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.
Less than a week into the season and one head coach has already been fired, former Pacers guard Earl Watson (2009-10).
- Pacers went 1-2: They won the season opener over Brooklyn, then lost both games of a back-to-back, vs Portland and at Miami.
- Jarrod Uthoff, out of the University of Iowa, was the Pacers’ final cut, but he’s confident that he belongs.
- The Mad Ants unveiled their new Nike uniforms.
- Pacers practiced at Bankers Life Fieldhouse for four straight days to get used to the new look and feel.
- Thad Young and Myles Turner were voted team captains.
- Gordon Hayward suffered a gruesome ankle injury that required surgery. Al Jefferson was there for Hayward’s first three years in Utah, and talked about Gordon and his potential.
- Nate McMillan using nine-man rotation to begin the season, plus spot minutes for Damien Wilkins.
- Victor Oladipo is high on Domantas Sabonis: “Damo is the real deal. Domantas Sabonis can play basketball. Everybody talks about the trade as me for Paul [George] and everything like that, but I didn’t come here alone. I try to tell everybody that. No. 11 can play basketball. There’s a reason why the Pacers wanted him here. I feel like he doesn’t get enough credit.”
- Go ahead and call the Portland Trail Blazers “Blazers East.” … the Pacers have more than a dozen connections to them.
- Myles Turner sustained a concussion in game 1 against the Nets and then sat out both weekend games. He did travel with the team but must pass the return-to-play concussion protocol.
- Lance Stephenson on Snapchat after shooting 9 of 33 from the field through three games: “Tough start but the great ones always get through it. I know he has a plan that’s going to shock the world. Positive vibes only.”
- The Pacers stayed overnight in Miami Saturday night, then flew to Minneapolis on Sunday. They play the Timberwolves on Tuesday, then play at Oklahoma City (and against Paul George) on Wednesday.
- Mad Ants drafted three players, then finalized their 17-man training camp roster. Camp opens on Monday, Oct. 23.
[Photo: Frank McGrath/PS&E]