NBA Thread

[HoosierHoopster]

Yeah looks like Hali may well be out all next season, similarities to Durant's torn achilles in the Finals a few years back.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6444379/2025/06/22/tyrese-haliburton-injury-nba-finals-game-7/

P's had a real shot at a title on the Thunder's floor the way Hali was playing, such a shame -- but he'll be back. The questions on Turner will probably turn on the timeline of Hali's return.

[Demo]

2 hours ago, Hovadipo said:

I hadn’t considered this yet, but it’s a major wrinkle. Pacers are still a playoff team in 25-26 imo, but does Myles want to chance that? From the Pacers perspective, they have a rapidly approaching decision to make on Mathurin too which depending on what happens with Myles is a 2nd apron discussion. Spooky. 

Gotta confess, have always liked Nic Claxton a fair bit. Rebounder/defender/rim runner who doesn’t need the ball and always plays hard. Perimeter switchability. Younger and I imagine makes a fair bit less than Myles will command. No idea what it would take, but since the Nets remain in perpetual rebuild, I believe I might make that call. And hopefully Jackson will come back healthy from his Achilles. Have always liked his minutes.

[Aaron]

Best Pacers season ever with such an unfortunate ending, similar to a great fantasy novel with a 'tragic' final chapter.

Pacers have some fascinating decisions now. Do you bring Turner back and pay luxury tax next season to win 45 games and lose in first round knowing you are a likely contender in 26-27 (I fully expect Haliburton to be healthy for 2026-27 given his age and the strengths of his game being shooting and passing and not athleticism)?

Pritchard is shrewd at making trades so do you move Mathurin now or at trade deadline knowing he will be out of your price range if you sign Turner (can't go into second apron anymore for long and that goes for ALL teams which signing Mathurin would do)? Without Hali, expect Mathurin to have huge season in contract year, but how worth it is he to be sixth seed knowing he won't be back after it?

Kevin Pritchard is a shrewd trader and elite GM and has most fascinating offseason ever, knowing current roster will be only decent in 25-26 and then a reopen championship window in 2026-2027 with rest of core signed long term on team friendly deals (and unlike NFL, NBA has fully guaranteed contracts, so tradeoff is you cannot ask for more money as a player when overachieving. What you sign for is what you make until deal runs out with no changes or exceptions allowed).

 

[Hovadipo]

37 minutes ago, Demo said:

Gotta confess, have always liked Nic Claxton a fair bit. Rebounder/defender/rim runner who doesn’t need the ball and always plays hard. Perimeter switchability. Younger and I imagine makes a fair bit less than Myles will command. No idea what it would take, but since the Nets remain in perpetual rebuild, I believe I might make that call. And hopefully Jackson will come back healthy from his Achilles. Have always liked his minutes.

I like Claxton too. There’s some untapped skill there from his UGA days that would be fascinating to see Rick get his hands on. I love Myles, especially the guy, but I’m not sure how much sense it makes for him or Indy after last night the more I chew on it. I think that decision will let us know where they stand on Benn too. Next season is going to be really weird. 

[Demo]

https://www.theringer.com/2025/06/23/nba/indiana-pacers-tyrese-haliburton-injury-nba-finals-2025

Really nice article on the Pacers. The Ringer’s NBA coverage is so hell and gone better than ESPN’s that those guys really should be embarrassed.

[HoosierHoopster]

22 minutes ago, Demo said:

https://www.theringer.com/2025/06/23/nba/indiana-pacers-tyrese-haliburton-injury-nba-finals-2025

Really nice article on the Pacers. The Ringer’s NBA coverage is so hell and gone better than ESPN’s that those guys really should be embarrassed.

Excellent article

[Aaron]

One suggestion I have that could help some with these high level of Achilles tears is to have a mandatory rest period for any diagnosed calf injuries similar to a concussion. Just as a concussion protocol is in place for player safety, you could have 'calf injury protocol' with mandatory rest period to protect the future of these athletes in similar fashion.

While this would be far from a magic bullet, and some Achilles tears have no calf issues beforehand, trying to play through calf problems clearly has a very high risk of leading to career altering Achilles injuries, similar to playing with a concussion effecting career and life hence the protocol.     

[Stuhoo]

18 minutes ago, Aaron said:

One suggestion I have that could help some with these high level of Achilles tears is to have a mandatory rest period for any diagnosed calf injuries similar to a concussion. Just as a concussion protocol is in place for player safety, you could have 'calf injury protocol' with mandatory rest period to protect the future of these athletes in similar fashion.

While this would be far from a magic bullet, and some Achilles tears have no calf issues beforehand, trying to play through calf problems clearly has a very high risk of leading to career altering Achilles injuries, similar to playing with a concussion effecting career and life hence the protocol.     

^^1,000,000% this^^

[Demo]

1 hour ago, Aaron said:

One suggestion I have that could help some with these high level of Achilles tears is to have a mandatory rest period for any diagnosed calf injuries similar to a concussion. Just as a concussion protocol is in place for player safety, you could have 'calf injury protocol' with mandatory rest period to protect the future of these athletes in similar fashion.

While this would be far from a magic bullet, and some Achilles tears have no calf issues beforehand, trying to play through calf problems clearly has a very high risk of leading to career altering Achilles injuries, similar to playing with a concussion effecting career and life hence the protocol.     

Yeah, they need to drill down hard on that one. It used to be pretty uncommon and when it did happen it was invariably older players and a lot of them just retired at that point. Now, Jesus, the Pacers alone had 2 of them, a 25yo and a 23yo, and those guys are gone for a year. No way owners are just gonna ride with that. I would think losing Haliburton and Tatum will really light a fire under that.

[RaceToTheTop]

BTW, Skip Bayless can go to hell.  About ten minutes prior to Hali's injury, he tweeted that the Pacers had faked his calf injury because 'he played bad in important games and it took the pressure off him'.

[Aaron]

Pacers announce injury and surgery tonight for Hali. It should be noted the quicker you do it the better for recovery and the guy mentioned who is doing it is gold standard when it comes to Achilles surgery:

https://www.nba.com/pacers/news/indiana-pacers-medical-update-tyrese-haliburton-250623

Still would not expect him to play next year, but given his game type and age would expect him to be back healthy for 2026-2027 with contending roster intact as well as his Achilles. 

Still sucks to have to close the championship window (although quite possibly a playoff team still) for a year in 2025-2026 with solid core intact. Unfortunately, this is what it took for best shot at championship this year Pacers ever had and closest they have ever come and most fun season in franchise history.  

[HoosierHoopster]

2 hours ago, RaceToTheTop said:

BTW, Skip Bayless can go to hell.  About ten minutes prior to Hali's injury, he tweeted that the Pacers had faked his calf injury because 'he played bad in important games and it took the pressure off him'.

What an idiot 

[pappy1865]

Yeah, they need to drill down hard on that one. It used to be pretty uncommon and when it did happen it was invariably older players and a lot of them just retired at that point. Now, Jesus, the Pacers alone had 2 of them, a 25yo and a 23yo, and those guys are gone for a year. No way owners are just gonna ride with that. I would think losing Haliburton and Tatum will really light a fire under that.

Wasn't Hali the 3rd Pacer player lost to his Achilles?

Sent from my SM-S938U using BtownBanners mobile app

[Demo]

8 hours ago, pappy1865 said:

Wasn't Hali the 3rd Pacer player lost to his Achilles?

Sent from my SM-S938U using BtownBanners mobile app
 

I read that somewhere else, too. Haliburton and Jackson are the ones I thought of. Who am I forgetting?

[Hovadipo]

3 minutes ago, Demo said:

I read that somewhere else, too. Haliburton and Jackson are the ones I thought of. Who am I forgetting?

Wiseman.

[Demo]

17 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

Wiseman.

Thx. So another early 20’s guy. That just never used to be a thing.

[moyemayhem]

21 hours ago, Demo said:

https://www.theringer.com/2025/06/23/nba/indiana-pacers-tyrese-haliburton-injury-nba-finals-2025

Really nice article on the Pacers. The Ringer’s NBA coverage is so hell and gone better than ESPN’s that those guys really should be embarrassed.

Loved this quote from the article:

"It’s impossible to know how Haliburton’s injury will affect the rest of his career, but the run he had should forever transform how he’s perceived. Moving forward, no one who believes he’s overrated can be taken seriously. On the contrary, true visionaries who inhabit unteachable selflessness do not grow on trees. Haliburton will have coaching staffs around the league begging their primary scorers to sacrifice a little bit more. The sales pitch writes itself: Pass, cut, move, screen, and push more often and defenses will have a much harder time slowing you down."

Haliburton and the Pacers' playing style is not only a great teaching tool for coaches, but it's also the template for entertaining and aesthetically pleasing basketball.  Here's to hoping their influence is strong and durable.

[HoosierHoopster]

21 hours ago, Aaron said:

One suggestion I have that could help some with these high level of Achilles tears is to have a mandatory rest period for any diagnosed calf injuries similar to a concussion. Just as a concussion protocol is in place for player safety, you could have 'calf injury protocol' with mandatory rest period to protect the future of these athletes in similar fashion.

While this would be far from a magic bullet, and some Achilles tears have no calf issues beforehand, trying to play through calf problems clearly has a very high risk of leading to career altering Achilles injuries, similar to playing with a concussion effecting career and life hence the protocol.     

Good thoughts. No idea if the NBA or players union has considered this or will, but agree it makes a lot of sense given the history of players suffering achillies tears.

[Aaron]

2 hours ago, moyemayhem said:

Loved this quote from the article:

"It’s impossible to know how Haliburton’s injury will affect the rest of his career, but the run he had should forever transform how he’s perceived. Moving forward, no one who believes he’s overrated can be taken seriously. On the contrary, true visionaries who inhabit unteachable selflessness do not grow on trees. Haliburton will have coaching staffs around the league begging their primary scorers to sacrifice a little bit more. The sales pitch writes itself: Pass, cut, move, screen, and push more often and defenses will have a much harder time slowing you down."

Haliburton and the Pacers' playing style is not only a great teaching tool for coaches, but it's also the template for entertaining and aesthetically pleasing basketball.  Here's to hoping their influence is strong and durable.

The rest of Hali's career starting in 2026-207 (along with Tatum) will be just fine. Since he is young and relies on shooting and passing and not burst or athleticism, the effect on his game as a star and team leaders should be minimal if noticed at all upon return (especially after 16 months off which Carlisle confirmed will be case on Indy radio today and Turner is still likely to return per him).  

Also, unlike Paul George (who came back just fine as a player despite acting like a jerk), Hali will be walking on to a championship contending roster intact and not have to be overburdened like George was with a bad roster. As long as Hali doesn't develop George's attitude which sounds unlikely based on his upbringing and personality, expect 5-10 more years of stardom with Pacers. 

[HoosierHoopster]

15 minutes ago, Aaron said:

The rest of Hali's career starting in 2026-207 (along with Tatum) will be just fine. Since he is young and relies on shooting and passing and not burst or athleticism, the effect on his game as a star and team leaders should be minimal if noticed at all upon return (especially after 16 months off which Carlisle confirmed will be case on Indy radio today and Turner is still likely to return per him).  

Also, unlike Paul George (who came back just fine as a player despite acting like a jerk), Hali will be walking on to a championship contending roster intact and not have to be overburdened like George was with a bad roster. As long as Hali doesn't develop George's attitude which sounds unlikely based on his upbringing and personality, expect 5-10 more years of stardom with Pacers. 

I was a big PG fan for a long time -- and consider a lot of the 'bad attitude' he was cast with while on the P's to Bird's idiotic, overbearing and genuinely stupid demands, insisting on playing PG at power forward and basically running off the P's then star player -- that said, PG's play for money to leave the Clips Z(where he was largely outstanding) and join the Sixers was itself selfish, short-sighted and well, dumb, and he got what he deserved in making that bad decision. But regardless his broken leg injury from the stanchion isn''t comparable to an achilles tear. Durant's is a direct comparison, and he returned after a  year out to continue to dominate as the League's most efficient scorer and a legit superstar. Yep, Hali should be fine, just have to be patient waiting on his return.