How the Indiana Pacers Spun Style Into Substance https://t.co/UzNBlOGy1o— LakerTom (@LakerTom) June 4, 2025
How the Indiana Pacers Spun Style Into Substance
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June 4, 2025 3 Comments
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FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:
Since acquiring Tyrese Haliburton in 2022, the Pacers haven’t made a single roster move that could slow them down. No hedges. No half-measures. No stylistic concessions. If you don’t run the floor, you can’t be an Indiana Pacer. If you do, you need to learn how. Most players aren’t used to dead sprinting downcourt after an opponent’s made basket, but the Pacers coach it and Haliburton reinforces it. If you get out and run, he will find you. If you then give the ball up to a teammate, it will find its way back.
There are so many things worth celebrating about this Indiana team as it heads to the NBA Finals. Most of all: The Pacers are a triumph of collaboration. That’s embodied in Haliburton—a star who jumps (often literally) at the chance to get rid of the ball—and it extends outward to every layer of the organization. Indiana scouts to its style, builds to its style, and coaches to its style. The result is an offense that layers action upon action, turning every possession into a sort of perpetual fast break. It’s overwhelming to defend, as the Knicks, Cavs, and Bucks can attest. And it wouldn’t work at all if the franchise weren’t operating in complete alignment.
This is one of the biggest issues I have with the Lakers organization. What’s the plan? For the last several years it seems like we just try to piece something together and hope Lebron makes it work. Obviously, you gotta make that Luka deal when some idiot throws it on the table. But once again, we’re in scramble mode after radically changing our roster and style of play by exchanging Luka for arguably the two best 2-way players on the squad. We’ll be a top regular season no matter what because the talent level of Lebron & Luka combined with some decent role players is gonna win a buncha games. But beating a top team 4 outta 7 is a different proposition. The way the league is set up right now means it takes time, planning, smart moves, and vision. That’s how OKC & Indy got here and it’s why you see teams rising up like HOU, DET, and probably the Spurs next year.
I have to agree with you on the Lakers lack of a coherent long-term plan. The problem starts with an owner who does not have vision and a general manager who does not have vision. It’s why I was so excited to see the Lakers hire JJ Redick because he is our only chance at having a visionary force driving the team and franchise in the right direction.
Part of the problem is also the Lakers superstar obsession, which under the new CBA may ultimately mean teams cannot even build double superstar teams going forward. It’s like the NBA has a vision of the 30 best superstars divided up between the 30 NBA teams. It’s the NBA’s effort to remake themselves into the basketball version of the NFL.
The Lakers will not be able to have a pure direction for the team until LeBron James retires. Hopefully, then we will start to see clarity. As long as LeBron James is still playing at this level, the Lakers’ split priorities will continue to rule the day and create conflicts.