Pacers Injury Crisis: Haliburton Out Weeks, Sheppard Out Months + 76ers Loss
The Indiana Pacers can't catch a break. Alex Golden and Mike Facci are back to recap Indiana's 114-109 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, but the biggest story surrounding this team goes well beyond another frustrating defeat. THE INJURY NEWS JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE. After making his long-awaited return to the court this season, Tyrese Haliburton is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks with a mild left hamstring strain. Meanwhile, T.J. McConnell continues to work his way back from his own hamstring injury, with his return potentially still another week away. And the most devastating long-term news involves Ben Sheppard, who underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus and is expected to miss several months. Alex and Facci spend an extended portion of today's episode discussing these injuries, what they mean for Indiana's depth and how Rick Carlisle can navigate a roster that's already being pushed to its limits. WHO IS GOING TO STEP UP? With Haliburton sidelined and McConnell still unavailable, the Pacers need other players to take on greater responsibilities. The guys examine the importance of Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam and the supporting cast as Indiana attempts to stay competitive. Then, it's time to break down the loss to Philadelphia. Despite being severely shorthanded, the Pacers battled back from a double-digit halftime deficit and put together an impressive third quarter before ultimately falling short. Alex and Facci discuss what went right, what went wrong and why the team's effort provided some encouraging signs despite the disappointing result. How concerned should Pacers fans be about the injuries? Can Indiana stay afloat without Haliburton? And which players have the biggest opportunities to step up? All that and more on today's Setting The Pace!