Breaking down the East Finals in a cross-over episode with Knicks Film School
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
To preview the latest installment of Pacers versus Knicks, Samson Folk and I joined DJ Zullo and Benjy Rithol...
2025-05-19 11:27:32 +0000 UTC View Post
Previewing the Eastern Conference Finals through the lens of the player who the Pacers need to star in his role against not just one, but maybe two, opposing stars
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
When the Pacers lost 123-98 to the New York Knicks in what was the second game of the regular season, they looked "awfully" different<...
2025-05-17 21:49:33 +0000 UTC View Post
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, discussing how the Pacers closed out the Cavs to return to the Eastern Conference Finals, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribing and/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the sp...
2025-05-14 19:32:05 +0000 UTC View Post
For the second season in a row, the Pacers are headed to the Eastern Conference Finals
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk
Not every game can start with a whole heap of triples, and Game 5 certainly didn’t for the Pacers. There was a change in their approach to ball pressure, and there was an inability to keep the wraps on Donovan Mitchell - especially in the open floor. The Pacers were hacking, to some degree. Mit...
2025-05-14 01:59:24 +0000 UTC View Post
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, discussing how the Pacers dominated Game 4, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribing and/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the Pacers 2025-05-12 19:39:44 +0000 UTC View Post
I ate a creamsicle and played basketball today. If ever there were markers for future success…
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk
There’s a lot of things that change schematically game to game in the playoffs, but there is something to be said for playing with more “force”. Platitudes rock sometimes, because sometimes they’re true, and they can perfectly encapsulate what changed.
The Pacers, flat out...
2025-05-12 02:54:54 +0000 UTC View Post
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, discussing Game 3 as a convergence of every nagging concern from the regular season, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribing and/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken ...
2025-05-10 20:05:39 +0000 UTC View Post
Nothing gold can stay… an apology from myself and Robert Frost. I wanted the run to keep going.
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk
Everyone hit the lineup. The bill of health was clean. Best on best. A heavyweight fight night in Indiana.
It made sense then, that Darius Garland's burst and creativity was what led to a wide open triple to break the seal on Game 3. No wasted time or motion. The Cavs...
2025-05-10 02:41:01 +0000 UTC View Post
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, discussing an all-time playoff sequence for the Pacers, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribing and/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the P...
2025-05-07 19:26:29 +0000 UTC View Post
Ahem, wins, not tragedies… anyway
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk
Andrew Nembhard stole the tip. How does Caitlin Cooper correctly predict everything this guy does?
Jumpers went long and short, over the first handful of minutes, for the Pacers. Drives went short, and only short. A bit too passive off the bounce to begin with, and they opened up the game shooting 1-of-7 from downtown. Which, if that's the ...
2025-05-07 02:10:35 +0000 UTC View Post
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, discussing the extremes of a Game 1 semi-finals win over the Cavs, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribing and/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words ...
2025-05-05 19:43:29 +0000 UTC View Post
I write wins… not tragedies…
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk
Grab. Go. Grab. Go. Grab. Go. The Pacers knew what was up from the moment the ball tipped off and they ran with frenetic pace until the first break in play six minutes into the opening frame. A 19-14 run – is that even a run? probably not – that saw backcourt pressure, and a comfortability to coax shots from power forwards from both teams. The P...
2025-05-05 00:45:02 +0000 UTC View Post
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk and Evin Gualberto, going deep on the nitty gritty of Pacers-Cavs, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribing and/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words a...
2025-05-03 12:04:07 +0000 UTC View Post
Reveling in the mayhem that was Game 5 and answering mailbag questions
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
The Pacers opened Game 5 in a 13-0 hole. They only had 13 points at the end of the first quarter. They trailed by as many as 20 points, and they were down by seven with 40 seconds to play. And yet, somehow, even with Pascal Siakam playing the entire overtime with five fouls and only chipping in 10 points on ...
2025-04-30 21:43:26 +0000 UTC View Post
Wow.
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk
One of the worst quarters of basketball I have ever had the displeasure of watching. The Bucks elected to start their good and successful lineup of Giannis-KPJ-Green-Portis-GTJ and switched everything out above the break. The Pacers response to this, initially, was to saunter and meander above the break with very little purpose. To shy away from the ball pressure by backing u...
2025-04-30 01:13:47 +0000 UTC View Post
On earning a "get right" win by attacking left - repeatedly
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
In leading from start to finish and speeding ahead by as many as 26 points, the Pacers put themselves in the driver's seat, both at the macro-level, in taking a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Bucks, as well as in the micro-sense, with respect to their change in approach as drivers to cruise to a 129-103 win in Ga...
2025-04-28 20:35:01 +0000 UTC View Post
On the rubberbanding and counterpunching of the Pacers
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk
Smash mouth hoops, baby. Bodies were colliding early and often to kick off Game 4. Both teams jumped handoffs. Both teams put shoulders squarely in chests. Fiserv Forum boomed for every possession. Myles Turner, who struggled so much in Game 3, granted his finesse to the Pacers early on to take a 13-7 lead after the initial flu...
2025-04-28 04:15:10 +0000 UTC View Post
On the double whammy that was double teaming
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
In what was a 117-101 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pacers collapsed in more ways than one, surrendering a 12-point lead in less than four minutes as they made a series of defensive errors to start the third quarter that saw them too often collapsing on the ball.
Without further ado, here's a look at what led to, and resulte...
2025-04-26 14:43:15 +0000 UTC View Post
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, breaking down how the Pacers attacking Milwaukee's increased volume of switches to take Game 2, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribing and/or sharing it around. Alright, onto ...
2025-04-23 20:08:05 +0000 UTC View Post
Indiana takes 2-0 lead over Bucks
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard were finally lining up, together, across from the Pacers for a playoff series. We made it. The Bucks were running double drag with Lillard on ball, and playing zone on the other end. Players hit the lineup. Several courtside crowd members dressed up in their brightest oranges along with their camo. Stops ha...
2025-04-23 01:54:03 +0000 UTC View Post
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, breaking down how the Pacers took advantage of homecourt advantage, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribing and/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words...
2025-04-20 20:37:20 +0000 UTC View Post
Indiana takes advantage with homecourt advantage
By: Samson Folk I @samfolkk
The hypotheticals immediately go out the window. The basketball is here. The Pacers have Nembhard going under screens in the backcourt, they're starting Siakam on Antetokounmpo and switching the 4-5 actions. The theme of this series: Giannis vs Pacers bore out in the 15-8 run that opened the game in the Pacers favor. The Pacers favo...
2025-04-19 20:01:31 +0000 UTC View Post
My work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This video podcast with Samson Folk, going deep on the nitty gritty of Pacers-Bucks, is available as a free trial for everyone. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribing and/or sharing it around. Alright, onto the spoken and written words about the Pacers 2025-04-16 12:00:17 +0000 UTC View Post
Previewing Pacers-Bucks through the lens of the player who didn't play in the two most recent games against the Bucks
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
On March 17, when the Pacers dug deep into the bench to snap Minnesota's eight-game win streak on the road with Tyrese Haliburton, Aaron Nesmith, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner all unavailable, Jarace Walker hadn't played in any of the prior three games and his...
2025-04-14 12:30:02 +0000 UTC View Post
The written work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This article from monthly contributor Samson Folk, on how Obi Toppin tops off the Pacers, is available as a free trial. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribing and/or sharing it around. Alright, on to his words about the Pacers.
... 2025-04-11 13:00:25 +0000 UTC View Post
Heyyy, do you like t-shirts?
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
Down five with 35 seconds to play, the Sacramento Kings needed a quick score. As Zach LaVine rounded the bend of an off-ball screening action, it appeared as though he might have an easy shot at the basket. Crouching low on the catch, he attempted to snake his way to the rim while leaning into the body of Andrew Nembhard.
Then, he air-ba...
2025-04-10 12:00:09 +0000 UTC View Post
Previewing a potential playoff tactic
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
The playoffs start in less than two weeks. At the time of this writing, the Pacers are in solid position to claim the No. 4 seed, which means hosting a first-round series against Milwaukee or Detroit, rather than facing a top-three team on the road. Those two teams play each other twice to close out the season. So, even if the Pacers...
2025-04-07 12:45:00 +0000 UTC View Post
On the emergence of Aaron Nesmith and Jarace Walker, along with a potential playoff trend
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
Before the Oklahoma City Thunder went ultra-small, amassing 41 points in the third quarter with 6-foot-6 combo forward Kenrich Williams starting the second half at nominal center, there was a fleeting, yet thought-provoking, curiosity that occurred just prior to halftime. With 4:38 remain...
2025-04-02 16:12:52 +0000 UTC View Post
Assessing potential playoff match-ups, determining which players on the roster are most mission critical, gazing at how bright the team's stars are shining (or dimming?) on defense, and much, much more
By: Caitlin Cooper I @C2_Cooper
As promised, this is the last mailbag of the regular season. Also, as promised, there is a twist -- monthly contributor Samson Folk joined me to record this final inst...
2025-03-31 12:53:25 +0000 UTC View Post
The written work at Basketball, She Wrote is typically paywalled. This article from monthly contributor Samson Folk, as a top-down look at how Bennedict Maturin swings the Pacers' fortunes, is available as a free trial. If you're new here and want to support independent writing about actual basketball, please consider subscribing and/or sharing it around. Alright, on to hi...
2025-03-27 13:00:17 +0000 UTC View Post