Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability | November 28, 2025

Indiana Pacers Postgame Media Availability | November 28, 2025

you guys allowed uh 90 97 in Toronto two nights ago, only 86 today. Uh do do you feel like those raw numbers are reflective of the defensive quality you’ve had? And if so, where do you feel like you’re seeing progress on that end of the floor these last couple games? Well, we’re we’re starting to understand what it takes to win games. Um it takes an unbending commitment to the defensive end and uh transition defense, you know. Um, last time we we played uh Toronto, I I went through this before the game. You know, it was 63 points in the first eight seconds and then, you know, we did better u the second game. Um, tonight they had I think they had 30 uh 31 in the first eight seconds of the first half and then in the second half they had very few and so we we you know we were better. Um but right now, you know, it’s it’s um it’s important to understand style-wise that um aesthetics are not important. Uh what’s important is possession of the ball. Um physicality without unnecessary fouls. Um certainly rebounding and you know, offensive execution. Um, you know, we did some good things tonight. We had some uh mistakes, but um overall a lot of good things. Just so I’m clear, you’re talking about total points scored in the first eight seconds of a possession by your opponent with that stack. Yes. And if so, what what is so telling about that to you from games that’s been good and bad? Well, they they answered back a lot of times in the first half and they’re great answer back team. You guys remember the games last year? They were fast games. I mean, this same this team plays fast. Um, and they shoot a lot of early threes and, you know, we were able to limit some of that um, tonight, you know, which was which was good. I mean, they took 32. That’s uh, a relatively low number for them. Um, but look, each game’s going to be a little different. Um, I just, you know, I I really I just liked our grit tonight, and that’s what we’re going to have to have tomorrow and Monday and Wednesday. What did you like about JHub with that opening group today? It it just it seemed like um the right time to give it a look. Um I haven’t watched the film yet, so I don’t know, but look, Jay’s been doing a really good job with rim protection. Um he gives us a different look offensively. And so, you know, we’ll see what’s what for tomorrow. Uh we’ll see where things are with uh with with Andrew and and whether he’s able to go or not. And um you know, Chicago is a different a different team. They do some of the same things, but they do some different things. How much do you think the progress has to do with these guys just figuring out who each other is as a defender? I mean, just in terms of where somebody’s going to be, the communication factor. I mean, how far do you think that has to how much do you think that explains just the improvement on defense? Just everybody kind of knowing each other? There’s been improvement with communication, but it’s defense in today’s NBA um has to be has to be coached hard. Um has to be coached hard by the head coach, by the defensive coordinator, the defensive coaches. Um and and really it has to be coached hard by the players to themselves. You know, they they have to understand its importance. Um, and they have to believe in in its importance. And look, if if they don’t believe it’s important, they’re not going to play. You know, they’re not I mean, you know, tonight, you know, Matine did some really good things defensively. Um, I was ready to tackle Walker on the first play of the second half when when he casually let uh Middleton get wide open for a shot, you know, and I mentioned it to him pretty strong in a huddle and then, you know, after the game, I mean, this is no time to celebrate, you know, after winning your third win in 19 or 20 games or whatever it is. Um, you know, we we’ve got we’ve got to keep working. We’ve got to keep working. And you know, guys, the guys on our roster that came in this league thinking that this was going to be about aesthetics and skill and, you know, a rhythm and all that stuff ain’t going to be playing on this team. They’re just not, you know, that’s that’s not where we are. And so we we’ve we’ve seen some growth and but it’s going to be an ongoing it’s going to be an ongoing um task and challenge. Just uh that being said, Pascal is a guy that you’ve talked about just the importance of his leadership and and you know just what he’s done to keep this this team in games every night. Just what impressed you? What’s continue to impress you about how he’s continued to show up and play as he has and what impressed you about him tonight in particular? He he decided that we were not going to lose this game tonight. And so he was ultraaggressive but within within our system and really adjusted system and our spacing um elements and stuff like that. He was he was tremendous and I I thought he was as good as he was on offense, he was he was equally good equally good and maybe better defensively in rebounding the ball. Just how helpful is it when you can obviously he can create as as a 6869 guy. I mean, when you can trust somebody like that to bring the ball up and initiate offense, um, just how much does that help, especially with some of the lineups you were putting out there tonight when you have some length defensively, but he also gives you a guy that can create? I mean, I give you four words. He’s a great player, you know, and that’s why we that’s why we made the deal for him. Um, and you know, he’s and I believe he’s gotten better since he’s been here. Um and and as it’s gotten more difficult, you know, a lot of veterans in that situation would lose interest. They would start questioning things. They’d come up with aches and pains out of nowhere. Things like, he ain’t doing that, you know. He ain’t doing that. Um he’s committed to this organization and this franchise and these fans and and and we’re committed to him. Just one more real quick. Just uh TJ just continues to sort of stack performances over the last week or so. Just how much do you see him to sort of take a step each day and and how much you think he got everybody sort of organized tonight? Well, he’s he’s um he’s doing better. That’s obvious. And so, you know, the return to play the the the runway to return to play is um is arduous. It’s it takes time. Um there there’s going to be there’s going to be some clunky things to it with anybody coming back from injury. Um I thought he worked through that stuff in a very professional manner and now he’s positioned himself to where you know he’s got his rhythm back, got his legs and um you know give uh give Ben Shepard and and Ray J Dennis a lot of credit tonight. They created helped create a situation where TJ didn’t even have to get to 20 minutes and that was extremely important. Ask how you guys held Toronto to 97 two nights ago, 86 for the Wizards today. Those are obviously impressive raw numbers in the current NBA. What do you feel like defensively you guys have done pretty well these last couple games? Um, you know, I think our intensity is a little bit it’s is a little bit up. Um, we still, you know, I think gave some transition points. I don’t know what game that was. I don’t know if it was Detroit or whatever, but um, but I think we we We got to keep building, you know, on on on this. Um, I thought our energy and our effort on defense has been good the past three, four games or so. Um, and, you know, we play some tough competition. We we lost some unfortunate games. Um, so if if we win those, you know, it looks a little different, but I think like we just got to continue to um hang on our defense, like that’s, you know, when when you’re not making shots or you feel like the offense is slow or whatever is happening, like um you can always lean on defense. So, um it’s encouraging that, you know, regardless of the opponent that we have these defensive games, um and that we can we can we can build on that. You mentioned transition defense in there and Rick mentioned the stat about how many points opponents have scored in the first eight seconds of possession or something like that. How important has early defense become to that success you guys have had and what does that specifically take to improve at when it’s such a part of the game? Yeah. No, we we know that teams, you know, most teams want to play fast. So, um, those those first three steps backs got to be, you know, we got to get there, um, as a group, you know, get there on defense and we can, you know, I think the more you can have people play in the half court, I think the better for for, you know, chances you have of stopping them. So, um, that’s what we got to continue to focus on. And, um, and again, continue to build good habits. Like, that’s that’s going to be my my message to everyone every single day. Um, no matter the score, no matter the record, um, build good habits. And I think that if we do that, you know, we’re going to give ourselves like good chances to win games every single night. What have you liked about playing next to Jay Huff in that opening group? Um yeah, I think it’s good just, you know, obviously, um someone that that’s a shooting threat out there, you know, um and again, we we we continue to just work and and find, you know, ways to to be effective out there as a group um with him out there and and obviously when you have Z and um you know, Tony there, it’s a whole different vibe, too. So, I think we just got to continue to to work on those things and um and and for him, like you know, just just going out there getting blocks, um running the floor, shoot the ball when you’re open, and and you know, and just got to keep keep going. Rick was in here just kind of praising the leadership that you’ve brought to this whole thing. He said you you just decided you guys were not going to lose this one tonight. I mean, you’ve talked about the struggles of all this. What does it mean in the midst of this when you do get one? Um yeah, you can’t take it for granted cuz you know every single night you go out there like um when you’re used to winning, you know, like it’s you take it for granted. So, I think every day that we go out there, every every single possession that we win, every single um run that we have, every single wins, like we got to we got to take it and and um enjoy it and um and know which is the most important, what know what it took for us to get to that, you know, like and and um I think I think I just tired of lo like we we can’t keep losing. Like that’s that’s that’s got to be our mindset. And um and and we got to give everything for that. like and and I think when you win it feels good. Everyone feels good when they’re winning and and everyone can smile. Everybody’s happy. Like the vibes is good. Um and and that’s what we got to focus on. Cherish that moment. Um chase that moment like those those feelings and good feelings and and good feels like cuz that’s that’s what we want. We got to chase that. What’s you’ve talked before about just after every game you’re talking asking yourself what can I do better? I mean just what’s it what’s it taken to just continue to hold yourself to the highest of standards and Yeah. I mean, I think like for me, um, I want to be great. Like that’s I want to be I want to be the greatest that I can be. So, um, that’s my motivation every single day. No matter who’s out there, no matter who we play, no matter what’s happening. Um, that’s my motivation. And, um, obviously with this group, like just continue to to evolve as a leader. Um, you know, if it’s if it’s guarding, you know, people, I’m I’m I’m ready to do that. If it’s scoring, I’m ready to do that. Like, I just want to do everything that I can to be the most complete player that I can be. Um, and you know, sometimes it’s going to be good, sometimes it’s not. And and and it doesn’t really matter for me, like because my process is always good and and um I know that I I put, you know, the work in um on the court, off the court, um learning about everything and and continue to to be the the best version of myself. So, um I take pride in that, you know. Um that’s that’s that’s what got me where I where I am today. And um it’s not going to stop regardless of, you know, if winning games or not winning games. I just know that my process got to be the same. and and I got to keep holding myself accountable and um trying to be the best that I can be. And just at what point tonight did you have a sense of the opportunity you’re going to have as far as getting the ball to the paint, getting the ball? Um yeah, I know I think you know they obviously in a lot of games, you know, I see a lot of bodies and and you know, people send two, three, you know, like every time I’m I’m out there. So, um you know, I think they don’t they don’t double as much. Um so that’s good. You know, just you can get to your spots and things like that. Um, but I think we we also continue to work as a team on like, you know, spacing. Um, give ourselves like space out there, you know, like when Ben has the ball, you know, know where we need to be as a team. Um, to make sure that we open the floor up for him. Um, when I have the ball, same thing. And we can have those outlet passes and and make make the game a little easier for everyone, you know. So, when we play a team that don’t double, like, you know, I think obviously it feels good. I asked this question to Jay and he immediately like turned around and knocked on his locker, but what you’ve had some level of continuity lately and I know it’s I’m afraid to jinx that. Um, but how helpful has that been on both sides of the ball that it seems like guys are starting to get used to each other? Have you No, I mean I think it’s good. Again, um, we we can’t we, you know, obviously we we haven’t had a lot of success this year. So, um, I think every good moments that we can have, it should feel good. Like it should be good. We we and and like I said earlier, we got to chase that. We got to chase that and we got to continue to be be addicted to that feeling cuz that’s that’s what’s going to help us get out, you know, a bad bad situation where we lose two, three, four, five games in a row. Like um you know, losing sucks. Like nobody likes to lose. Like I I for sure don’t. So um that’s that’s my my mindset every single time out there. Like let’s keep building good habits and um you know we won’t be scared to jinx it because we’re playing the right way. we’re doing the right things and and um we’re putting ourselves in a position to win every single night and sometimes it’s going to be a win, sometimes it’s not, but if we do the right things, I think we’re giving ourselves the highest chance. 97 points two nights ago, 80 whatever tonight the background is definitely wrong. Um what do you make of what you guys have done these last two games in terms of your growth on that end of the floor and how much better it’s felt defensively? I think it’s felt pretty good, man. I think that we um we’re we’re better defensively. That’s exactly what we need. Um, and we just got to keep it keep it going. Where do you feel that for you guys on the end of the floor? Rick praised you specifically just a couple minutes ago for your work on that end, but as a team, where do you feel like you’ve noticed the most defensive growth this week? Um, I just feel like we take matchups uh, you know, more personal and I think that um, you know, we have guys on the team who who can really guard and just about knowing that um, you know, if you get beat, you have you have your teammates back. That’s I mean that’s you know the best thing that we’ve been able to do the past two games. You left I hate to go back two games but after the last shot in Toronto you were you know really upset hands in your head. Was there more to that than just the win and loss coming from that shot for you personally? Yeah I think that um you know there was a great moment. It was a great opportunity. Um even the Detroit you know Detroit game possibility for a game winner. you know, I just feel like um missing those two shots um you know, definitely showed me that there’s more work to do and you know, I’m willing to do it. That that’s who I want to be. You know, I want to be able to take the last shot. So, you know, I’m just you know, taking a step back and appreciating my teammates for trusting in me. Um you know, and I I would definitely make the next shot. Jay Huff started with you guys tonight. I still think back to the video of you calling him Jay Sweetheart down in Orlando. But what have you thought of him as a teammate and how he fits with you guys in that starting group these last couple games? He’s been good, man. He’s been good. You know, I uh I get on I’m pretty tough on Jay because I know what he can do. Um and I know exactly how well he can be as well. So, um you know, if there if there’s a teammate that’s that’s been hard on, you know, everybody else, it’s me because I expect everybody just to be at their best uh as I as I expect them to expect me to be at my best. So, um you know, it’s it’s great to win, man. It’s great to win. We’re looking forward to um to keep to keep building as a team and I think that we have a great opportunity that’s in front of us. You talked about just having each other’s backs on defensive. What’s it just meant to have some level of continuity in terms of who’s out there defensively? I mean, what have you guys gotten better, do you think, because you have a better sense of how each of you defend and how you operate and how you move on that end. Do you have a better sense of how you guys are supposed to move as a group now because you’ve had I mean, how many games we in? 19 games. Yeah. Yeah, I mean um that was that was good. Pretty accurate. Anyways, uh I mean listen, I think that uh everybody everybody’s tired of losing, you know, and I think that uh everybody’s willing to to do what’s right for us to win. And I think we we’ve kind of I wouldn’t say we found the for the the formula of playing games and, you know, winning games, but we know that it takes us to work hard, you know, to to keep um to keep winning games. What’s impressed you about Pascal as a veteran? How’s he he’s approached this? I think Rick just said he just decided that you guys were not going to lose this one. I mean, just what impressed you about him tonight and but just in general how he’s approached this as a guy who’s been around as long I mean, he’s been good, man. You know, that’s that’s who we need him to be. Um, you know, as the main leader on the team, you know, if he if he if he makes the extra effort to dive on the floor, then everybody’s going to do it. And I think he’s he’s he’s been he’s been doing that on both sides of the ball. Um, so definitely want to give him credit, but not too much, you know, because we got a game tomorrow and uh, like I said, I expect him to do the same thing. What I I guess just, you know, uh, as somebody who wants to play at that level, what stands out to you about what he does? I mean, what what are the things that you have learned from him and picked up from from being around him the last couple years? um just feel like his his uh his aggressiveness, you know, he’s um you know, when he when he decides that he’s he’s he’s um he’s going to do something, you know, he’s he goes with it at 100%. And that’s it’s great to see, man. It’s good to to to, you know, see it from a different perspective and and just see how he does it. So I can maybe learn from

Rick Carlisle, Pascal Siakam and Bennedict Mathurin speak with the media following a 119-86 win over the Wizards on Friday night.

0:00 – Rick Carlisle
7:22 – Pascal Siakam
13:59 – Bennedict Mathurin