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After returning from their first preseason game in Ames, Iowa, the Indiana Pacers were back on the practice court Friday morning, gearing up for their preseason clash with the Atlanta Hawks. Head coach Rick Carlisle discussed Tyrese Haliburton's return, Jarace Walker reflected on his play against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Ivica Zubac shared his thoughts on getting reps with the starting five.
Zubac, who did not share the floor with Haliburton or Pascal Siakam last season, got his first taste of game action alongside them Wednesday night. "You can practice as much as you want, but game reps are always going to be different," Zubac said. "And just getting on the floor for the first time with him, with P, with the whole starting unit. It felt good. Just to see what looks we're going to get out there, how teams are going to guard us, getting used to our offense, and finding myself where to be in some situations. So it was pretty good."
Adjusting to a fast-paced offense is a new challenge for Zubac, and the preseason gives him time to get comfortable. One lesson he learned quickly: get the ball to Haliburton after grabbing a rebound. "There was one situation where I missed him. I threw it to Shepp and Shepp was not looking and the ball went out of bounds," Zubac said. "It's going to be a lot of opportunities like that. A lot of times there's no sets. He's just running, throwing the ball ahead. So, there's no sets and I got to get used to that random style. Just playing random basketball."
Zubac also delved into the nuances of playing with Haliburton, particularly regarding screen setting. "Learning how he likes his screens. I feel like sometimes I held it too long and he was waiting for me to roll and I was still holding the screen," Zubac said. "I think I can do a better job kind of just hitting a guy and getting out sooner than holding it. But, we talked about it after the game today and it's going to work out really good."
Carlisle Evaluates Team, Provides Nance Jr. Update
Carlisle acknowledged the difficulty of returning from injury and adjusting to game speed but was pleased with Haliburton's overall performance. "Well, return to play, that's one of the challenges is that things do move quickly," Carlisle said. "But, I thought all in all he did great." Regarding the Haliburton-Zubac connection, Carlisle admitted it needed work but saw positives. "Yeah, there were a lot of positives and there are a lot of adjustments that we'll need to continue to look at with everybody," Carlisle said. "Not just the first group, we have some significant new personnel."
Speaking of new personnel, Carlisle shared encouraging news on backup center Larry Nance Jr. "Nance practiced today, so I think there's a chance that he'll be available tomorrow," Carlisle said. When asked how Nance looked, Carlisle kept it brief: "It was good to see him out there."
Walker Credits Ball Security for Efficient Outing
Jarace Walker, asked about his efficient playmaking against the Timberwolves, focused on taking care of the ball and praised his teammates. "I feel like the key was just taking care of the ball," Walker said. "Not a lot of turnovers, easy passes, simple reads, guys were making shots. I feel like I was efficient. Just moving the ball and getting my teammates involved." Walker provided the game's highlight with a self-pass off the backboard that led to an easy slam for Huff. Though it looked planned, Walker said it was spontaneous. "I had no plan, dog. I just threw it off and then he stepped over, just made a play," Walker said. "Just instincts took over. Guy flew by, nobody was really open so I just made a play."
The Pacers will continue their preseason testing against a scrappy Atlanta Hawks team on Saturday night. The Hawks present a different challenge than the Timberwolves and will offer further insight into the team's progress before the regular season begins.