The Athletic NBA Daily

Pacers and Pistons Season Preview

Date: September 5, 2025
Host: Zena Keita
Guests: Caitlin Cooper (Basketball, She Wrote), Hunter Patterson (The Athletic Pistons beat reporter)

Episode Overview

This episode delivers in-depth season previews for the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. Host Zena Keita is joined first by Pacers expert Caitlin Cooper to analyze a tumultuous Indiana offseason—marked by Tyrese Haliburton’s devastating injury and Miles Turner’s surprise departure—and what it means for the franchise’s 2025-26 outlook. In the second segment, Pistons beat writer Hunter Patterson discusses Detroit’s playoff breakthrough, their patient team-building strategy, key development priorities, and ceiling for the coming season.

Indiana Pacers: Navigating a Post-Finals Reset

Major Offseason Developments (02:05 – 04:38)

• Tyrese Haliburton’s Achilles Tear:
  Most impactful event of the Pacers’ offseason—Haliburton is sidelined for 15 months after sustaining an injury during Game 7 of the NBA Finals against OKC.
  Quote:

  “I still have people on Patreon and on my videos on YouTube that respond after every single one and they're somebody else. Say, I thought this would be easier by now, but it still hurts so much… they will have to make adjustments, but I find it hard to think they will have the same degree of ceiling without Tyrese.”
  — Caitlin Cooper (03:07)

• Miles Turner Leaves for Milwaukee:
  Turner’s exit surprised many, especially after a Finals run and given the building Indiana-Milwaukee rivalry.

Key Discussion Points and Player Development (04:38 – 12:04)

Andrew Nembhard: Stepping Up at Point Guard (04:38 – 08:36)

• Increased Responsibility:
  Nembhard’s coming-out party last playoffs prepped him for a massive role this year; he will now run the offense with considerably less support.
• Unique Defensive Burden:

  “You’d be hard pressed to think of another point guard who would be asked to do that much on a nightly basis... The Pacers don't have an Andrew Nembhard for Andrew Nembhard.” — Caitlin Cooper (05:43)

• Potential Impact Players:
  Benedict Mathurin and Aaron Nesmith’s evolving roles; key decision on who starts and how that shifts defensive assignments.

Pascal Siakam: The New Alpha (08:36 – 12:04)

• Expected to Shoulder Greater Load:
  Pacers previously underutilized him in a ballhandling/playmaking role; expect to see Siakam as both go-to scorer and closer.
• Managing Stamina & Two-Way Role:

  “If he has to do so much more offensively now without Tyrese... can he also be someone who's taking on opposing wing options repeatedly? Those are all the types of things that they’re going to have to monitor…the simple thing of just plucking Tyrese out of this rotation is going to increase a lot of the burden, especially on Andrew and Pascal in particular.”
  — Caitlin Cooper (11:39)

Center Rotation Post-Turner (12:04 – 15:49)

• Options: Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman (both coming off injuries), Jay Huff (new signee), Tony Bradley, and small-ball with Obi Toppin or Jarris Walker.
• Lack of Direct Replacement:

  “None of these people individually are going to replace exactly what Miles was doing for them on both ends of the floor, but they can be flexible.” — Caitlin Cooper (15:33)

• Possible Midseason Trade if No One Claims Job

Strategic Outlook & Prognosis (15:49 – 23:59)

Key Swing Factors and “Gap Year” Philosophy (15:49 – 18:33)

• Backcourt Performance Will Define Year:
  Pacers’ fate heavily tied to the growth of Nembhard/Mathurin and defensive flexibility, more than frontcourt solutions.
• Is This a “Gap Year?”
  The Pacers won’t publicly call it that, but the consensus is this will be a developmental season to evaluate young talent and roster fit. Quote:

  “I framed it…as an opportunity to take a step back in order to potentially take a bigger step forward.” — Caitlin Cooper (18:33)

Success Metrics & Win Total Expectation (21:03 – 23:36)

• Success means: Identifying a center for the future, meaningful progress for Jarris Walker & Johnny Furphy, determining if Mathurin/others are true long-term fits, and player growth—even if record takes a hit.
• Predicted Record:

  “I think I got to go with like 38, 39. I’d probably go 39.” — Caitlin Cooper (23:09)

• Closing Thought: Improvisational “jazz” style helps Indiana weather adversity, and the young core will have every chance to prove themselves.

Detroit Pistons: From Patience to Playoff Ambition

Major Offseason Developments (27:02 – 29:46)

• Playoff Breakthrough:
  Pistons made the playoffs for the first time in years, showing clear improvement under coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
• Roster Additions:
  Malik Beasley’s future uncertain; Caris LeVert added as a scoring/playmaking sixth man; Duncan Robinson brings elite shooting to stretch the floor for Cade Cunningham.
• Health is the Big "Acquisition":

  “Having a healthy Jaden Ivey back, I would say, is probably their…biggest acquisition, if you will.” — Hunter Patterson (28:13)

Player Spotlights & Young Core Growth (29:46 – 35:25)

Jaden Ivey & Asar Thompson: Key to the Leap (29:46 – 32:01)

• Ivey’s Return:
  Offseason mission: continue off-the-dribble three-point growth, relieve Cade of offensive burden.
• Asar’s First Full Offseason:
  After a strong, injury-truncated rookie year, now focused on jumper refinement and building chemistry with Cade/Ivey.
• Intertwined Development:

  “Between Asar and Jaden Ivey, I think those two will be key components of any extra success that this team has this year.” — Hunter Patterson (31:38)

Cade Cunningham: The Franchise Head (32:01 – 35:25)

• Next Evolution:
  Emphasizing team leadership, post-season experience, improved conditioning, growth as both scorer and facilitator. Quote:

  “He tries to boost his teammates up as much as possible and I think the game has naturally started to slow down for him... those are necessary bumps in the road for him to be able to take all of next season as serious as he needs to.” — Hunter Patterson (33:07)

• Areas for Improvement: Finishing at the rim, shot selection, maintaining consistency.

Identity, Defensive Focus & Team Chemistry

• Bickerstaff's Defensive Mindset:
  Pistons showed their physical, grinding identity in playoffs against the Knicks.
• Offensive Questions:
  Need for secondary creators beyond Cade; Ivey and Asar critical to taking the pressure off.

Organizational Strategy & Season Trajectory (35:25 – 43:09)

Aggressiveness & Patience at the Trade Table (35:25 – 38:16)

• Slow Build Favored over All-In Moves:

  “[GM Trajan Langdon is] really just intentional…about trying to give these guys as much time as possible…The NBA is ‘what have you done for me lately?’ I think he’s well aware…Cade is only 23... He wants to really give them enough runway.” — Hunter Patterson (37:09)

• Comparison with OKC Thunder’s Patient Rise

Team’s Key Swing Factors (39:14 – 41:44)

• Gelling of Ivey and Asar:
  Because both missed stretches, much of their ceiling depends on that pairing’s growth and chemistry.
• Ron Holland’s Development:
  Wild card as a high-motor, gritty, still-raw prospect.

Season Expectations and Outlook

• Pistons’ Ceiling:

  “Probably a top four or five seed if all goes well, because…Ron just turned 20... He has just a lot of intangibles…his grittiness.” — Hunter Patterson (42:10)

• Measuring Success:
  Letting the young core grow together, assessing ceiling without rushing, quietly aiming for a higher playoff seed.

• Most Intriguing Player Outside Cade:
  Asar Thompson:

  “He plays the right way. Makes the right decisions...If he can add the scoring element, the sky is the limit for a guy like Asar Thompson.”
  — Podcast Host (43:13)

Memorable Quotes

• Caitlin Cooper on Tyrese’s impact:

  “You almost had a little bit of a microcosm of this at the beginning of last season...If Andrew [Nembhard] is seeing more unders, you can throw the ball to Ben [Matherin]. If a team switches a lot, Ben is a guy who’s going to be able to get you some traction and get downhill.” (05:43–08:36)

• Caitlin Cooper on a “gap year” for the Pacers:

  “This was an opportunity to take a step back in order to potentially take a bigger step forward.” (18:33)

• Hunter Patterson on Pistons’ team-building patience:

  “He [GM Trajan Langdon] wants to really give them enough runway to see how good they can be…and I think he has as much belief as it seems. I don’t think it’s a facade…” (37:09)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:05 — Caitlin Cooper joins for Pacers preview
• 03:07 — Tyrese Haliburton injury discussion
• 04:38 — Andrew Nembhard’s role & adjustments
• 08:36 — Pascal Siakam expectations
• 12:04 — Center “carousel” post-Miles Turner
• 15:49 — Key swing factors and “gap year”
• 21:25 — Success metrics and expectations for Indiana
• 23:09 — Caitlin’s Pacers win total prediction
• 27:02 — Hunter Patterson joins for Pistons segment
• 28:13 — Offseason moves and Jaden Ivey’s return
• 31:37 — Asar Thompson’s offseason
• 33:07 — Cade Cunningham’s next step
• 35:25 — Team approach: patient or aggressive?
• 39:14 — Biggest swing factors for Pistons
• 42:10 — Pistons’ projected seeding
• 43:13 — Asar Thompson’s upside

Tone & Style

The tone is insightful and conversational, blending passionate fan familiarity, sharp tactical analysis, and a deep focus on growth and fit. Each guest provides vivid examples—often referencing recent playoff and summer-league actions—making the content accessible to casual fans and advanced listeners alike.

Final Takeaways

• Pacers: Entering a difficult, transitional season aiming to foster growth, assess young talent, and reassess during Haliburton’s long recovery. The year may be “a step back to take a step forward.”
• Pistons: Embracing patience, betting on organic development from a promising young core, and resisting the urge to rush into big trades. They aim for further playoff gains while remaining flexible and open to their ceiling.

Listen for more on each team’s X-factors, growth prospects, and unfiltered insights from trusted reporters who know these teams inside and out.