Caitlin Cooper

Hey guys, myself & @samsonfolk.bsky.social talked playoffs & what's next for the Pacers - mailbag! - countering Wemby w/ non-shooters - did IND trade for the wrong big? - what to expect from Tyrese in his return - changes in playoff defenses draft lottery fallout: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWBI...

Since the Pacers don't have a draft pick, I wrote a throwback scouting report on Jarace Walker On where I missed, the importance of scheme when projecting defensive awareness, & why I would relish him getting the first defensive 3-second violation of his career 🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/throwb...

Similar to his offense, he has some impressive stands in isolation (when screen navigation isn't involved). But there are also possessions where push comes to literal shove & others where he is just kinda ... there.

The Pacers rank last in switch frequency & ducked under the fewest picks per 100 possessions of any team in the tracking era. For a scheme that mandates chasing over, on whether AJ Dybantsa can blend in without necessarily standing out on defense: www.patreon.com/posts/on-aj-...

The NBA has recorded 77 zero-pass possessions this season in which a player took at least 20 dribbles before shooting. The Pacers account for none. Draft Profile: On whether AJ Dybantsa can standout while blending in, presented via action comparisons: www.patreon.com/posts/can-aj...

After going over some of Caleb Wilson's limitations, I wrote about what he *can* do on offense -- especially as it pertains to the Pacers. Featured: The speed & separation he generates approaching south-north to break out of hot stove screens for dunks: www.patreon.com/posts/what-c...

At times, Caleb Wilson looks like he can barely contain his excitement to play defense. On his nitrous-powered athleticism, the gap that exists in the gaps with how he exists in the gaps, and what that means for a Pacers team attempting to bridge the gap year: www.patreon.com/posts/on-gap...

Hey guys, myself & @samsonfolk.bsky.social reunited for a 2025-26 Pacers Exit Survey + playoff talk - who improved? - indicators for which players can scale up/down - PG/C hierarchy - are the Pacers still contenders? Do teams get "tricky" in the playoffs? www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqNo...

Crowning this the NBA's trendiest action sequence this season: down-flip-flare. Call from the Pacers is "touch." Exemplifies the PASS > DRIBBLE revival. Also shows why, even when MIN, IND, CHA, TOR, UTA, & countless other teams run the same play, they don't all play the same.

In view of next season, this is my fav type of Obi possession: goes from cutting off an exit screen & shaking up along the arc to dribbling out of a hand-off, kicking to the perimeter & screening for the ball Gets logged as nothing, but he does a lot of something www.patreon.com/posts/obi-to...

I wrote about Obi Toppin returning from injury to top off a season of injuries while also (quietly) topping off certain aspects of his game. As in - I don't know what's gotten into him, but he looks like he could have a second act as a handball star www.patreon.com/posts/obi-to...

Small detail that may have gone unnoticed: Jarace took his first ever charge in his career. Look at the reaction from the coaching staff. Learning to embrace physicality/contact is critical for him. Also, even amid a 16-game losing streak, all of his teammates helped him up.

There are 158 players with at least 200 3PA this season. Among them, Josh Hart has the 13th-longest average defender distance. He went 5-of-5 against IND. I wrote about why the Pacers still need to take plays like this (zero shot contest) to Hart: www.patreon.com/posts/pacers...

I wrote about Cam Boozer & whether his fast, accurate outlet passing can further advance how the Pacers advance in transition. Plus, thoughts on the interconnectedness of rebounding and defensive scheme/role. Just a bunch of film, numbers, & more: www.patreon.com/posts/2026-n...

Today marks three years of Basketball, She Wrote. There's been a lot of highs and, unfortunately, a few lows. I'm still my own harshest critic, but I also still believe that -- similar to the Pacers -- the best may be yet to come. Thanks to everyone who has supported me this far.

Hey guys, myself & @samsonfolk.bsky.social talked about the Pacers betting big on Ivica Zubac - How he can enhance Tyrese - What the change in spacing means for Siakam - Will the Pacers still play fast? - Interior friction - Lots of options at center No longer a "big" problem: youtu.be/yq0tPWQyt7Q

Watch Andrew Nembhard: - veer-back switch on the pop - help on the drive - peel on penetration As a guard, he also defended a White-Vucevic PnR 2v2 in drop, forcing a pass. On how he's been in rare form for a team with winning becoming less rare: www.patreon.com/posts/andrew...

With the trade deadline approaching, how important is rebounding in the context of strengths IND should be looking for at center? Is their path to winning the possession battle still low TOV%? Is tagging up here to stay as a trend? Full video: youtube.com/watch?v=wRfl...

Hey guys, myself & @samsonfolk.bsky.social talked about whether the Pacers are winning at development - Nembhard's playmaking - Furphy's defense/Walker's driving - Prioritizing rebounding in center search? - Lots more! Experimentation vs. playing within scheme youtu.be/wRfl4JRFBCY

This is the first dunk that Jarace Walker has converted in the half-court this season after dribbling from outside the arc. He also tied his career high for points in the paint.

Noticed the same unique slip from the Pistons. Ideally, Duren would hit-and-hold on the screen (like Garza in the prior clip) to keep the big out of the paint while also slowing the on-ball defender's recovery.

Stack PnR is evolving in the NBA to attack guard-to-guard switches. When the stack screen defender jumps out to take the ball, the stack screener is slipping to the rim instead of out to the wing - where the on-ball defender would normally filter out to. Creates a longer, unexpected recovery.

Some teams have started blitzing these pistol-flare empty PnR for TJM. Walker surged into the 3-on-2 and finished with his (gasp) left hand. I wrote about this and other changes from the best game of his career, as well as his overall sense of direction: www.patreon.com/posts/on-jar...

Aaron Nesmith had one foot in the RA at the start of the pass prior to the closeout when he blocked a corner 3PA. He closed 16.9 ft of space. The NBA's average in that scenario is 14.7. A tremendous play, until it wasn't - symbolic of this losing streak: www.patreon.com/posts/aaron-...

The Nembharder they push, the Nembharder they fall.

Out of necessity, a new center option has emerged for the Pacers in the last two games: Johnny Furphy On comparisons to Obi Toppin at the five, & why unlike for the players who keep trying him on defense, there's reason for the Pacers to Furph around and find out: www.patreon.com/posts/furph-...

Told the ref: "I pulled the chair"

Hey guys, myself & @samsonfolk.bsky.social reunited for another Pacers seminar - Is the standard still the standard? - Deep dive on shooting woes at the rim/corners - 2023 Redraft + Draft strategy - Is playing fast still an advantage? - more! Why cover the Pacers? youtu.be/vAxtR-uVy9g

- Nembhard turns the ball back to the full side, triggering the slide cut - Siakam zones up as the low defender, stopping the ball first and foremost, before recovering - ET & Siakam swap recovery paths - No nail help, Huff stays home -> block www.patreon.com/posts/pacers...

In multiple games, the Pacers have put the clamps on one of the NBA's biggest trends: slide cuts On their unique coverage, zoning up w/ the low man on the full side, & how even w/ a 6-18 record they're still finding a way to find a different way 🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/pacers...

I wrote about how the Pacers brought back Stranger Things Night, so to speak. From a game full of curiosities, on the curious case of not guarding Donovan Mitchell by forcing him to guard 🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/how-pa...

Nifty defensive wrinkle from the Pacers against the trendy slide cutting concept designed to attack nail help (corner man cuts to basket, wing slides down to fill that spot). Nail defender stays home. Once on-ball defender is beat, they peel to the cutter. Low-help picks up the ball.

In the span of a few days, Pascal Siakam has experienced both sides of game-winners made in isolation from in-between the paint & the arc On the divergent symmetry of the playmaker becoming the playbook, staring at the past to provide a different look at the future www.patreon.com/posts/on-pas...

Hey guys, myself & @samsonfolk.bsky.social reunited to mailbag about the 2-15 Pacers - how "off-center" are they - both at the five and from regaining championship aspirations - Sheppard-Walker struggles, explained - league-wide trends Importance of role normalization: youtu.be/uJ22JllesUk

Bennedict Mathurin isn't known as a passer, but he's assisting his teammates as a cutter I wrote about how he's reshaping the defense as part of the offense, & not just bending the defense separate from the offense No Paywall: www.patreon.com/posts/why-be...

The Pacers have been through basketball hell. So naturally, I wrote about all of the ways that Andrew Nembhard is navigating the (under)world of defenders ducking under: www.patreon.com/posts/143680...

Two years ago, just before IND traded for Pascal Siakam, Andrew Nembhard had to guard Lauri Markkanen. Now, it was Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. On the non-stop down screens that had IND down bad, & what that match-up says about a healthier team that still isn't whole. 🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/pacers...

Also, during the minutes with Valanciunas at five, Denver cross-matched Bruce Brown onto Jay Huff. So, going at Valanciunas meant involving Cody Martin as the screener.

In case anyone was wondering why the Pacers didn't attack Jokic in PnR more last night, Denver went under A LOT against Nembhard and especially on screens involving Jokic. Nembhard attempted 7 jumpers after two or more dribbles -- the most since Game 4 of the 2024 BOS-IND ECF.

This is the first time that Aaron Nesmith has ever attempted a pull-up three after dribbling off a double drag On an injury-ravaged team that is constantly asking players to play outside their comfort zones, I wrote about a player who's starting to find his: IJax 🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/isaiah...

Also, looking forward to when Furphy starts playing with guards who can make any of these passes

Furphy prevented shots against Podz (counter move), Steph (isolation), Kuminga (transition), Buddy (drive + closeout in rotation), and Butler (scram + contain against baseline shimmy drive). He continues to have my attention.

Teams have been loading up and staying at the blocks and elbows when Pascal Siakam is at the top of the key. In breaking down big, late-game shots from Nesmith, Quenton, & Siakam, on the improved process against that coverage that led to an improved result: 🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/how-pa...

Pascal Siakam was doubled on 20.5% of his touches against the Mavs, marking a season high. The Pacers scored two points off cuts. For a depleted team, with reference to the COVID replacement season, on the importance of cutting to (circumvent) the chase. 🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/pacers...

Ben Sheppard has been on ball for the Pacers 13.2% of the time compared to just 2.9% last season, while also playing as fast as ever and more minutes than ever. For a player in overdrive at PG, on his improved driving that could make him better when the team gets better Link ⬇️

Two players started this possession in the same corner. Two players converged to screen for the ball. And two players moved to the same block. His feel for spacing is just ...

The Pacers scored 0.474 points per chance on 20 drives with Wiseman on the floor last night. The Pacers scored 1.182 points per chance on 41 drives with Wiseman off the floor. Until they can get their playmakers who can throw a lob back, the bigs need to be able to space, cut, or pass.

The Pacers recorded the most isolations per 48 minutes in the season opener of any game in the Haliburton-era. In a Finals rematch, on Mathurin and Siakam playing best vs best, & how IND erased and embraced certain aspects of Game 4 that were more familiar to OKC 🔗: www.patreon.com/posts/on-pac...

Breaking Popsicle News! Haha

Hey guys, like the Pacers, myself & @samsonfolk.bsky.social aren't taking a gap year! - let's mailbag + film - center(s) of decline? - generating paint touches w/o TJM - improvement areas from Benn/Nembhard/Walker - league trends - + 2028 Olympic rosters our approach: youtu.be/cH-W8l0YNbM

Since being traded, I've now seen Pascal Siakam, as a 6'8 PF, deployed to play every role of Spain PnR: - C&S 3P as stack screener - Pull-up 3P as PnR ball-handler - Diving as the roll-man - attacking cross-match/spotting-up dotting corners Always adapting, always versatile

The Pacers averaged 4.9 possessions with at least three offensive players crashing last season, which ranked 26th in the league. In their preseason opener, they racked up 30. I wrote about why, as tinkerers, the Pacers already look like the Pacers: www.patreon.com/posts/as-tin...

"You're wasting your dribble, especially with how fast we want to play." On Pascal Siakam's offseason advice for Jarace Walker, & how the third-year forward can start a stampede, presented via film examples of both players + another teammate. Free to read: www.patreon.com/posts/explai...

Siakam's possessions per game as the bring-up ball-handler: All-Star season for the Pacers: 6.2 Most recent All-Star season for the Raptors: 19.8 On how the Pacers can still rapidly stack actions w/ him projected to do more of the initiating www.patreon.com/posts/breaki...

Also: Baseline Ricky ("L") for Mathurin Counter against aggressive lock-and-trail coverage, w/ an option to flow into angled PnR www.patreon.com/posts/breaki...

For training camp, I wrote about the actions that best optimize this version of the Pacers -- and how, w/o Haliburton, they can do more of the same, but differently. Featured: Nembhard-Siakam flat PnR to counter for unders + open wider gaps w/ Mathurin in the dunker: www.patreon.com/posts/breaki...

There were 262 players who played at least 1,000 minutes last season. Among them, no one spent a higher percentage of their time playing in the "fast" speed zone (greater than 14 ft/sec) than Ben Sheppard (13.95%). Top candidate to outrun the camera sprinting to the corners:

In G2 against CLE, Nembhard did the exact same thing, which meant IND started the 4Q with the ball. IND also finished the 4Q with more FGA. When the series shifted back to IND, Mitchell was all out face-guarding Nembhard on the tip in order to play interference.

In G1 against NYK, Nembhard stole the tip, which meant IND started the 4Q with the ball. IND also finished the 4Q w/ more FGA. When the series shifted back to IND, O.G. treated the tip like he was boxing out for a rebound.

More often than not, as the ball goes up, he's already darting to the opposing team's side of the floor in an attempt to play interceptor. And, here's the thing. There's rarely any consequence. Even if he doesn't come up with the ball, he still putting himself in position to pressure the ball

Andrew Nembhard has mastered the art of stealing the opening tip to such an extent that teams started game-planning for his gamesmanship in the playoffs. Allow me to explain, a thread: www.patreon.com/posts/how-an...

Just a whole bunch of talk about what makes Siakam such a unique and special player. Like/Comment/Subscribe - no paywall! Read: www.patreon.com/posts/how-pa... Watch: youtu.be/gfj45i4b9jw You won't find this type of deep dive anywhere else.

Pascal Siakam recorded more falls on his jump-shot last season than any non-guard Myself & @samsonfolk.bsky.social assessed the angles he accesses from all angles - biomechanics, SF%, drawing more aggressive closeouts, transition non-costs, & longevity This is good: youtu.be/gfj45i4b9jw

One of my favorite genres of NBA coverages is "I watched every time a player did some hyper-specific thing, this is what I learned." I've been working on one of those projects for months. It will release as a video pod tomorrow. About this player, doing this thing. "Drop" by.

"The hope is that it looks different every time." As a companion piece to my interview with Rick Carlisle, I wrote about how the Pacers continue playing after the play. On why the method in their randomness isn't merely a "toss" up, presented via toss-and-chase 🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/how-pa...

Also, here's some breaking news: Rick told me who the Day 1 starter is at the two next season. Full episode: youtu.be/zTkNAb3Bvd0

Hey guys, I talked to Rick Carlisle about the Pacers playing random - drawing influence from jazz - implementing this style in 2025 vs 2011 - why the NBA is running less PnR - do all teams play the same? - siakam, always adapting this is meaningful youtu.be/zTkNAb3Bvd0

Hello. I've decided to be someone who talks to NBA head coaches about basketball. Here's a sneak peek of what's coming. Full episode about random offense (with a bit of breaking news) drops tomorrow

Vulnerable against screeners who can slip and pop, as the pass back to the screener is much easier. With Nembhard as primary, teams are going to test his pull-up shooting, which could ask more creation of Nesmith - who will likely draw the weakest assignment, if Benn starts.

Just noticed this unique PnR coverage from Dyson Daniels/Atlanta: Hedge & Under - allows on-ball defender to stay matched up w/ ball-handler (no switch) - contains attacking guards - takes away the short-roll - avoids two on the ball - creates shorter rotation for third defender

Plus, thoughts on third-string PG and two-way contracts, tweaks to swapping recovery paths, and banter about late-night fast food options Like/Comment/Share - no paywall! Read: www.patreon.com/posts/134716... Watch: youtu.be/aJq4quP_E4k Truly, a smorgasbord of a podcast!

Hey guys, myself & @samsonfolk.bsky.social reunited to talk all things Pacers offseason + what's trending in basketball - Summer League Recap - the value of cutting in the 2026 NBA - center(s) of attention - who is the Nembhard for Nembhard? - more! lots of goings on: youtu.be/aJq4quP_E4k

Once heard a coach say that they were willing to give up a few back cuts in exchange for playing higher in the gaps because what they've found is that players don't really like to back cut that much & prefer to C&S or drive with the ball in their hands I think about that a lot

I wrote about Kam Jones, as a primary ball-handler, with his quirks & rhythms presented via a single sequence: - "get" action to get back left - reject screen to his right w/ R-L cross - spin over right shoulder for lefty floater On running point - up to a point: www.patreon.com/posts/kam-jo...

I wrote about Johnny Furphy - the athleticism and defense that have always been there & why reaching new heights, beyond his dunk of the summer, might require finding lower lows On reaching the paint more often & figuring out what to do once he gets there: www.patreon.com/posts/why-jo...

Hello, Taelon Peter. In a game that wanted for both intrigue (and shooting), the 54th overall pick in the draft provided plenty 🔗: www.patreon.com/posts/taelon...

Fun sequence on this SLOB play. - Quenton signals for "stack" & tells Taelon to be the stack screener - Cavs commit away from the play foul - Pacers set up in same play again, only Taelon feigns the pick and slips out to the corner - No low-man when Cavs try to tag switch on the roll

The Summer Pacers are such a pain. Picked up full-court with three back-court defenders. The ball didn't touch the paint here until there was less than five seconds left on the shot-clock. My takeaways from Game 1 in Vegas: www.patreon.com/posts/on-ray...

Hey guys, myself & @samsonfolk.bsky.social conducted a Pacers group therapy session via mailbag questions - coping after G7 - expected changes w/ Nembhard as starting PG - players most poised to make a leap - strategic trends from the playoffs what an adventure: youtu.be/WWEtVGd2t8c

Unique (very nerdy) defensive wrinkle from the Pacers. Haliburton rotates/stunts up from the dunker spot or corner on the two-side against the PnP anytime SGA or JDub are positioned one pass away at the wing.