The Pacers’ Freefall:  No Hope, and the Long Road to Nowhere

Friday night was supposed to be the “get right” game. The San Antonio Spurs were in town, minus the human cheat code that is Victor Wembanyama, and also missing Devin Vassell. If you’re the Indiana Pacers, this was the soft landing spot you dream about.

Instead? It was a crash landing. A 123-113 loss that felt significantly worse than the final score indicated.

We are now watching an 11-game losing streak. That’s not a slump; that’s an identity crisis. The Pacers haven’t tasted victory since December 8. And frankly, after watching Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper carve up the defense like a Thanksgiving turkey, you have to wonder: When exactly is this team planning on winning again?

The Defense Is Still M.I.A.

Remember when “defense wins championships” was a thing? I’m not sure the Pacers got the memo. Giving up 71 points in the first half to a Spurs team missing its generational anchor is… well, it’s a choice. A bad one.

The Spurs’ backcourt trio of Fox, Castle, and Harper combined for 67 points. That’s more than half the team’s total output coming from three guards. Castle didn’t even shoot well (6-of-17), but he still managed to look like a maestro conducting an orchestra because the Pacers’ resistance was purely theoretical. Indiana’s perimeter defense has turned into a polite suggestion rather than an actual barrier.

Pascal Siakam is out there trying. He put up 23 points and 10 boards, essentially playing 1-on-5 on offense while trying to plug holes on a sinking ship on defense. But he’s stranded on “Siakam Island,” and the rescue boat isn’t coming. When Micah Potter, who has been on the roster for about five minutes, is your third-leading scorer with 16 points, you know the depth chart is in shambles.

The Young Core Is Hitting a Wall

The most painful part of this skid isn’t the losses themselves; it’s the lack of development in the guys who are supposed to be the future. Bennedict Mathurin? Ineffective. Missing five of six shots in regulation is tough to watch. We need “Mathurin the Aggressor,” not “Mathurin the Hesitant.”

And then there’s Jarace Walker. This is the time, right? The season is slipping away, the pressure is off, so let the young guys run wild. But Walker has been disappointing, floating through games when he should be seizing minutes by the throat. Even Ben Sheppard seems to have lost a step.

The only bright spot in the abyss? Second-round pick Kam Jones. He was a +16 in 10 minutes during a 10-point loss. That’s statistically improbable, bordering on miraculous. If Rick Carlisle doesn’t start finding him more minutes, I might have to go down to the sidelines and sub him in myself.

Rick Carlisle’s Jigsaw Puzzle From Hell

You have to feel a little bit for Rick Carlisle. He’s used 19 different starting lineups this season. That’s not a coaching strategy; that’s desperation. He’s trying to fix a leaky dam with duct tape and chewing gum.

The injuries are real, sure. Losing Tyrese Haliburton in the playoffs last year started this domino effect, and losing Myles Turner didn’t help. But every team deals with injuries. The Spurs didn’t have Wemby! Good teams find a way to compete. Right now, the Pacers are finding new and creative ways to collapse.

This is a team that was battling in Game 7 of the NBA Finals six months ago. Now? They look like they’re auditioning for the lottery. It’s a harsh reminder of how quickly the NBA window can slam shut on your fingers if you aren’t careful.

What’s Next?

So, we ask the million-dollar question: When does the bleeding stop? Looking at the schedule, I wouldn’t hold your breath. The upcoming slate features the Rockets, the Magic twice, and the Cavaliers. The only potential wins on the horizon are the Hornets on Jan. 8 and the Pelicans on Jan. 16. And honestly, with the way Charlotte can score in bunches, I wouldn’t bet the farm on that one either.

This is the dark timeline, Pacers fans. The excitement of the In-Season Tournament run and the playoff push feels like a lifetime ago. Right now, the only thing this team is competing for is lottery balls. And maybe that’s for the best. Because if this is the product on the floor, maybe it’s time to start looking at college game tape instead of the scoreboard.