'They're better than I thought': ESPN can't get enough of Pacers talk
ESPN's Zach Lowe can't quit the Indiana Pacers.
The podcaster ‒ who introduced a Pacers conversation at the start of the season by wondering if he would discuss them again all year ‒ spent several minutes this week raving about them, and noting how their recent performance may affect their ability to build for the future. (It's heavy on the Pacers starting at the 1 hour, 6 minute mark.)
The Pacers entered Wednesday's action fifth in the Eastern Conference, though ‒ as Lowe noted ‒ much of their success came against the NBA's easiest schedule to date, based on opponents' winning percentage.
At the moment, they're well out of position to get the No. 1 pick in next year's NBA Draft, presumed to be Victor Wembanyama.
"If they keep Myles Turner and Buddy Hield, they're not going to get into the Webanyama race without extreme lottery luck," Lowe said. "It's just going to get away from them. They're too good. They're better than I thought."
Observations: Andrew Nembhard's 31 points carry Pacers over defending champs
Andrew Nembhard gets noticed
The podcast comes on the heels of Indiana's victory at Golden State in which Andrew Nembhard starred with 31 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds.
"The last two games, no (Tyrese) Haliburton, no T.J. McConnell. They were forced to put the ball in his hands against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. And holy cow, what a performance," said guest and fellow NBA reporter Jonathan Givony.
"Blowing by Steph (Curry), not with explosiveness, but with handle and feel and his pace. The confidence he plays with is amazing."
And defensively, "he gave Steph some real issues," Givony said.
Curry scored 12 points on 3-of-17 shooting.
Looking at the Pacers and the NBA Draft
The Pacers have three first-round draft picks next year: theirs, Boston's and Cleveland's, which is lottery protected. Right now, all of those picks would be in the lower half of the round.
Would they dare go into "tank mode" despite their early success?
"The Pacers have never really been a tank team," Lowe said, though he believes management would consider it for chance at Wembanyama.
Their selection of Bennedict Mathurin at No. 6 this year was the first time they picked in the top 10 in more than three decades.
"They have a foundational backcourt. How they build their roster out three years is going to be really interesting," Lowe said, especially if Turner isn't with them past this season. "The roster is kind of shallow, medium, long term."
Zach Lowe on Bennedict Mathurin
"That guy is so as-advertised. This combination of power and finesse that you rarely see in a wing at that age. He has a soft, buttery jump shot, and then he goes at the basket like he wants to kill people."
And Mathurin's ability to get to the free throw line is a bonus. He's shooting 80.1% on more than 6 attempts per game. He is commonly thought of as the NBA's second-best rookie to date, behind Orlando's Paolo Banchero.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers news: ESPN talks Andrew Nembhard, Victor Wembanyama
