Boom Baby! is a weekly article headlining the best things of the Indiana Pacers from the previous week. Check back each Monday to see what is highlighted and what might make you shout “Boom Baby!”
Wow, what a week. After three double-digit losses. You would think that there wouldn’t be any highlights. Well, you would be wrong! Here are the best parts of this week in Indiana Pacers’ basketball.
The Moments Mixtape Unis
Nothing can make us say Boom Baby!” more than the Pacers' new City Edition jerseys that literally say “Boom Baby” on the front. This new design is the perfect illustration of where the organization is right now – a moment where there is a strong look to the past, but an even bigger emphasis on what is going to happen in the future – merging the past and present almost seamlessly. Add in the court that debuted on Saturday night, and the City Edition uniforms are easily one of the best parts of the season so far!
The return of T.J. McConnell
Any time one of the heartbeats of a rotation returns, that is a time to celebrate. Even if his numbers are a little lackluster (8.7 PPG on 38.7% shooting and two total steals), things will improve as he shakes off the rust. For a team that needs a jolt, McConnell might be the guy to do just that.
Behind the scenes with Tyrese Haliburton
As I’ve said before, getting to see Tyrese Haliburton in any capacity is great. This time, Haliburton resurrected his YouTube channel and dropped a behind-the-scenes look and conversation from the day of the season opener versus the Oklahoma City Thunder.
We were able to take a look at his leadership and hear his vulnerability. All of Pacers’ fandom should double down on how awesome it is to have this guy in the franchise.
Andrew Nembhard and Pascal Siakam balling out
We all know the team isn’t doing well right now, but Nembhard and Siakam, the top two active players on the roster this season, are. Over the last three games, Siakam is averaging 25.3 PPG on 51% shooting, and Nembhard is close behind with 22.7 PPG on 50% shooting. Obviously, this production hasn’t been enough to be converted into wins, but we should recognize that two guys we planned on counting on this season have risen to the challenge.
Bonus: The questionability of Bennedict Mathurin
This one is a bonus because it hasn’t officially happened yet, but on Sunday night, Bennedict Mathurin was upgraded to “Questionable” on the injury report – meaning his return is imminent (h/t Tony East). While many guys are still missing, having Mathurin back on the court could shift the offensive woes – and maybe the team’s fortune – relatively quickly.