Alex and Facci are joined once again by the GREAT Caitlin Cooper to discuss all things Pacers! Caitlin breaks down the Pacers play of late, the return of Bennedict Mathurin, what she's in Jordan Nwora, Jalen and Isaiah logging minutes together, Nembhard's role moving forward, what areas the Pacers need to improve upon heading into next season, things we want to see for the remainder of this season and Carlisle holding players accountable. After that, Alex, Facci and Caitlin jump into a FOOD SNAKE DRAFT! The three of them go back and forth selecting food they would like to have at a party while watching a sporting event! Let us know whose party you'll be attending after the draft concludes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex and Facci kick off the show with a special ad-read! Then the guys jump into the Pacers play against Philly and Milwaukee and what stood out both good and bad. Then, the guys discuss the play of Jalen Smith and how he has been impressive since being consistently back in the lineup. After that, the guys share their thoughts on some of the college basketball games to highlight prospects who impressed and disappointed. To end the show, the guys discuss a way for listeners to enter a contest to win a special prize based on the college tournament! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex and Facci are joined by the legendary Chris Denari! >>>>SUBSCRIBE TO OUR SUBSTACK!!>>>SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE!!<<<< Show rundown: -Update on the injuries -Should Pacers shut Mathurin down for the season? -upcoming road schedule -how aggressive do you think the Pacers will be this summer -Pacer that has impressed the most this season -which young player(s) Denari would like to see get more playing time the rest of the season -thoughts on the Nwora + George Hill trade -team chemistry and reshaping a roster -NCAA bracket predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join in the fun as Alex and Facci answer your questions for the Mailbag! If you haven't already, subscribe to our YouTube Channel and our BRAND NEW BLOG over on Substack! Questions 9). Gage - How long do you guys see the Pacers continue in a rebuild status before trying to make a "big" move to try and be considered a top team in the East? Do you think it's soon or still a longer term process? 10). Corn Snob - If you had to choose between keeping James Johnson or George Hill for next season, who are you choosing and why? Let's assume the contract figures are the exact same. 11). Jay Robins Mark - With $25.79m in cap the Pacers have some spending money. Any Free Agents catch your eye? I know the Pacers haven't been a premier FA destination due to smaller marker & higher income tax, but could some non-star players be swayed by working w/ Haliburton on O + Turner on D? 12). Brett-sketball- What kind of rebuild are we doing? A long development rebuild or a quick turnaround to become a playoff team again? Current team suggests a long rebuild but the players we've gone after (Ayton, Anuoby, Collins, Toppin, Vanderbilt) suggests maybe a quicker turnaround. 13). Andrew Smith - Best PF free agent option for next year? 14). Evan Noggle - If you could play 1 on 1 with any current Pacer, who would you pick? Not necessarily to win, but for fun. 15). Ed Lollely - Let's assume the pacers end up with pick 8 or worse in this years draft. Knowing what we know now Would you trade all of this years picks and a conditional future pick for Jabari Smith from Houston?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join in the fun as Alex and Facci answer your questions for the Mailbag! If you haven't already, subscribe to our YouTube Channel and our BRAND NEW BLOG over on Substack! Questions for the Mailbag! 1). Elliot Beaver - What do you foresee Nembhard's and Nesmith's roles next season and beyond? Also who do you believe ends up being the backup center next year assuming it's between I Jax or smith? (Please don't have Theis as an option Pacers) 2). Aaron M - If you could only keep 5 players from this years team to bring back next year, what players would you choose? 3). Chris Weech - Alex, where is your favorite place to sit at Gainbridge Fieldhouse? When you get tickets is there a particular area you find yourself trying for? Bonus- Go to snack at Gainbridge? 4). Kevin Cheney - Between Nesmith, Nwora, Oshae, Duarte, Jackson & Smith - who's here long term and who's a real trade piece? 5). Jake Exline - What have you been most impressed with the season? And what have you been most disappointed with this season? 6). Randall Wood - Outside of the obvious 4 (Hali, Mathurin, Nembhard, and Turner), which 3 young players would you keep going into next season? 7). Samuel Culbertson - Let's say the clippers get beat in the first round or something and they want to break up the team after this year what's the chances we could get PG13 back and do you think he would even be interested ? 8). Zachary Barnett - Who do you think is gonna get streaming rights with Bally Sports going under? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex and Facci start off the show discussing our NEW Setting The Pace Blog available for free over on Substack! The guys discuss Alex's NBA Big Board article that debuted for the blog, and what players are rising before the tournament. They close out the draft talk discussing how huge it would be for the Pacers to jump into the Top 3 during the draft lottery. Then, the guys look at all the injuries piling up for the Pacers, Mathurin's ankle injury seeming the most severe and how him missing significant time impacts the rest of the season. Later the guys look at 538's projections for the final standings, the remaining strength of schedule for multiple teams in the same vicinity as the Pacers and close out the show with a good ole tank-a-thon spin-a-roonie! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Golden is joined by Scott Agness for a fun conversation about the Pacers Mathurin's injury update Hield and Mathurin's roles changing in the future? Most fun part of the season thus far Ownership's long term goals with the Pacers What free agents seem likely to stay Making a tough decision at the end of the season between Smith and Jackson Top 10 pick vs. competing in play-in tournament George Hill's desires for the rest of his career Then, our fan of the week, Clint joins Alex to discuss his fandom, this team, his hot takes and his Mt. Rushmore of Favorite Pacers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex and Facci are joined by Nathan Grubel of No Ceilings and Draft Deeper to discuss prospects that could be intriguing fits for the Indiana Pacers. In Pt. 2 of the draft talk episode, you'll hear three names brought up in the 25-32 range as well as potential prospects on the rise, some into the lottery, some into the middle of the first round and more. Then the guys discuss the possibilities of Indiana selecting a player to draft and stash. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex and Facci are joined by Nathan Grubel of No Ceilings and Draft Deeper to discuss prospects that could be intriguing fits for the Indiana Pacers. In Pt. 1 of the draft talk episode, you'll hear three names brought up in the 5-10 range and three names brought up in the 15-20 range that could have the eye of the Indiana Pacers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Facci goes one-on-one with FS1 writer and analyst, Ric Bucher. The lack of rivalries in the NBA This year's MVP race Should the scoring record have meant more? Can the All-Star game be fixed? His thoughts on Tyrese Haliburton If he were the GM of the Pacers... NBA Finals prediction  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode Alex Golden and Michael Facci recap the Pacers last two games: a win against the Chicago Bulls and a tough loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. As the guys breakdown each game, they talk about individual performances from Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, Chris Duarte, Jordan Nwora, Jalen Smith, Isaiah Jackson, Myles Turner and Oshae Brissett. Alex then asks Facci if he believes the Pacers need to pick between Jalen Smith and Isaiah Jackson moving forward for the backup center and the guys discuss who they currently would have play over the other. Then the guys discuss what they've noticed from this Pacers team this season, in terms of inconsistent play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Michael Facci is joined by Keith Smith from Spotrac and Celtics Blog! The guys discuss: Pacers vs Spurs recap, Revisiting the Brogdon/Nesmith trade, Pacers vs Celtics battles, Contender or pretender and NBA Finals prediction!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Facci starts out the show discussing the injury news to Kendall Brown and reflects on the passing of the beloved David Benner. After that, Grant Afseth joins the show to discuss: the growth of Myles Turner, Carlisle developing the youth, Pushing your chips in to win now vs rebuilding and the fun teams to watch around the league! Facci then closes out the show with his best rundown ever! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pacers starting forward Aaron Nesmith makes his Setting The Pace debut! Aaron joins Alex and Facci to discuss his first season in Indiana, some of his favorite moments, answers some rapid fire questions, the growth in himself as a defender, a funny behind the scenes story with him and Buddy and his go-to food spot in Indy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex and Facci are joined by the brilliant basketball mind that is Caitlin Cooper! Caitlin has been covering the Pacers for 10 years over at Indy Cornrows and now on her new blog: Basketball, She Wrote. Caitlin discusses the differences between writing and podcasting before we dive deep into every player on the Pacers. After we go through each player on the roster, Caitlin discusses the future of the team, the rumors/assumptions that Indiana made a play for OG Anunoby, what he would bring to this current roster and how close this team is to making the playoffs again. To wrap up the conversation, Caitlin asks Alex and Facci about Outshine popsicles and what their favorites are! Subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcast and be sure to subscribe to Caitlin's Patreon - Basketball She Wrote Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Golden is joined by Rhett Bauer to discuss the Pacers thriller against the Celtics, although it resulted in a 4-point overtime loss. The guys discuss the career night for Myles, Mathurin's stellar play, the good and the bad from Haliburton, Nesmith's presence on the defensive side of the floor and then discuss Nesmith's trade value moving forward, players in the draft that are intriguing to add to this roster and the playoff matchup we want to see in the first round the most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex and Facci are back to answer your mailbag questions! 1). Matthew Peck - Are there any concerns that Mathurin & Haliburton have only played limited minutes together this season? Do you have any concerns that long term they may not fit together and should Rick be working on integrating them together more now since this season isn't about winning 2). Gage - Who do you guys think the Pacers should will target this off season, whether it be draft, free agency, or trade targets? 3). Logan - Who do you want the pacers to draft? 4). Peetie - Which players will you be watching in this March Madness that you think the Pacers will have their eye on for the draft? 5.) DJ Davis - Why not try Jalen Smith another chance at the PF or even give I. Jackson a try at the 4? See what options your roster has for next year. 6). Mike - does Mathurin remind you of Westbrook!? 7). Haomin Zhang - What do you think the Pacers will end up doing with all their 2023 draft picks? 8). Shalamar The God - How soon could the Pacers become the best example of how to rebuild in the NBA? 9). Evan Nogales - How secure is Carlisle's job? What needs to happen to see him as the Pacers coach 3-5 years from now? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Facci and Alex are back to answer your questions! 1). Aaron M - Is this off-season the most crucial one in the last 5-10 years for the Pacers? 2). Randall Wood - What is one of the main things that you are looking forward to seeing with this team for the rest of the season? 3). Zachary Barnett - Who is your favorite personality on the team? I love James Johnson. 4). Pacer Faithful - What are your predictions for what happens with the all the bigs this offseason? Who stays and who goes? 5). Samuel Culbertson - Who in this draft class (that we could draft realistically) do you guys like? It can be multiple prospects!  6). Tyler Christian - Do Carlisle's increasingly questionable rotations worry you that he might not be the right guy to be head coach of the ongoing rebuild? Lloyd Pierce may be his lead assistant, but he's done a very admirable job for the games where he's been the interim. 7.) Chase - Do you think the Pacers would take Scoot Henderson if we end up with the 2nd overall pick, even though we have Haliburton as our main guy, or do you we think we trade down for a Brandon Miller, Amen, Ausar etc.? 8). Ricky Kelley - What is your prediction for the final record of the pacers? And do they make the play in? 9). Jeff Dunham - Does the NBA All Star Game force at least one player from every team on the roster, like the MLB one does? 10). Rooster - If you could pick one player in the NBA to add to this roster as a starting power forward to add to a starting lineup of Tyrese, Mathurin, Buddy, and Myles who would it be? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Facci and Alex are back and the guys preview the rest of the regular season. The guys discuss what players they want to see less or more of, what lineups they wanna see more of, whether or not the team is best fitted for a push at the play-in or better themselves for a higher draft pick, what the remaining schedule looks like and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Golden and Mike Facci are BACK to recap the weekend that was! Haliburton, Mathurin and Hield represented the Pacers well with great showings in the events they were involved with! Gabe York and Trevelin Queen represented the Ft. Wayne Mad Ants well in the G League: Next Up Game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices