Setting The Pace: A Pacers Podcast

Alex Golden and Mike Facci are looking into the future and handing out some hardware on today's episode of Setting The Pace!

The guys go through the NBA's major individual awards and look at which Pacers are actually appearing on the early betting odds lists—and which Indiana players are surprisingly nowhere to be found.

For each award, Alex and Facci discuss which Pacer has the best chance of entering the conversation and what would need to happen this season for them to become a legitimate contender.

But they don't stop with the NBA awards.

The guys then turn the exercise into a Pacers-only awards show, predicting who will be Indiana's MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man of the Year and more!

Which Pacer is poised to make the biggest leap? Who will be the most impactful player off the bench? Which player becomes Indiana's defensive anchor? And who ultimately takes home Pacers MVP?

A fun offseason exercise looking at the betting markets, projecting individual performances and making predictions for which Pacers will take home the hardware at the end of the 2026-27 season.

Alex Golden and Mike Facci are looking into the future and handing out some hardware on today's episode of Setting The Pace!

The guys go through the NBA's major individual awards and look at which Pacers are actually appearing on the early betting odds lists—and which Indiana players are surprisingly nowhere to be found.

For each award, Alex and Facci discuss which Pacer has the best chance of entering the conversation and what would need to happen this season for them to become a legitimate contender.

But they don't stop with the NBA awards.

The guys then turn the exercise into a Pacers-only awards show, predicting who will be Indiana's MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, Sixth Man of the Year and more!

Which Pacer is poised to make the biggest leap? Who will be the most impactful player off the bench? Which player becomes Indiana's defensive anchor? And who ultimately takes home Pacers MVP?

A fun offseason exercise looking at the betting markets, projecting individual performances and making predictions for which Pacers will take home the hardware at the end of the 2026-27 season.

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It's finally time!

Alex Golden and Mike Facci reveal their 2026-27 Eastern Conference standings predictions, ranking all 15 teams from top to bottom and explaining exactly why they have each team finishing where they do.

The guys go team-by-team through a loaded East, discussing the contenders they believe can make a run at the No. 1 seed, which teams could surprise people, who might take a step backward and where the Indiana Pacers belong in the mix.

How much will Indiana improve with Tyrese Haliburton back? Where do the Pacers stack up against the other contenders? Which teams are Alex and Facci higher or lower on than the consensus? And which spots were the toughest to predict?

But the conversation doesn't end once the standings are set.

After revealing their 1-15 rankings, Alex and Facci use their predicted standings to create the potential first-round playoff matchups. The guys go series-by-series before focusing on the Pacers' projected opponent and debating whether they like Indiana's draw.

Would this be an ideal path for the Pacers? Which potential matchup would they rather avoid? And based on these standings, what could Indiana's path through the Eastern Conference look like?

A fun episode discussing every team in the East, making predictions and looking ahead to what could be a fascinating playoff picture.

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Alex Golden and Mike Facci are back for a loaded episode of Setting The Pace, featuring a special guest appearance from Bob Kravitz!

Before Bob joins the show, Alex announces the winner of the two free tickets to the Pacers-Mavericks game on opening night!

Then, Alex and Facci dive into the Pacers' new television deal with DAZN and what it means for fans watching the team this season. The guys also discuss the NBA's conversations with YouTube about potentially becoming the local broadcasting partner for all 30 teams beginning in 2027-28 and what that could mean for the future of watching NBA basketball.

Then, Bob Kravitz joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation about the Pacers.

Bob shares his thoughts on Indiana's offseason, what he expects from this group next season and where he believes the Pacers stack up in a loaded Eastern Conference.

The guys also have an extensive conversation about T.J. McConnell. How much longer can T.J. continue playing at this level? What should Pacers fans expect from him over the next two seasons? And once his playing career comes to an end, could McConnell remain connected to the organization in a different role?

Bob also shares which Pacers player he believes could make the biggest jump next season and what that development could mean for Indiana's ceiling.

To close out the show, the conversation shifts to the Indiana Fever before Bob gives his thoughts on where the Pacers ultimately finish in the Eastern Conference.

Ticket giveaway results, broadcasting news, Pacers expectations, T.J.'s future, breakout candidates, Fever talk and Eastern Conference predictions—a loaded episode with Bob Kravitz!

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Alex Golden and Casey Johnson are back with another episode of Fever Focus, breaking down the Indiana Fever’s win over the Chicago Sky and everything that stood out from one of Indiana’s stronger team performances.

Topics include:

• Caitlin Clark’s all-around game and how she controlled the flow offensively
• Kelsey Mitchell staying hot and continuing to give Indiana a reliable scoring punch
• The Fever looking a little tired, but still finding enough energy to take care of business
• Mercedes Russell giving Indiana exactly what it needed in her role
• KK’s continued growth and why her confidence is starting to show
• Lexie Hull’s breakout game and the impact she made on both ends
• A brief look at the Enes Kanter courtside incident
• Why the Caitlin Clark/Kelsey Mitchell partnership is starting to feel like another beloved Indiana sports duo

Another packed episode of Fever Focus as Alex and Casey break down the win, the rotation, the vibes, and why this Fever team keeps giving fans more reasons to believe.

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Alex Golden and Casey Johnson are back for a loaded episode of Fever Focus after a busy stretch of Indiana Fever basketball!

Since the guys last recorded, the Fever have played four games and gone 3-1, giving Alex and Casey plenty to discuss. They go game-by-game through the stretch, breaking down how Indiana performed, which players stepped up and the biggest storylines to emerge as the Fever continue their five-game road trip with a trip to New York on Sunday.

Kelsey Mitchell continues to score at an incredible level and has been one of the driving forces behind Indiana's recent success. The guys discuss her offensive explosion, why she's been so difficult for opponents to contain and just how impressive her current stretch has been.

They also dive into Makayla Timpson, who continues to show why she belongs in the Fever's starting lineup. What has Timpson added to the starting five, and how has her emergence changed Indiana's frontcourt?

Then there's Caitlin Clark, who had some terrific moments but also experienced some up-and-down performances over the four-game stretch. Alex and Casey evaluate what they've seen from Clark, where she's thriving and where things haven't been quite as consistent.

The guys also discuss Aliyah Boston's steady production, the inconsistent play from Indiana's bench, which role players stepped up when the Fever needed them most and what Indiana needs to clean up as the road trip continues.

Four games. Three wins. Plenty of storylines.

Alex and Casey break it all down before looking ahead to Sunday's showdown in New York!

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Alex Golden and Mike Facci are going through the entire Indiana Pacers schedule and making a prediction for every single game!

Win or loss. All 82 games.

The guys work their way through the schedule, discussing the toughest stretches, favorable runs, back-to-backs, national television games and the biggest matchups of the season. Which opponents present the biggest problems for Indiana? Where could the Pacers potentially stumble? And which stretches of the schedule could allow them to pile up wins?

Alex and Facci also highlight the games they're most excited about, the opponents they're most interested in seeing Indiana face and some of the obstacles that could make this schedule more challenging than it initially appears.

Then, after predicting all 82 games, the guys reveal their final Pacers record predictions and explain why they feel so strongly about where Indiana will finish.

Will Alex and Facci end up in the same neighborhood, or will their predictions look completely different?

It's a fun way to break down the entire schedule while setting expectations for the upcoming season. Grab the schedule, follow along and see where you agree—or completely disagree—with the guys!

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Alex Golden and Michael Facci are BACK after both guys enjoyed a little vacation time, and there is plenty of Pacers news to catch up on!

The guys start with Braden Smith officially signing a two-way deal with the Indiana Pacers. After months of wondering what Indiana's plan was for the Purdue point guard, we finally have our answer.

Alex and Facci discuss why the Pacers ultimately went this direction with Smith and push back against some of the criticism surrounding Indiana's decision to trade for him in the second round of the NBA Draft. What does Smith need to show this season, and why does a two-way deal make sense for where he is at in his development?

The move comes after Friday's news that Ethan Thompson is heading overseas, opening the door for Indiana to use its final two-way spot on Smith.

Then, the conversation shifts to the Pacers' decision to keep the 15th spot on the standard roster open. Alex and Facci explain why maintaining that flexibility could be important and how Indiana could take advantage of the opening later in the season.

That leads to a fun look at some recognizable names who could eventually make sense for the Pacers. Would Ben Simmons be worth taking a chance on? Could a reunion with Victor Oladipo make any sense? What about bringing Bruce Brown back to Indiana?

Braden Smith is officially a Pacer, Indiana still has some roster flexibility, and Alex and Facci have plenty to discuss as Setting The Pace returns!

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Alex Golden is joined by longtime Pacers' fan Michael—with a brief appearance from his lovely girlfriend, Grace—for a fun conversation about all things Indiana Pacers!

Michael shares his thoughts on the Pacers' offseason moves and his expectations for the upcoming season, including what he likes about the roster and where he still has concerns.

He also tells Alex about his experience meeting Tyrese Haliburton at Fanatics Fest, what that moment was like and why Tyrese has become such a special player for Pacers fans.

Of course, no conversation with Michael would be complete without discussing his love for Micah Potter! The guy's revisit Indiana's decision to move on from Potter and what Michael thinks about the direction the Pacers took with their frontcourt.

From there, Alex and Michael get into the basketball. Which teams in the Eastern Conference present the toughest matchups for Indiana? What are the Pacers' biggest strengths and weaknesses? And most importantly, how much does the addition of Ivica Zubac help address some of the issues that have hurt Indiana in the past?

Michael also shares what he's most excited to see this season and why expectations are so high for this Pacers team.

A fun, fan-driven episode of Setting the Pace featuring Pacers talk, plenty of laughs, Michael's return to the podcast and a special cameo from Grace!

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Alex Golden is joined by Kyle Taylor of iPacers for a different kind of offseason episode of Setting The Pace. Instead of tackling the biggest storylines surrounding the Indiana Pacers, the guys get in the weeds and discuss some of the more niche questions that could have a major impact on how this team plays next season.

The conversation starts with Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac. With Zubac bringing a much different skill set to the center position, could we see Tyrese spend more time playing off the ball to help Indiana's spacing? How will the Pacers maximize Zubac offensively without taking away from what makes Haliburton and the rest of the offense so dangerous?

Then the guys flip to the defensive side of that pairing. What happens when teams put Haliburton and Big Zu into the pick-and-roll? Alex and Kyle discuss the different coverages Indiana could throw at opponents, how teams may try to attack that combination and what adjustments Rick Carlisle could have up his sleeve.

But the niche questions don't stop there.

Will the Pacers continue to full-court press as frequently as they have in the past? Who will opposing teams target more defensively: Haliburton or Jarace Walker? And in one of the most interesting rotation battles heading into training camp, who finishes the season with more minutes: Ben Sheppard or Jarace Walker?

It's a basketball-heavy conversation that goes deep into the details of how this Pacers team could look different next season. If you enjoy X's and O's, rotation debates and questions that don't always get discussed during the offseason, this episode is for you.

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Alex Golden and Casey Johnson are back for another loaded episode of Fever Focus, and there is A LOT to discuss after an eventful stretch for the Indiana Fever.

The guys start with Mikayla Timpson moving into the starting lineup at the four and what the change could mean for Indiana moving forward. Is Timpson simply the perfect answer for this specific Fever roster, or are we watching her develop into a legitimate long-term starter in the WNBA?

Then, Alex and Casey break down Indiana's impressive performance against the New York Liberty. Kelsey Mitchell continues to look unstoppable, Caitlin Clark is finding new ways to thrive alongside her, and the chemistry between the two stars continues to reach another level. They also dive into Aliyah Boston's evolving three-point shot and why it has the potential to become an elite weapon for Indiana's offense.

From there, it's time to unpack all of the shenanigans from Saturday's game against the Chicago Sky. The guys discuss the backlash Stephanie White received afterward, how she responded before the Fever's game against New York and Caitlin Clark voicing her frustration with the fans who booed the team. Clark made it clear how united this group remains and that, after everything they've been through together, they weren't going to let the outside noise impact them.

Finally, Alex and Casey return to the Timpson discussion and zoom out on the Fever's recent play. Indiana went 8-3 over its last 11 games, with its only three losses coming against the league's top three seeds. Is this stretch evidence that the Fever are beginning to find their identity at exactly the right time?

A loaded Fever Focus featuring lineup changes, the Big 3 clicking, Steph White's response to the criticism, Caitlin Clark's message to the fans and a bigger picture look at just how well Indiana is playing.

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