Setting The Pace: A Pacers Podcast

Alex Golden and Mike Facci are back for another episode of Setting The Pace, and with the preseason officially in the books, it's time to hand out some grades! Before diving into the main topic, the guys catch up on their weekends, discuss the heartbreaking football losses across the state of Indiana and hear about an offseason accomplishment Alex is excited to share! Then, it's time for the latest Pacers news. Indiana waived Rienk Mast, Keba Keita and James Johnson on Saturday, and Alex and Facci discuss the moves, what they mean for the roster and the decisions still facing the team ahead of the regular season. After that, the guys dive into the main event: PACERS PRESEASON GRADES! With four exhibition games behind them, Alex and Facci take a closer look at Indiana's preseason performances and share their evaluations of the players. Who impressed the most? Which players exceeded expectations? Who left the guys wanting to see more? And how much should we really take away from four preseason games? The guys share their grades, debate the performances and discuss what stood out as the Pacers prepare for the games that count. Roster cuts, weekend stories, football heartbreak and a full breakdown of the Pacers' preseason performances—all on today's Setting The Pace!

Alex Golden is joined by three of his good friends from the Pacers Group Chat for a fun, basketball-filled episode of Setting The Pace! Lincoln Anderson, Carson Stafford and David Cole join Alex as the four friends get together to share the ONE thing each of them is most excited to see from the Indiana Pacers this upcoming season. With the regular season right around the corner, there's plenty to look forward to, and the guys dive into four topics that have them especially excited. Tyrese Haliburton is back and healthy! After everything surrounding Haliburton's health, the opportunity to watch Indiana's franchise point guard back on the court is something Pacers fans have been eagerly anticipating. The guys discuss what makes his return so exciting and what they're looking forward to seeing from him. The Big Zu experience! Ivica Zubac brings an entirely different dynamic to this Pacers team, and his early preseason performances have already given fans plenty to talk about. What makes his skill set so intriguing, and how could he change the way Indiana plays? Fun, competitive Pacers basketball is back! There's something special about attending games, experiencing the atmosphere inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse and watching a team that gives fans a reason to be excited every night. The guys discuss what they're looking forward to most about being back in the building. Taking the next step after the 2025 NBA Finals run! Several key members of Indiana's Finals team are still part of the picture. Two seasons later, how much more can those players grow, and what might the next stage of their development look like? Four friends. Four reasons for excitement. One shared love for Pacers basketball. It's a fun, laid-back conversation filled with optimism, basketball talk and plenty of Pacers fandom. Join Alex, Lincoln, Carson and David for a special Pacers Group Chat edition of Setting The Pace!

Alex Golden and Mike Facci are back to recap the Indiana Pacers' 114-112 overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in their third preseason game! While Indiana came up just short, there was plenty to be excited about from the first-half performances of Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Ivica Zubac. The biggest storyline of the night was Haliburton returning to Oklahoma City for the first time since Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. And the Pacers' franchise point guard wasted little time reminding everyone what he's capable of. Haliburton finished with 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting and added two blocks, putting together an incredibly encouraging performance in limited action. Alex and Facci discuss what stood out about Tyrese's night, how comfortable he looked offensively and why his performance was such a positive sign as Indiana prepares for the regular season. Then, the guys turn their attention to Ivica Zubac, who was outstanding in just 18 minutes of action. Big Zu finished with 13 points on 6-of-

Alex Golden and Mike Facci are back for another episode of Setting The Pace, and after two preseason games, the guys have three big questions surrounding the Indiana Pacers! While it's still incredibly early, we've gotten our first opportunity to evaluate this new-look roster against NBA competition. Some things have been encouraging, others have raised questions, and Alex and Facci are ready to take a deeper look. Question 1: How is Ivica Zubac fitting in with the Pacers? The guys share their way-too-early evaluations of Big Zu through two preseason games. What has stood out about his fit in Indiana's system? What adjustments still need to be made? And how much can we realistically take away from such a small sample size? Question 2: How concerned should we be about T.J. McConnell's injury? With limited information available about McConnell's injury, Alex and Facci discuss the level of concern surrounding Indiana's veteran backup point guard. How important is his availability to this team, and what coul

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!

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!

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

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.

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

Alex Golden is joined by Tom Lewis of Indy Cornrows to break down everything they learned from a LOADED Indiana Pacers Media Day! There was no bigger storyline than Tyrese Haliburton. After missing all of last season, Tyrese made it clear that he's ready to get back on the court. Alex and Tom discuss what stood out from Haliburton's comments, the excitement surrounding his return and what his presence means for a Pacers team trying to rediscover the magic that carried it to the NBA Finals two seasons ago. Then, it's time to talk BIG ZU. Ivica Zubac discussed the process of building chemistry with Haliburton and Pascal Siakam and how their collective basketball IQ has helped accelerate that process. Zubac also shared an interesting comparison between the Pacers and the Croatian national team, pointing to the camaraderie and genuine relationships within both groups. How quickly can this new trio come together? And how will Indiana's style change going from Myles Turner to Zubac in the middle? Alex and Tom

Alex Golden and Mike Facci are back for a fun Sunday edition of Setting The Pace, and there's plenty to discuss with Pacers Media Day officially upon us! But first, the guys react to Kelly Oubre Jr.'s first extended interview since joining the Indiana Pacers. Oubre opened up about his decision to come to Indiana, why the opportunity to play alongside Tyrese Haliburton was so appealing and what he believes he can bring to a Pacers team looking to get back into championship contention. Alex and Facci discuss Oubre's comments about his three seasons in Philadelphia, what that chapter of his career meant to him and why Indiana could be the perfect next stop for the veteran wing. Then comes one of the coolest moments from the interview. Oubre shared his connection to Reggie Miller and revealed that he actually cried watching Miller play his final NBA game. The guys react to Oubre's appreciation for the Pacers legend and what they're learning about Indiana's newest addition before he even takes the floor in a

Alex Golden and Mike Facci are back to recap everything we learned from the Pacers' annual preseason front office press conference with general manager Chad Buchanan and assistant general manager Ted Wu. And there was A LOT to discuss. The biggest news surrounds Tyrese Haliburton, who is preparing to return after missing all of last season. What did Buchanan reveal about Haliburton's health heading into training camp? How has his body changed during his time away? And what should Pacers fans expect as Tyrese finally gets back on the floor? From there, Alex and Facci dive into Ivica Zubac and some fascinating comments from the front office about how Indiana plans to incorporate its new starting center. Does Zubac need to adjust to the Pacers, or do the Pacers need to adjust to Zubac? What does the front office believe he can add to this group, and why is Indiana still extremely confident in the massive trade that brought him to Indianapolis? The guys also discuss Kelly Oubre Jr. and what the Pacers believ

Alex Golden and Mike Facci are BACK, and we've got some big Pacers news to discuss! JAMES JOHNSON IS BACK! After sitting out all of last season, the beloved Pacers veteran is returning to Indiana on an Exhibit 9 deal for training camp. Alex and Facci discuss why bringing JJ back makes so much sense for this group, what his leadership means inside the Pacers locker room and why getting him around the team for training camp and the preseason could be valuable even if Indiana can't immediately carry him into the regular season. Because of the Pacers' current salary situation, Johnson can't fit under Indiana's hard cap at the beginning of the season. However, once his veteran minimum becomes prorated enough, the Pacers could potentially bring him back beginning November 5. So…is this essentially a preview of what's eventually coming? Then, the guys turn their attention to some movement around the NBA that could have an impact on Indiana. A former Pacer is on the move after being traded from Atlanta to Char