Setting The Pace: A Pacers Podcast

Alex Golden is joined by Bradley Knight of The Pacers Post Up for a deep dive into the Indiana Pacers' first preseason game of the 2026-27 season!

After Indiana's 123-112 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, Alex and Bradley take a different approach to breaking down the action, separating everything they saw into three categories:

THE HIGHS. THE MIDS. THE LOWS.

First, the guys discuss everything that impressed them about Indiana's preseason debut. Which players stood out? What were the most encouraging developments? And what gave them the most confidence heading into the rest of the preseason?

Next, they dive into the mids. These are the performances, developments and observations that weren't necessarily great or terrible but deserve a closer look. What showed promise? What still needs time? And which players left them wanting to see more?

Finally, it's time for the lows.

What didn't look right in Indiana's first game? Which areas need the most improvement? And what concerns, if any, should Pacers fans have after watching this new-look roster take the floor?

Throughout the episode, Alex and Bradley go back and forth on their observations, share different perspectives and discuss what they want to see from the Pacers as the preseason continues.

The good, the average and the disappointing. Nothing is off limits!

A fun, detailed breakdown of Indiana's first preseason game with Bradley Knight on today's Setting The Pace!

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Alex Golden and Mike Facci are back to recap the Indiana Pacers' 123-112 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first preseason game of the 2026-27 season!

The biggest storyline of the night was Tyrese Haliburton making his long-awaited return to an NBA court after nearly 16 months away. And what better place for it to happen than Ames, Iowa, the home of his alma mater, Iowa State?

Alex and Facci spend plenty of time discussing Haliburton's return, what stood out about his performance and just how special it was to see Indiana's franchise point guard back on the floor in front of a passionate Cyclones crowd.

The guys then dive into the game itself, highlighting Jarace Walker and Aaron Nesmith, who stood out as two of Indiana's most impactful players. What made their performances so encouraging, and what could it mean for their roles moving forward?

Alex and Facci also break down how Rick Carlisle utilized his rotation, which players made strong impressions and what areas still need improvement as Indiana works toward the regular season.

And it wouldn't be a game in Ames without a little extra entertainment!

Braden Smith received quite the welcome from Iowa State fans, who booed the former Purdue point guard seemingly every time he touched the basketball. The guys discuss the hilarious atmosphere and some of the memorable moments from the crowd.

Haliburton's emotional homecoming, standout performances from Walker and Nesmith, early rotation takeaways and plenty of entertaining moments from Ames.

Pacers basketball is officially back, and Alex and Facci break it all down on today's Setting The Pace!

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Alex Golden and Mike Facci are back to get you ready for the Indiana Pacers' first preseason game!

After a full week of training camp, it's finally time to see this team take the floor against another NBA opponent. Alex and Facci go through their five biggest things to watch as the Pacers begin preseason action.

What should we be looking for from the rotations? Which players have the most to prove? And what can we actually learn from the first preseason game after spending the last week hearing about everything happening behind closed doors?

The guys also discuss what this game means for Tyrese Haliburton, who gets the opportunity to return to Iowa State and play at his alma mater. After everything Haliburton has gone through to get back on the court, it's a pretty special setting for one of his first games back.

Then, Alex and Facci close out the show with some major praise for the Pacers from two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash.

When asked which team outside of the Knicks he would pick to win the Eastern Conference, Nash didn't hesitate: the Indiana Pacers.

Nash explained why Indiana was both a head and heart pick for him and reflected on what he viewed as one of the NBA's great underdog stories during the Pacers' 2025 run.

Five things to watch in the preseason opener, Haliburton's Iowa State homecoming and an NBA legend buying into the Pacers' chances in the East—all on today's Setting The Pace!

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Alex Golden and Mike Facci are back to recap a busy first week of Indiana Pacers training camp!

With four practices officially in the books, the guys have plenty of new information to discuss as we get our first real glimpse at this year's team.

Alex and Facci discuss the encouraging early signs from Tyrese Haliburton, what we've learned about Ivica Zubac's adjustment to Pacers basketball and why Kelly Oubre Jr. continues to receive so much praise from coaches and teammates.

The guys also dive into some of the early rotation developments. Where do Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard currently stand? What have we learned about the second unit? And which young players have started turning heads behind the scenes?

Plus, the latest on Larry Nance Jr.'s injury, Braden Smith's development, the two-way players and what Rick Carlisle's early rotations could be telling us about his plans for opening night.

It's only Week 1, but we've already learned A LOT about this year's Pacers.

Alex and Facci break it all down on today's Setting The Pace!

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Alex Golden and Mike Facci are back for another episode of Setting The Pace, and for the first time this season, we finally got to see the new-look Indiana Pacers take the court together!

The guys recap everything they saw from Pacers Fan Jam, beginning with the scrimmage and an impressive performance from Kelly Oubre Jr.

Oubre led the way with 17 points, giving Pacers fans their first glimpse of the scoring punch and energy he can bring to this roster. Ivica Zubac added 12 points and six rebounds, while Tyrese Haliburton was back on the floor doing Haliburton things after his long-awaited return to action.

Alex and Facci break down the scrimmage, go through the stats and discuss what stood out from Indiana's first public action together.

Of course, there's only so much you can take away from a Fan Jam scrimmage. Nobody was going full speed, the intensity wasn't close to a regular-season game and the entire event was designed to put on a show for the fans. Still, it was a fun first opportunity to see how all of the new pieces looked alongside one another.

Then, things get interesting.

The guys pivot to the annual rookie singing and dancing competition, where Rienk Mast, Keba Keita and Braden Smith had to show off their talents in front of the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd.

Who had the best performance? Who deserved to win? And, more importantly, what songs would Alex and Facci choose if they were forced to grab a microphone and sing in front of thousands of Pacers fans?

Basketball is officially back in Indiana, and the guys have plenty to discuss after a fun first look at this year's Pacers!

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Alex Golden and Casey Johnson recap a heartbreaking end to the Indiana Fever's season after they fall on the road to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 3.

Indiana had multiple opportunities to tie the game and potentially take the lead, but when the Fever desperately needed a big shot, they couldn't find one.

Alex and Casey discuss how the Aces' defense consistently put Indiana in difficult situations, forcing tough looks and making every possession feel increasingly important as the game progressed.

One of the biggest differences came at the free-throw line. Las Vegas attempted 35 free throws compared to Indiana's 20, an enormous disparity in a game the Fever ultimately lost by 11 points.

The guys also dive into the difficult shooting performances from Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, who combined to shoot just 13-of-41 from the floor. What did Las Vegas do defensively to make life so difficult for Indiana's backcourt, and where did the Fever miss opportunities to capitalize?

On the positive side, Aliyah Boston delivered when Indiana needed her. Boston was arguably the Fever's best player in Game 3 and finished as just a -1 in plus-minus despite Indiana losing by double digits.

Unfortunately, it wasn't enough.

With the season officially over, attention now turns toward an offseason filled with important questions. Changes are needed—but what changes should the Fever actually make? Which pieces should remain part of this core? And what needs to happen for Indiana to take another step next season?

Alex and Casey begin looking at what's next while putting a bow on a difficult Game 3 and an emotional end to the Fever's season.

Plus, Casey joins the show from the road in New Town, North Dakota—which, according to him, is a lot cooler than the old one.

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Alex Golden is joined by Kent Sterling for another loaded conversation about the Indiana Pacers as the start of the regular season draws closer!

After spending much of the week discussing Tyrese Haliburton, Ivica Zubac and Indiana's biggest offseason additions, Alex and Kent turn their attention to several Pacers who haven't received nearly as much attention.

They start with Pascal Siakam. After carrying an enormous burden last season, what could Pascal look like with significantly less on his shoulders? How much easier can Haliburton's return make life for Siakam, and could that allow Indiana to get an even more efficient version of its veteran star?

Then, it's time for Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith.

Both players gained valuable experience last season while being asked to take on larger roles. Now that the roster is whole again, how can they take everything they learned and apply it to a team with championship expectations?

Alex and Kent also discuss T.J. McConnell and one important question: how much does the veteran point guard have left in the tank?

From there, the guys dive into why Obi Toppin fits this Pacers core so well, whether Jay Huff is good enough to consistently handle the backup-center role and what Jarace Walker can learn from Toppin's career path.

Can Jarace embrace becoming a dependable system player and carve out a long-term role in Indiana?

The conversation then shifts to Kelly Oubre Jr., what he adds to the roster and how his skill set could complement Indiana's existing pieces.

Of course, the guys spend plenty of time on Tyrese Haliburton and Big Zu.

How healthy will Haliburton look after a year away? How much can Zubac's screening, size and presence around the basket open up Tyrese's game? And what different wrinkles can Rick Carlisle utilize with a center like Zubac that Indiana simply hasn't had before?

And because it's an Alex Golden and Kent Sterling episode…

You already know Myles Turner isn't escaping the conversation completely unscathed.

Siakam. Nembhard. Nesmith. McConnell. Obi. Huff. Jarace. Oubre. Haliburton. Zubac.

A deep dive into the Pacers players and storylines that could ultimately determine just how special this season can become.

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Alex Golden is joined by Kevin Bowen of 93.5 and 107.5 The Fan for a wide-ranging conversation previewing one of the most anticipated Pacers seasons in years.

The guys start with something that feels noticeably different around this team: championship expectations are real—and the Pacers aren't running from them.

For the first time since trading for Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana enters a season openly talking about competing for an NBA championship. Alex and Kevin discuss how much expectations have changed, the pressure that comes with them and why this season feels different from the previous stages of the Haliburton era.

Of course, so much of that begins with Tyrese's return.

The Pacers haven't been shy about admitting just how much they missed Haliburton last season. Kevin and Alex discuss what Indiana looks like with its franchise player back, what realistic expectations should be after a full season away and just how quickly Tyrese can get this team operating at the level we've seen in the past.

Then, the attention turns to Ivica Zubac.

How does Big Zu fit alongside Haliburton and Pascal Siakam? How different will Indiana look with Zubac anchoring the middle? And could his skill set ultimately make this version of the Pacers even more dangerous?

Alex and Kevin also dive into Kelly Oubre Jr. replacing Bennedict Mathurin and just how dramatic of a stylistic change that could be for Indiana. That leads into a conversation about Mathurin's post-Pacers career and whether the way things have unfolded since the trade has surprised Kevin.

From there, the guys examine a potential concern for Indiana's future: the young talent pipeline is beginning to thin out.

What's next for Jarace Walker? How important is this season for his future in Indiana? And with fewer young players waiting in the wings, how will the Pacers continue developing talent while simultaneously trying to win a championship?

Plus, Kevin reacts to Braden Smith adding roughly 15-16 pounds of muscle in just a few months and what the former Purdue star's development could mean for his NBA future.

Finally, the guys shift over to the Indiana Fever and discuss their fighting chances heading into a decisive Game 3.

Championship expectations. Haliburton's return. Zubac's fit. Oubre replacing Mathurin. Jarace's future. Braden Smith's transformation.

A loaded Pacers season preview with Kevin Bowen!

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Alex Golden and Casey Johnson are back with another episode of Fever Focus, breaking down the Indiana Fever’s gritty win over the Las Vegas Aces to keep their season alive and force a decisive Game 3.

The guys dive into the players who helped swing the game for Indiana, including Raven Johnson, Lexie Hull and Myisha Hines-Allen, and how the Fever chose to meet Las Vegas with physicality rather than trying to match the Aces with size. They also discuss Aliyah Boston settling in after a rough first quarter and doing an excellent job keeping A’ja Wilson in check, Caitlin Clark continuing to dazzle, and the overall toughness and effort Indiana showed throughout the night.

Topics include:

• Raven Johnson, Lexie Hull and Myisha Hines-Allen making a major impact
• Why Indiana chose physicality over size against A’ja Wilson and the Aces
• Aliyah Boston locking in after a difficult first quarter
• Boston’s work defensively keeping A’ja in check
• Caitlin Clark continuing to make big plays when Indiana needed them
• The grit, effort and toughness that defined the Fever’s performance
• How Indiana found a way to stay alive and send the series back to Las Vegas for Game 3

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Alex Golden is joined by Jeremiah Johnson, sideline reporter for the Indiana Pacers television broadcast, for an inside look at the early days of Pacers training camp and what is standing out about this new-look team.

The guys begin with the latest injury news surrounding Larry Nance Jr. What is the current outlook for Indiana's newest veteran big man, and how could his absence impact the early stages of training camp and the preseason?

From there, Alex and JJ zoom out and discuss a bigger question surrounding this team: How are the Pacers viewed nationally?

After everything Indiana has experienced over the last two seasons, where does this group fit into the Eastern Conference conversation now that Tyrese Haliburton is returning? Jeremiah shares his perspective on how expectations have changed and what people outside of Indiana might be overlooking about this roster.

Then, it's time to talk about the new additions.

Which newcomers have stood out to JJ early on? What has impressed him about the new faces Indiana added this offseason? And how could those additions change the way Rick Carlisle and the Pacers play this season?

Alex and Jeremiah discuss what they've seen and heard around the team as Indiana begins putting the pieces together for the 2026-27 campaign.

Finally, the guys shift from the court to the broadcast.

With Pacers basketball entering a new era on DAZN, Jeremiah explains what fans can expect from the television broadcast this season, what will be different and what he's most excited about as the broadcast team prepares for opening night.

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