At the halfway point of the season, Brad and Ryan step back to assess what we’ve learned so far — and what it all means moving forward — with a Top 10 takeaways breakdown of the Indiana Pacers. We dive into the evolving core, including what we’re seeing from Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith, and how their roles and responsibilities have shaped the team’s identity through the first half. We also take stock of the young players — who’s trending up, who’s finding their footing, and what development has looked like in real time. The center position remains a major storyline, and we revisit where our preseason expectations missed the mark, what’s changed, and why it’s still one of the biggest questions the front office will need to answer. We’re honest about where we were wrong, what surprised us, and how the season has shifted our outlook. Finally, we look ahead. With Tyrese Haliburton working towards his return, the front office active in trade conversations, and a potential top draft pick looming this offseason, there’s real reason for optimism — even in a season filled with turbulence. A clear-eyed midseason reset, big-picture context, and why the Pacers future remains very much in play.

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The Pacers knock off the Boston Celtics behind a late-game winner from Pascal Siakam, extending their winning streak to three games — their longest of the season and currently tied for the longest active streak in the NBA. Andrew Nembhard once again controlled the game with his playmaking, while Jay Huff delivered one of his best offensive performances of the year. Brad and Ryan discuss what this recent 3–0 stretch means — the feeling of winning again, the boost to confidence and continuity — while also grappling with the bigger picture. As the season nears its midpoint, how should fans balance meaningful wins with draft lottery implications, knowing every victory pushes a top-five pick further away? A statement win, a hot streak, and big questions ahead.

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Two weeks after giving up 142 points in Miami, the Pacers flipped the script in emphatic fashion. Indiana goes wire to wire in a blowout win over the Miami Heat, holding Miami under 100 points and delivering one of their most complete performances of the season. Andrew Nembhard led the way with a big night, pouring in 29 points, 9 assists, and 0 turnovers, continuing to flourish in an expanded lead-guard role after an injury-riddled and uneven start to the year. His control, pace, and decision-making set the tone from the opening tip. The Pacers also made a notable frontcourt adjustment, going small-ball to match up with Bam Adebayo, starting Pascal Siakam and Johnny Furphy together. The centers did enough in their minutes, the spacing paid dividends, and Indiana’s ball movement and shot-making never let Miami settle in. Young contributors Furphy and Jarace Walker delivered strong performances, the ball popped, and the defensive intensity never dipped — a complete team win that showed growth, adaptability, and confidence.

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The streak is over — and history finally breaks the right way. The Indiana Pacers take down the Charlotte Hornets behind huge veteran performances from Pascal Siakam and T.J. McConnell, snapping the franchise-record 13-game losing streak and delivering Rick Carlisle his 1,000th career win, making him just the 11th coach in NBA history to reach the milestone. With the game tied and four minutes to go, Carlisle called a crucial timeout to settle the group — and the Pacers responded. Ben Sheppard came up with massive rebounds down the stretch, Siakam buried the go-ahead bucket, and McConnell delivered his patented late-game steal to essentially seal it. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t perfect. But it was a real team win — and one the locker room desperately needed. We break down how it happened, why it mattered, and what it could mean moving forward.

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It was always going to be a historic night in Indiana — just not the kind anyone hoped for. The Pacers fall 120–116 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and instead of celebrating Rick Carlisle’s 1,000th career win, the franchise sets an unfortunate mark with its 13th consecutive loss. Indiana controlled much of the night, winning quarters one through three, but a complete dud in the fourth proved costly as Cleveland closed the door late. Despite strong shooting performances from Jay Huff, Ben Sheppard, and Jarace Walker, and a highlight-filled night from Johnny Furphy — including a transition slam and 11 rebounds — the Pacers couldn’t overcome a 48–32 rebounding deficit that kept the Cavs within striking distance all game. Now the focus shifts forward. Indiana heads to face a resurgent Charlotte Hornets team, hoping to snap the streak, regain momentum, and finally get Rick Carlisle to win No. 1,000. We break it all down — what went wrong, what showed promise, and what has to change

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Ryan is back in the fold as we recap a frustrating — yet competitive — loss that ties a franchise record: 12 straight defeats. The Pacers played solid basketball for long stretches against the Orlando Magic, but one disastrous stretch proved too much to overcome. A 17–0 run in the second quarter, capped by Orlando pouring in 41 points on 72% shooting, swung the game and forced Indiana to play uphill the rest of the way. Despite that, the Pacers showed real fight. Indiana still held a lead at the 7:29 mark of the fourth quarter, but execution down the stretch once again came up short — wasting big nights from Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard, and Aaron Nesmith. It’s now 12 losses in a row, and the spotlight turns to Tuesday night at home, where the Pacers face the Cleveland Cavaliers with a chance — for better or worse — to break the franchise record.

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The Pacers’ skid continues. Brad joins Alex Golden on Setting the Pace to break down Indiana’s 11th consecutive loss, a frustrating home defeat to the San Antonio Spurs that leaves the Pacers one shy of a franchise record losing streak. Rebounding and second-chance points told the story all night, as Indiana once again struggled to finish defensive possessions. The guys discuss a rough outing for Benn Mathurin (2 points in 20 minutes), while also highlighting some intriguing lineup notes — including extended run for Kam Jones, who posted a +16 in just 10 minutes, and a solid night for Micah Potter, who delivered a career-high performance in his first career start with the Pacers. To cap things off, and in honor of Potter wearing No. 11, Alex and Brad lighten the mood with a Pacers draft — selecting a starting five and sixth man made up of every player in franchise history to wear No. 11. A tough loss, honest conversation, and a little Pacers history — all in one crossover episode.

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It’s a new year — and a new era for The Pacers Post Up! In our first episode presented by FanDuel, Brad and Ryan go all in with a Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions episode for the Indiana Pacers in 2026 — and this one sets the tone for everything that comes next. From the future of the roster to the urgency of finding a long-term answer at center, to Tyrese Haliburton reclaiming his superstar trajectory, and the crossroads facing Benn Mathurin. We touch on draft philosophy, the importance of remembering how to win, and expectations for the remainder of this season and the start of next — nothing is off limits. This isn’t surface-level optimism or hot takes. It’s a clear-eyed, honest, and passionate blueprint for what has to happen in 2026 if the Pacers want to make a run back to the NBA Finals!

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