Pacers Pulse Podcast

Aaron Nesmith probably isn’t going to be the Pacers’ biggest star next season.But what if he ends up being one of their most important players?In this episode of Pacers Pulse, I’am taking a closer look at why I think we may be underestimating Aaron Nesmith heading into the 2026-27 season.Nesmith doesn’t need to become a 20-point scorer or suddenly turn into a star for his value to increase dramatically. In fact, I think his ability to shoot, defend, run in transition, space the floor, and make quick decisions could make him an extremely important piece alongside a healthy Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.I’ll break down what Nesmith can provide without needing the ball in his hands, why Haliburton’s return could have a major impact on his game, and why Nesmith’s defensive versatility could be just as important as his shooting.I’ll also look at what the Pacers could look like with different lineups featuring Nesmith, including how he could fit alongside Andrew Nembhard, Ivica Zubac, Pascal Siakam, and Indiana’s small-ball options.But this isn’t going to be an Aaron Nesmith hype video.I’ll also talk about the biggest concerns including offensive inconsistency, shooting variance, availability, and the competition for minutes.And at the end, I’ll give you my prediction for Nesmith’s role, realistic production, and just how important I think he could be to the Pacers this season.Are we looking at Aaron Nesmith the wrong way?And where would you rank him among the five most important players on the Pacers roster?Let me know your top five in the comments.Link for Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3KyljZTLink for Spotify podcast: http://bit.ly/44IiMD6Follow us on https://www.instagram.com/pacerspulsepodcastFollow us on https://youtube.com/@pacerspulsepodcast?si=crrXb6UOfZb9uCOHFollow us on https://x.com/pacerspulsepod?s=21If you’re into basketball cards, check out our eBay page: https://ebay.us/m/LjwNZBFollow us on https://www.instagram.com/hardwoodripsFollow us on https://www.youtube.com/@UC8fpKz0r397MTlTu9Ll4LoQ

The NBA is getting bigger but what if that actually creates an opportunity for the Indiana Pacers?In this episode of Pacers Pulse, I dive into what could be one of Indiana’s biggest advantages heading into the 2026-27 NBA season: the ability to play small, play fast, and force bigger teams to keep up.The Pacers don’t necessarily need to beat bigger teams by matching them with size. They may be able to beat them by making them uncomfortable.I’ll break down why Indiana’s pace, ball movement, cutting, transition offense, and ability to attack before defenses are set could create major problems for teams built around size and length. We’ll also look back at the Pacers’ Finals run and how their speed and relentless style helped them make opponents play a game they didn’t always want to play.But there’s an important question: If small-ball can be such a weapon, why did the Pacers add Ivica Zubac?I’ll get into why Zubac doesn’t have to contradict Indiana’s identity and why the real advantage could be having the ability to switch between size and speed depending on the matchup.Plus, I’ll look at what a dangerous Pacers small-ball lineup could look like, when Indiana should use it, and the biggest weaknesses that could keep it from working.Because maybe the question isn’t whether the Pacers have enough size.Maybe the question is whether they can make everyone else play at their speed.The NBA can keep getting bigger. The Pacers don’t have to play their game.🏀 Topics covered:Why the NBA is getting biggerWhy small-ball could be a major Pacers advantageHow Indiana’s pace can wear down bigger teamsWhat the Pacers’ Finals run taught usHow Ivica Zubac fits into this identityThe small lineup that could change a gameThe biggest weaknesses of playing smallWhy pace could become a weapon in a playoff seriesWhat this could mean for the 2026-27 PacersQuestion for you: Would you rather see the Pacers match bigger teams with size, or lean into their speed and try to run those teams out of the building?Let me know in the comments.Link for Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3KyljZTLink for Spotify podcast: http://bit.ly/44IiMD6Follow us on https://www.instagram.com/pacerspulsepodcastFollow us on https://youtube.com/@pacerspulsepodcast?si=crrXb6UOfZb9uCOHFollow us on https://x.com/pacerspulsepod?s=21If you’re into basketball cards, check out our eBay page: https://ebay.us/m/LjwNZBFollow us on https://www.instagram.com/hardwoodripsFollow us on https://www.youtube.com/@UC8fpKz0r397MTlTu9Ll4LoQ

 What happens if Jay Huff doesn’t play well enough to keep the Pacers’ backup-center minutes?That’s the question at the heart of this episode of Pacers Pulse.Right now, Huff looks like the obvious backup behind Ivica Zubac. But being the projected backup center in August doesn’t guarantee he’ll still have that role once the season begins.What if the defense isn’t good enough? What if rebounding becomes an issue? What if Rick Carlisle doesn’t trust him with 15–20 minutes a night?Who gets those minutes?In this episode, I break down every realistic possibility, from going small and using Pascal Siakam at center, to finding another player on the roster who can absorb those minutes, to potentially making a move at the trade deadline.I’ll look at:🏀 Why Jay Huff makes sense as the Pacers’ backup center🏀 What could cause Huff to lose his rotation spot🏀 What happens if Huff actually works out🏀 Whether Pascal Siakam can handle small-ball 5 minutes🏀 If Indiana can survive without a traditional backup center🏀 Which other players could potentially absorb those minutes🏀 When the backup-center problem could become a trade deadline issue🏀 What Indiana would actually need if they entered the trade market🏀 The four possible plans: Huff, small ball, another big, or a tradeAnd ultimately, this isn’t really about predicting that Jay Huff will fail.It’s about whether the Pacers have a Plan B if he does.So what would YOU do?If Jay Huff isn’t good enough to be the backup center, where should those minutes go?A — Go smallB — Move Siakam to the 5C — Give another big the minutesD — Trade for another centerAnd if you choose D, when do you make the trade? Do you wait until the deadline or try to fix the problem immediately?Subscribe to Pacers Pulse for more Indiana Pacers analysis, offseason discussion, roster breakdowns, and 2026-27 season coverage.Link for Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3KyljZTLink for Spotify podcast: http://bit.ly/44IiMD6Follow us on https://www.instagram.com/pacerspulsepodcastFollow us on https://youtube.com/@pacerspulsepodcast?si=crrXb6UOfZb9uCOHFollow us on https://x.com/pacerspulsepod?s=21If you’re into basketball cards, check out our eBay page: https://ebay.us/m/LjwNZBFollow us on https://www.instagram.com/hardwoodripsFollow us on https://www.youtube.com/@UC8fpKz0r397MTlTu9Ll4LoQ

The 2026-27 Indiana Pacers have too many unanswered questions to know right now exactly what this team is.But I think we’ll have a MUCH clearer answer after their first 20 games.In this episode of Pacers Pulse, I’m breaking down the 5 biggest questions that will determine what Indiana can become this season — and by the end, I’ll give you my prediction for where the Pacers will stand after Game 20.🔥 Is Tyrese Haliburton really back? After his Achilles injury, what does “the old Tyrese” actually look like and what could his return unlock for the rest of the roster?🧱 Can Ivica Zubac actually change the Pacers? Indiana didn’t acquire Zubac just to add another center. Can he bring the rebounding, interior scoring, physicality and defensive presence this team desperately needs?🎯 Can Andrew Nembhard become the third creator? Nembhard took a major offensive step last season, but can he prove he can consistently create offense alongside Haliburton and Pascal Siakam?🛡️ Is the Pacers’ defense finally good enough? With Zubac, Nembhard, Aaron Nesmith and Siakam, can Indiana develop a defensive identity that holds up when the offense isn’t clicking?🚨 And the biggest question: Are the Pacers actually a playoff team?I don’t think we can answer that today.But after 20 games?I think we’ll know.I’ll also put myself on the record with my Game 20 prediction, including Indiana’s projected record, Eastern Conference position, Haliburton’s progression, Nembhard’s role, Zubac’s impact, the defense, the biggest surprise and the biggest concern.Because the goal isn’t to predict the entire season after one month.It’s to figure out whether the pieces are actually starting to fit.What’s the ONE thing you need to see from the Pacers in their first 20 games before you believe they’re actually a playoff team?Drop your answer in the comments.If you’re a Pacers fan, subscribe to Pacers Pulse for more Indiana Pacers analysis, reactions, predictions and conversations throughout the 2026-27 season.Link for Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3KyljZTLink for Spotify podcast: http://bit.ly/44IiMD6Follow us on https://www.instagram.com/pacerspulsepodcastFollow us on https://youtube.com/@pacerspulsepodcast?si=crrXb6UOfZb9uCOHFollow us on https://x.com/pacerspulsepod?s=21If you’re into basketball cards, check out our eBay page: https://ebay.us/m/LjwNZBFollow us on https://www.instagram.com/hardwoodripsFollow us on https://www.youtube.com/@UC8fpKz0r397MTlTu9Ll4LoQ

If Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam are the Indiana Pacers’ top two offensive players when healthy, one massive question remains:Who becomes the Pacers’ 3rd scoring option?Is it Andrew Nembhard? Could Aaron Nesmith take the next step offensively? Or could Ivica Zubac become a surprisingly important scoring weapon for Indiana?On this episode of Pacers Pulse, I break down all three cases and ask the bigger question: Can the Pacers seriously compete if they don’t have a reliable third scorer?I dive into:🏀 Why Indiana needs more than just Haliburton and Siakam🔥 Andrew Nembhard’s ability to create his own shot🎯 Why Aaron Nesmith could be the perfect offensive fit💪 How Ivica Zubac could provide reliable interior scoring⚔️ Nembhard vs. Nesmith vs. Zubac — who has the highest ceiling?📈 Who fits best alongside Tyrese Haliburton?🏆 Who could become the most important scorer in a playoff series?🤔 Does Indiana actually need one permanent third scorer?🔮 My final ranking and the player I believe NEEDS to become that guyThe Pacers don’t necessarily need three 25-point scorers. But they do need another player defenses have to worry about.So who should be Indiana’s third scoring option?Nembhard, Nesmith, or Zubac?Drop your pick and your projected points per game in the comments.Subscribe to Pacers Pulse for more Indiana Pacers analysis, reactions, debates, and offseason coverage.Link for Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3KyljZTLink for Spotify podcast: http://bit.ly/44IiMD6Follow us on https://www.instagram.com/pacerspulsepodcastFollow us on https://youtube.com/@pacerspulsepodcast?si=crrXb6UOfZb9uCOHFollow us on https://x.com/pacerspulsepod?s=21If you’re into basketball cards, check out our eBay page: https://ebay.us/m/LjwNZBFollow us on https://www.instagram.com/hardwoodripsFollow us on https://www.youtube.com/@UC8fpKz0r397MTlTu9Ll4LoQ