Indiana Pacers Media Availability | June 3, 2025

Indiana Pacers Media Availability | June 3, 2025

What do you remember about going into the 2011 finalist when you guys were I think pro prohibitive underdogs. Yeah. Um it’s to me it’s the greatest stage in sports. I mean I just I’ve been following the NBA since since I was in grade school. So, um, and I grew up in a place where you couldn’t you couldn’t get games on TV. You can only get hockey games up in northern New York State. So, we had to drive to go see games that were in the playoffs or the finals or even the regular season. So, um, but you know, this is, uh, this is the greatest stage. It’s, uh, the greatest opportunity. It’s also the greatest challenge cuz you know we’re we’re going against a an opponent that really you know on metrics um has you know really changed changed the game and so uh we got uh we got we got our work cut out for us. Where did you where’d you drive to just out of curiosity? We had to drive from uh Lisbon, New York to Ogdensburg, New York, which is only about a 8 minute drive, but we just didn’t have cable. Oh, okay. We had a we had a thing you turn the rotor in the direction and the antenna would move and it would either either go towards Kingston, Ontario or Watertown, New York. And you know, back in those days, we only got the CBS affili affiliate and they didn’t have they didn’t have the NBA back in those early years. You know, it was uh Oh, we got hockey night in Canada. It’s important and and I was I was a big Canadians and and Maple Leafs fan. You mentioned the Thunder obviously when you played them last week. That’s the best team on the planet right now. What’s up in the game they have? Well, really both sides of the ball. um their depth, their their depths of great defenders is uh you know is is staggering really. You know, you talk about I mean Shay’s a great scorer, but he’s also a great defender too. And you got Jaylen Williams from Santa Clara. You got you got Dort. You got Caruso and a bunch of other guys that people don’t talk about that can really defend, too. uh Wiggins, Kendrick Williams, Kase Walls, all these guys, you know, are uh are just great competitors. So, and then they’ve got the rim protection to go along with it. So, it’s it’s a you know, it’ll be a daunting challenge. Um but a great one. I know you just rattled off a bunch of the individuals. What do they do at a team level that makes their defense so good every Well, they have they have great coaching. You know, that’s that’s obvious. You know, uh Mark Dagnal is a guy that I’ve just had a so much respect for over the last five years. You know, not just because of what they did last year and this year, but just how he’s developed that roster and how they’ve developed their their organizational philosophy. Um it’s just been it’s been a master class, you know. So, um, their schemes are super solid and they’ve got change ups that they throw at you, you know, with trapping and zone and, um, all kinds of things, cross matching, I mean, you you name it. And so, uh, it just it’s it’s it’s going to present some different challenges than we’ve seen. How have you seen Tyrese embrace pressure? When he first got here, he was saying, “You guys took a chance on me. he wanted to deliver for this franchise. Obviously, more work to be done, but just seeing him navigate that over the last few years. Well, you know, he he came into this um really leaning into the opportunity. Um new start. I’m all in from day one. Um you know, I’m I’m I’m going full boore. I want to learn. Coach me hard. Um I know there’s going to be ups and downs. I’m going to I’m going to navigate it. He’s a guy that you can always talk to about um the hard times and the good times. And so, um there’s just been so much over the last two years in particular. And if you look back to the year previous to the last two, I mean we were five games over 500 in January um when we stepped onto the court in New York to play the Knicks and then Miles had a back thing and all of a sudden he couldn’t play and and O’Shea was in the was in the um rotation and then his hamstrings flared up and all of a sudden we were we had like eight guys and James Johnson was tossed into the starting lineup and then and we went like, you know, two and nine and fell out of it, you know. So that’s how fragile this whole thing is. And I think I think Tai understands that. I know that, you know, when you talk to Pascal about these kinds of things, I mean, Pascal’s a guy that had to cut his teeth in the G- League for two or three years um before even getting a chance to become a consistent rotation player in Toronto. So, you know, he has great appreciation for what it takes to um not just get to the finals, but you know, to get to get to the playoffs at all. And so, um we’re young, they’re younger. Um, but both teams both teams are are relatively young and and uh you know I hope I hope the world watching is is uh is enthusiastic about the way these two franchises play cuz they both play they they both play a style that you know is is is is so pure from a basketball standpoint. Is there about Tai embracing the opportunity? I mean Pascal like almost everybody on this team has accomplished something basically that that led them to kind of embrace this opportunity more uh in Boston and stuff like that. What how do you think that’s kept this group together and driven from this group that everybody’s got sort of something that that looks kind of shift? Well, we’ve all been doubted at some point in time in our lives and you know and you got to look in the mirror and um and you got to face the doubts and you decide how you’re going to how you’re going to how you going to go forward. you know, are you going to fight through and and find a way or are you going to find an excuse, you know? So, you know, our our team is a bunch of guys that have found a way, you know, in many, many different kinds of situations. There are a lot of stories about people from different backgrounds. You talk about what Ben Math went through growing up and um you know, Miles has had a had a real interesting background. and TJ McConnell, you know, um our group is has got a lot of great stories as does theirs, you know. So, um, and listen, we had we had Alex Caruso in a free agent camp in Dallas in 201 15 and, you know, passed on bringing him to summer league, you know, I mean, they’ve got great stories, too, you know, and so I think I think it helps make this, you know, a compelling matchup. um we we know we we know what we’re up against in terms of what the expectation is as to who’s going to, you know, be the be the better team, but you know, that’s all part of it. You mentioned the new faced guards that have really been really tough covers, good downhill, drawing fouls, get into their spots. What makes him specifically so difficult to guard? What does we have to see him grow really into that role in the last couple years? I mean, this guy’s was born to be great. You can just tell he has a he has a demeanor. He has a he has a he has a coolness, an attitude. He’s unflapable. Um, he knows who he is and he has great belief in himself. And so I mean from afar now I’ve been I’ve been watching this guy and I mean it’s pretty breathtaking. It looks like the guy didn’t even break a sweat. And I mean it’s it’s really hard to fathom how difficult it is to score 30 points in one men’s league game, let alone doing it every game for two years in a row in the NBA. Just think about it. I mean, it’s it’s unbelievable. Um, as a head coach, how is he challenging you a bit? Not even a bad in general when you’re playing such an unconventional style. It’s kind of unique and I don’t know if anybody can say that, but he’s very unique. I mean, that was what drew us to him. Um, you know, they’re just And you talk about a guy that’s been doubted. I mean, [Applause] You know, I when I was in Dallas, we were one of the few teams that thought he was the best player in the draft and um we tried like hell to get him and move up and everything else and it we just we just couldn’t do it. I mean, and and when I tell you that Mark Cuban tried everything, you know, when Mark puts his mind to something, he can usually figure something out, you know? I mean, look, we ended up we end up we end up getting Luca Donic to the third pick, you know, so he and Donnie Nelson were ahead of the curve on that one. We just simply could not find a way to get Ty. And so, um, Tai is different. There’s just so many different things about him. I I’ve learned so much over the years just about, you know, players that appear to have quirky elements to their game and and the important the importance of looking at what they can do and not and not focusing on what what they may not be able to do particularly well. It was clear when we got Tai that we needed to surround him with shooting with toughness um and depth and res resources, you know, and he knew the work that he needed to do. He knew he needed to get stronger um and he knew that he was going to go through the gamut of of ups and downs on this journey. So really really proud of how he has just stayed the course through difficult times. I mean the beginning of the year this year no one will ever know how difficult that was for him but through it all. He may have missed one game in the first 30. Kept playing kept believing in himself. Kept engaging his teammates. Kept a great attitude. There’s nothing more you can ask for. Rick, the the Simon family and the Pacers organization is flying out all the employees out to Oklahoma City for games one and two. How special is that? How special is this organization? And how nice will it be to have that group out there to support you? Yeah, it’s it’s an awesome gesture by uh by Mr. Simon and and and the Simon family and Mr. Rails. um you know everyone is being allowed not just one person but you know three or four you know it’s an amazing gesture and so there’ll be more than one plane going um they’ll be going for each of the first two games and so uh it’s it’s awesome. It just shows how much they care about the people in the organization. when we went to Paris this year, um you know, the league the league gave us a certain stipen for going on the trip, but they supplied, you know, an an unusually large plane and we brought extra people and, you know, on the whole, um the Pacers lost a lot of money on that trip, but we had a great time and So, um, here this is this is another great opportunity. They did this in 2000 when we went. I was an assistant coaching. So, so it’s great and, um, you know, we’re looking forward to the opportunity to play on this stage. Um, but also to have our family join us and be a part of it. Speaking of, what are your part? Yeah, it’s It was great, but it’s in the past. It’s in the past. I’m not big on waxing sentimental on things. You know, we got to look at what’s happening right now and what’s happening next. So, uh um and you know, as as in 2000, we have another daunting opponent. Drew, when before that game six planning did you kind of realize you have more of that front assignment? Was that something that came after got that early? Yeah, I was kind of always ready for it, but um it came when he kind of got the foul trouble. I mean, Aaron Aaron was doing a good job on making it tough. It was just hard for him to play fouls. I know you learned a lot about defending him from last year. What was different for you this time or were you in any way more motivated about the fact that you didn’t have that assignment for us this year? Uh it’s just about competing every possession, trying to make it tough, um and seeing where it ends up at the end of the game. Um has times where he’s won the matchup, so just got to compete and try to play hard. How much of that can you apply now to Shay and the Thunder? Same same mentality going in for sure. How much of it is maybe mentality as opposed to the physical things that a fan can see when you when you’re preparing for defending a guard like that? How much of it is mentality compared to like what a fan can see what you know on video or live? Yeah, I mean I think it’s a it’s a mixture of both um playing hard and competing as well as strategy and understanding tendencies and trying to figure it out a little bit. But you’ve obviously been playing any top level guys the last few years. What have you learned about dealing with guys make a point to get out? Basically what do you have to learn about what guys you know that’s part of their game kind of better handling that? Yeah, through experience you just find out places where your hands get in the way and try to keep them back while also being physical and being in the right spots but keeping your hands away, keep your hands off. What you makes this Thunder defense so good defensively. Um, they got a lot of individually good defenders and then they come together as a group and it makes a makes a good team defense. you know, that they’re athletic, versatile, um, physical, pose, pose, pose a few problems for sure. Are they similar in any way to any of the teams that you faced already defensively? Defensively, for you guys, defensively, they’ll get better. Drew, uh, obviously you had a chance to play with SGA and Lola national team. What’s it going to be like for just facing him on this? Um, I’m looking at like another opponent. You know, it’s going to be conf it’s going to be competitive. Um, you know, I always want to see them do well when I’m not playing against them, but now it’ll be fun. It’ll be good competition. Ty, last year we were asking you a lot throughout the Clap Run about the new emotions every round and stuff like that. Now, this is new for you. How are you feeling ahead of these games emotionally? Is it kind of how you expected you? Yeah. Yeah. No, I’m excited. um you know this is uh the reason that we do this and everybody’s dreamed of playing in the finals uh their whole life. So I’m really excited to be a part of this and a part of this with this organization and this group and um yeah I couldn’t sleep after uh after the after game game six but I think part of it was due to excitement and part of it was due to okay now what do we what are we preparing for you know so uh yeah I’m really excited to be a part of it and uh it’s going to be a lot of fun. curious what what’s the first NBA finals you ever you remember watching it that’s a great question that I truthfully remember 2011 Heat Mavs that’s the one I can first one I can say I really sat down and truthfully uh remember and I hated Rick for that and so uh the fact that I’m here with her is uh it’s pretty full circle so it’s exciting and they they were prohibitive underdogs too yeah yeah yeah it’s it’s uh it’s definitely cool to see and like I said I I definitely couldn’t Stan Rick and the Mavs in that in that time. So, uh it’s definitely full circle and really cool to be a part of uh with him and I ask these guys questions about that 2011 run all the time and I have since I’ve gotten here and you know now be able to create runs of our own. It’s been a lot of fun. When you talk to him about that, what what do you hear that you’ve been able to use? Yeah, I think the biggest thing is uh I think they went into that situation similar to how we’ve went into a lot of our playoff runs of just being the you know the underdog and uh knowing that a lot of people aren’t weren’t picking them and just kind of going into it with a I don’t know a better way to put it and kind of with like a effort mentality you know sorry I didn’t want to cuss but I had to right there I didn’t know how to get it across uh but just kind of going into it that way um you know and as long as the guys in our locker room and uh the people in this building believe then you know anything is possible so uh we’re we’re really excited about the challenge. It’s a really good team in front of us and uh no uh quote unquote expert or analyst is going to pick us and that’s that’s okay. We like it better that way and uh it’s going to be a lot of fun. Todd, when you uh first got here, you talked about obviously want to beginning your career, want to stay in Sacramento, you’re here now. When did you know, okay, this feels like my team, my city type of thing? Like was it from day one or is that a cliche just because you had to say that cuz you got here on day one? Yeah. No, I mean, um, I I knew getting here, I knew I was going to have to establish like myself for me to claim that this was my city or my team or anything, right? I had to prove more of myself individually and have more success, which I feel like I’ve been able to do. Um, you know, and I think that all the teams here were kind of struggling a little bit, but now we’re all we’re all on the rise, and that’s cool to see with what the Fever are doing, and hopefully the Colts can have a, you know, they’re plan on them having a good year this year as well. Uh so I don’t look at it that way uh by any means. I think that I’m a mainstay you know here in India and I’ll be a mainstay in this organization for you know a very long time and that’s exciting for me. Um but just to be a part of the the growth here um as a sports city is has been a lot of fun and u just want to continue to you know make more memories for for indie sports fans and just um you know continue to leave my legacy here. Uh that’s the biggest thing. But yeah, when I got here, I had the dream of that and being able to accomplish that. But it definitely takes time and I think that comes with individual and team success and I’m I’m fortunate enough that I’ve been able to have some of that. But um you know, the plan is to have a lot more, you know, moving forward. So definitely still just keep my head down and keep working. This group has become very adept at adjusting after losses. What do you see here in practice and film work and all that that keeps one loss from turning into two or three? Yeah, I think um just a sense of urgency. I think we had such a poor start to the year that we kind of had to approach it like u you know let’s approach it one game at a time and you know every loss I think felt bigger because of what our record was at the time and um I still feel that way. Every loss feels so big because it’s playoff basketball you know and if you give one away you don’t want to give two away. So um I think that’s just part of the resilience of this group but also I think the the the basketball minds that we have here. Coach Carlile and our staff are really brilliant at making adjustments and continuing to um you know adjust on the fly. Uh which has been really big for our success and I think that um you know when we lose we we typically get get reamed in in film and our film study just intensifies even more and I think that uh that leads to success for us. Wait a question on the side over there. Question to the left. Excuse me. Yeah. I can get um two bacon cheeseburgers and fries and cobras. I got you. Text me your full order, please. Yes, sir. For the people that haven’t seen the Pacers and the Thunder a whole lot this year, what would you tell fans, you know, makes this compelling mustsee TV? Yeah, I think just uh two highlevel uh basketball teams that play uh you know, an elite style of basketball, share the ball really well, a lot of different people can chip in. Um, you know, I think that’s the exciting part uh about this. I don’t want to say it’s like a a passing of the torch by any means cuz the old the old heads are still here and they’re still all playing very well. Uh, but definitely to see two young teams, two young organizations, um, you know, fighting with a chance to win a championship, I think is a is a very big deal. Um, so I think that’s exciting for any basketball fans. Be a lot of fun. Tyreek was saying that, you know, there’s the moments throughout your career where you’ve been doubting, you’ve been candid about, man, do I have it myself? And what have you learned about just how to navigate pressure? And what entices you about a chance to win a championship, be immortal after that? Yeah, I think um that’s just part of uh being put on the pedestal and being put on the and being expectations rising, you know, it’s it’s it’s a part of it. And uh I think the biggest thing just to keep, you know, context and things just understand that I’m a human being. And I think that that’s the most important thing for uh for me. Uh cuz when I do well, I think that I’m, you know, put even higher and when I’m not doing well, it’s, you know, you’re always put lower and people are going to say things to you that, you know, might dehumanize you a little bit and you can be looked at as a statistic or, you know, just what you do well as an athlete. Um, and I I think just always keeping context in it and just knowing where your piece is. For me, that’s uh become my friends and family. That’s become the Lord. let go have been two big things for me to just ground myself and um yeah, I think this is a really exciting time for me personally uh to have this opportunity. This is something I’ve wanted to do my whole life and you know I think last year having playoff success on my first playoff run and then having being unsuccessful to start the season and uh it really for me I just I thought a lot about wow maybe I took last year for granted you know cuz I didn’t know what the playoffs were going to look like as the year was going on. and I didn’t know if we’d be a playing team or where we would where we would stack up in in the in the end with how we were playing early in the year. So, I’m definitely not taking this time for granted at all. Um, learning to appreciate every day. Um, and and remember, you know, all these days as best as I can. Uh, the the the practices, the, you know, we’ll have the media stuff which will, I’m sure, suck to a sense, uh, leading up to this. Uh, apologies to you guys. You guys are all great. Uh yeah, you guys are all great. Um but no, I I I think uh just learning to appreciate that, man, and just be where my feet are and u you know, I think of of course it’s it’s it’s easy human nature to set in and be like, “Yo, we’re four wins away from winning a championship. All we got to do is this, this, and that. We’re going to be a champion. This is what the parade’s going to like. It’s easy to do that.” Uh but just trying to be grounded and be where my feet are and take it a day at a time because, uh you know, if we’re able to do, you know, what we set out to do, um it’ll be a really special feeling. as EScal or Thomas Bryant. I don’t know if you have any other guys who’ve won rings, but have they talked with you guys about what to expect and what this is going to be like? Yeah, we talked about yesterday in film. Um, you know, as as far as all the distractions, all the things that come with um playing in the finals. Uh, we’ve had many conversations with it. I’ve had many conversations with Pascal uh leading leading up to this just in passing, you know, just randomly sitting on the plane. Yo, tell me about this game in the in that playoff run. Um, you know, I think that’s part of uh that’s part of it and I’m really excited about it and uh we just continue to create more memories and do more stuff together and I’m sure the finals format as far as media and all that stuff has changed. Not that Pascal’s old and not that that was a long time ago, but that was like, you know, six years ago. So, I’m sure some stuff has changed, but uh the main thing remains the main thing. Uh the emotions, the uh you know, the energy in the building is going to be a lot of fun. And that’s something we’ve talked about a lot. So, I’m looking forward to it. More about the building. More about the building. You guys have been great road warriors. The Thunder have been one of the best home teams in the league. How have your your ability to steal games? How do you think that’s going to help you in the highest stakes environment you’ve had? Yeah, it’s uh it’s exciting. I think we’ve had, like you said, we’ve had a lot of success on the road this playoff run. They’ve had a lot of success um at home and really everywhere all year. Um so, I think it’s just about approaching a day at a time. We know the environment is probably going to not probably it’s going to be the best environment road environment we’ve seen all playoffs. So, uh we got to be prepared to go in there. Um obviously the our organization is doing an amazing thing bringing our full-time employees. They got a a family plane that they’re bringing. That’s going to be a lot a lot of fun to have our families and stuff there. Um so we’ll have we’ll have more Pacer fans in in the building than we’ve probably had on the road all year to be honest. Um, but that’s exciting and uh it’s going to be a lot of fun and we just got to approach it the right way, the same way we’ve approached every game is just controlling what we can and uh you know trying to win the margins the best way we can. So I’m excited about it. You talked about the underdog mentality. I guess you guys have spoke over the years about how almost everybody on the team has doubted at some point in time or another. How much is that fact underlying kind of driving you guys? Yeah, I mean it’s ranged true our whole uh for most of us our whole careers and uh this is just another another stepping stone to it. You know, we’re all doubted in this series. Um you know, we there’s not expectations for us to get here, you know, externally obviously. Um so we’re just trying to approach it the right way. Uh just approach it the way we’ve approached every game we approach every day. You know, that nobody’s expecting us to win except for the guys in this this locker room. we believe and um you know I think that’s the exciting part about it is you know when you get to prove people wrong that’s exciting. So u it’s a great team that’s in front of us and it’s going to be a great challenge. They’re well coached. Uh they’re really you know together group. The crowd is going to be amazing. It’s going to be it’s going to be a fun challenge but u you know if you were to win a championship you want to beat the best and these guys have been the best all year. So um you know we wouldn’t want it any other way. All right guys we’re going to let Miles get in here now. Thanks. I appreciate that. Okay. What was Saturday like? Back to doing on your home floor. That that that celebration. What did that mean to you? Yeah, man. It was definitely a lot sweeter, you know, doing it at home. Um, very validating for me. Obviously, like I said, over the years just, you know, all the time I put in just to my craft and just to the city, the organization, and um, you know, I got a chance to do something special. So, you know, don’t take for granted. Miles, this looks like something that’s on the rise still and yet it took 25 years for the Pacers to get back to the finals. How much of a mentality you have to have that you there’s no guarantee you can get back here in another year or two or that this is still the start of something that this may be the opportunity? Of course. Um you know it’s a it’s a great way of looking at it. You know I don’t again you know it’s taken me 10 years myself just to get here. So, you know, I just um you know, it’s a little bittersweet, but at the same time, the fact that it’s finally here, you’re right. You know, taking the opportunity and just running with it. You know, you never know when you’re going to be back here. You never know the circumstances going to be the same. And um you know, while the opportunity is here presenting itself, you know, take full advantage of it. You go to Montana often. Uh I usually go to more Wyoming. I go to Wyoming. I go to Wyoming here this summer like it’s Jackson area, you know, Teton Village, whatnot. But we uh we drove out to Idaho, Montana last summer. When you thought then about this, did is the emotions you have right now about what you expected, how you hoped it would feel to be in on this stage? No, I wasn’t sure how to feel honestly, you know, cuz um you thought about you spend so much time thinking about getting there, but it’s like you’re here now. So, you know, it’s like, you know, you didn’t really spend a lot of time thinking about, okay, when I’m here, I’m going to do this, I’m going to do that, I’m do that. It’s like, let’s just get there. So, now that milestones, you know, has been achieved, it’s about um doing something with the opportunity, you know, like we talked about earlier. Miles, as a kid, what was the first NBA Finals you remember watching and paying attention to? Yeah, no BS. The first one I watched was was Rick Run 2011. Same with Tyrese. Yeah, I’m a Dallas kid, man. And um I really um you know, they they had got to the finals. I think um Avery Johnson was a coach. Yeah. And but I didn’t really know. I was kind of just young, you know. I didn’t really just like watch it for what it was. But, you know, I was teenager when I was going on with the finals, what not with Dallas. So, you know, I watched that one in death. You know, um you know, I had I had a relationship with Chris Bosch when I was coming up too. So you just watched him and you know honestly it was was was everybody was going for the heat at that time you know what I mean you know they had Chris B going way all them but when u with Rick proven Durk and rest of his team you know it’s just that you know the right time you know anybody get hot and take Tyrese said he hated Rick for that series. Uh no man I think um for me personally I think it was more so about just the city. I mean, Dallas was like I’d never seen it like that before, you know, just I’m I’m I’m from from 30 minutes away from where Dallas is at. And you know, we had local vendors out there selling finals t-shirts and everybody was hyped. City was just a in a whole different environment. So, just what the finals would do for a city is something I think I took for underestimated as well. I mean, it’s just been a different buzz here around Indianapolis. You know what I mean? It’s just been, you know, these fans deserve this. The the Simon family and the Pacers organization is flying out all the full-time employees. So, you’ll have a little support there in OKC. just how special is that? How cool is that that you guys will have that support out there? Yeah, you know, it’s um I expect nothing less, you know, from the Simon family. I mean, they’re a very accommodating, you know, group, you know, especially when it comes to the players and um the organization, you know, something they take a lot of pride in. So, it’s going to be amazing just to have my peoples up there and just restless to have the support, you know, you know, it’s going to go into a hostile environment. So, just take as much support as you can. You mentioned several times over the last three years about how a lot of these guys on this roster, almost everybody’s been doubted in some way, shape, or form, and that kind of creates an underdog mentality here. How much do you think that still drives you guys or kind of forms the, you know, kind of the soul of this team, I guess? Yeah. And it’s we we thrive off it. You know, I told you I think every since last year, every playoff series, we’ve been the quoteunquote underdog. You know, people aren’t expecting us to win, you know, where we’re at right now. And, you know, until we prove it, you know, um people are going to think how they think. So, I think that it definitely thrives us, you know, the throne through that adversity and whatnot. And just um you know, I would I personally would have went any other way. Miles, to that point, how do you think Tai has kind of embraced everything that comes with being the quoteunquote underdog pressure, the spotlight since you met him when he first got here till now? Yeah. Well, he was an underdog when he first got here. So, not much has changed, you know, for him. You know, he, you know, he got traded away and, um, people kind of rode him off, so he kind of had to, you know, make his own make his own way back, you know, into the fold. And, um, again, I don’t think much has changed for him. You know, I think his mentality has just been sharp. You know, I think it’s it’s where exactly where he needs to be. And he’s, uh, he’s improved upon it, you know, year after year since he’s been here. So, I think um you know, it’s a lot that comes with being the superstars, being the man, and I think he’s handled it really well. What do you think it does for a team to have somebody be candid about all that it is? He’s very open with us when most athletes probably aren’t. Yeah. And how can that be maybe a strength when you like this guy is actually going to be honest about how he feels, what’s going on? And obviously, I expect to be more honest with you all than us. But what has that been like for the team? He’s got a big persona, man. And um again, people don’t like that cuz he’s how confident he is. You know, it’s one thing to talk, it’s another thing to talk it and actually show it. and um you know he expresses how he feels and I’d rather have someone on my team that does that than you know suppress their feelings or you know talk behind your back you know he’s going to say exactly how he feels about every situation and again it’s it’s a rarity but in your point guard is something I think is necessary what makes OKC so good especially on defense um they thrive off turnovers you know they swarm the ball they uh they do a good job of just um uh rotating and flying around they don’t necessarily have matchups they got guys cross match playing different guys and um you know they’ve been one of the better teams better especially defensive teams you know all season So, you know, there’s there’s proper respect there, but at the same time, you know, we’ve got the one of the best staffs, you know, in this league. You know, they’ve been ahead of us, preparing us over these past couple days, number ones to come. So, we get in that environment just to apply our principles. They’ve been one of the best home teams, too. You guys have been able to steal on the road and play really well on the road. How do you use that as you go into what’s going to be your hardest environment so far? Um, nothing changes for us. You know, you go in there and just um you stare down the opponents like we did everybody else. And um again, you know, you apply your principles, you apply everything we worked on all season long. And then you know um this is what we do it for. You know there’s no greater stage

Rick Carlisle, Andrew Nembhard, Tyrese Haliburton and Myles Turner spoke with the media following practice on Tuesday.

0:00 – Rick Carlisle
14:07 – Andrew Nembhard
16:34 – Tyrese Haliburton
27:11 – Myles Turner