ve got to we’ve got to stay together and not try to um, you know, kind of I don’t know what word I’m looking for, but we just got to be a collective group and and not try to do something out of our comfort zone and and and and play like we we have

Tyrese Haliburton, Rick Carlisle, Bennedict Mathurin and T.J. McConnell spoke with the media after practice on Monday.

0:00 – Tyrese Haliburton
8:59 – Rick Carlisle
14:30 – Bennedict Mathurin
20:32 – T.J. McConnell