A lot happens each week with the Pacers and it’s not easy to stay on top of it. Introducing a new weekly feature, Pacers Last Week, which should help keep you up-to-date on all things Pacers.
I purposefully waited a day later to post this, rather than the usual 5:00 am Monday morning, to observe if it got any traction and to see if readers wondered where it was. They didn’t, so we still have a ways to go. And that’s fine – slow and steady.
Enjoy!
- The team hosted 50 men and women from USO of Indiana to practice on Monday as part of Hoops for Troops week. They were treated to lunch by Levy Restaurants, watched practice at the St. Vincent Center, and then visited with the players and coaches afterwards.
- Victor Oladipo took ownership of the team’s loss to New Orleans, 117-112. Though unnecessary, that was mature of him. Showed leadership, too, as he did not make excuses.
- That was a fun game for Jamelle McMillan, an assistant for the Pelicans. He finally beat pops in Indy.
- Former Pacer Donald Sloan (2013-15) entered the G League and is playing for the Texas Legends, affiliate of the Dallas Mavericks.
- Lance Stephenson posted his best game offensively since the season opener against New Orleans with 14 points and nine rebounds.
- Glenn Robinson III, out after ankle surgery, put shots up from a chair.
- Part II of my podcast with Mark Montieth was posted – this one on “Reborn,” his book on pro basketball arriving in Indianapolis – even before the ABA Pacers.
- NBA viewership on cable is up 15 percent over last season.
- Chicago was named host of the 2020 NBA All-Star game, perhaps making it more difficult for the game to return to a cold, midwest city like Indianapolis in 2021 – the year for which they submitted a proposal. 2018 is in Los Angeles and 2019 is in Charlotte.
- Domantas Sabonis returned Friday in Chicago after a two-game absence due to a right calf contusion.
- During a halftime ceremony at Sunday’s game, the Pacers unveiled a “Chair of Honor” for POW/MIA – “For those that answered the call … and, yet to return home.”
- Thad Young was scoreless in 24 minutes in their loss to Houston. He was 0 for 7 and visibly frustrated. As he checked out late in the game, he pulled at the middle of his jersey and it ripped. Whoops!
- Despite having one of those nights, Young wasn’t to himself or selfish in the locker room afterwards. Just the opposite. Before speaking to several reporters, he tried to school up rookie Ike Anigbogu on how he eventually needs to get to a point where he knows each player’s responsibility on the court. Know the point guard’s movements on each set, know the shooting guard, etc. Anigbogu, who’s barely 19, is still trying to learn his responsibilities on the fly.
- I enjoyed catching up with Indy product Eric Gordon, last season’s Sixth Man of the Year award winner. Victor Oladipo talked about their relationship – and called EJ “a certified hooper.”
New drill for T.J. Leaf to practice blocking out the noise pic.twitter.com/Iw364HfX2d
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) November 12, 2017
James Harden 🧔🏾 getting shots up pic.twitter.com/ptXQ8r35VM
— Scott Agness (@ScottAgness) November 12, 2017
Victor🌪 Oladipo pic.twitter.com/Zl9mmrRj6p
— NBA (@NBA) November 11, 2017