The Indiana Pacers` training facility, located opposite Gainbridge Fieldhouse, proudly displays three new banners. One side honors retired jerseys: Reggie Miller`s #31 and Mel Daniels` #34. Additional banners commemorate Herb Simon, the team`s governor since 1983 and a recent Hall of Fame inductee, and Jim Morris, a significant figure in the Indianapolis community and the organization until his death in 2024.
A new banner, celebrating the 2024-25 Eastern Conference championship, was subtly added to the opposite side of the facility last week. Its raising occurred after training camp had already started, with no formal recognition from the players or coaching staff, whose focus remains squarely on the upcoming season.
Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith noted its sudden appearance, stating, “It wasn`t here one day, then it was up the next.”
While the Pacers intend to acknowledge the banner at the arena before their October 23rd regular season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Coach Rick Carlisle emphasized that the celebration would be brief.
“There won`t be a major fuss,” Carlisle commented after a recent practice. “It was an incredible journey with many remarkable moments, but it`s time to move forward.”
This sentiment permeated the Pacers` training camp, as the team balanced the lingering satisfaction of an improbable NBA Finals run with the lingering sting of a Game 7 loss and the significant impact of Tyrese Haliburton`s season-altering injury during that pivotal first quarter.
Haliburton`s Achilles tear marked the latest in a series of playoff injuries reshaping the 2025-26 Eastern Conference landscape. Both of the last two Eastern Conference champions face the prospect of playing most, if not all, of the season without their key stars. Boston`s Jayson Tatum sustained a torn right Achilles in the conference semifinals, disrupting a run of three consecutive and four out of five conference finals appearances. Indiana, fresh off back-to-back conference finals and seemingly poised for continued success with its young, experienced roster, faces similar challenges.
Consequently, both Boston and Indiana are bracing for a season largely without their star players – Haliburton is confirmed out for the season by the Pacers, while Tatum`s status remains less definitive for the Celtics. This situation dramatically lowers the typical high expectations for these two franchises, which have recently dominated the Eastern Conference.
“It`s an exciting prospect,” stated Celtics guard Derrick White. “We`ve shed the role of the hunted. Now, our focus is to defy expectations and compete at an elite level.”
Beyond their injured stars, both teams also saw other crucial roster components depart. The Celtics moved Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis via trade, and Al Horford and Luke Kornet left in free agency. The Pacers lost center Myles Turner in free agency, a move precipitated by the Milwaukee Bucks` decision to waive Damian Lillard and stretch his contract following his Achilles injury in the first playoff round.
This scenario creates a significantly open Eastern Conference, with numerous teams now feeling they have a legitimate shot at reaching the Finals, particularly after witnessing Indiana`s unexpected success last season.
Carlisle articulated his philosophy: “We must concentrate on our existing assets, not our deficiencies. Our aim is to foster growth and maximize potential.”
He added, “I`m particularly proud of our young players` development over the past two seasons. We intend to continue that trajectory. We have talent with untapped potential, and our goal is to help them achieve it, all while securing as many wins as possible.”
Despite both teams` commitment to winning this season, projections for their success in a seemingly weakened conference are not favorable. ESPN BET currently places the Celtics as having the seventh-best odds to win the East, trailing teams like Detroit and Philadelphia, with Indiana ranking ninth.
However, sources indicate that neither the Celtics nor the Pacers plan to deliberately lose games for draft positioning or to temporarily step back from contention. Their collective ambition is to secure maximum wins, maintain competitiveness, and empower other players to excel in expanded roles.
“Rebuilding is not a term we will use within our organization; our focus will be on progress,” stated Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens earlier this summer.
The reigning Eastern Conference champion shares this resolute mindset.
“There has been no internal discussion of a `gap year`,” Carlisle affirmed, emphasizing, “We are committed to competing at our absolute best.”
The Unconventional Rise of Joe Mazzulla
Few individuals have begun their NBA head coaching careers in such a distinctive manner as Joe Mazzulla.
Taking over from Ime Udoka as Celtics head coach on the brink of training camp three years ago, Mazzulla, at 34, became the youngest coach in the NBA. His rapid ascent from a Division II head coach just three years prior culminated in leading a team consistently favored to win the championship over the last three seasons.
Mazzulla`s successful tenure has been characterized by his intense focus. His pre- and post-game press conferences have frequently gained traction online due to his sharp intensity and often unintentional, dry wit. When questioned last year about the Celtics` approach to being defending champions, Mazzulla famously retorted, “People will say the target is on our back, but I hope it`s right on our forehead between our eyes.”
Despite shifting external expectations for the Celtics, Mazzulla`s characteristic intensity remains undiminished.
“My annual excitement stems from the same core questions,” Mazzulla explained. “I`m eager to assess our position regarding league trends, evaluate our current progress, determine if we`re fully optimizing our roster and mindset, and ensure we`re leveraging all our inherent strengths.”
Mazzulla`s Celtics have become synonymous with a relentless pursuit of 3-point attempts, leading the league in this category for the last two years and ranking second in his inaugural season—a strategy affectionately known as “Mazzulla ball.” However, Mazzulla recently downplayed this moniker, telling reporters, “I don`t pay too much attention to that,” and emphasized that his offensive philosophy over the past three years was dictated by the available talent.
This season`s roster, however, presents a different landscape, seemingly lacking the same abundance of offensive firepower.
Instead of imposing a rigid system, Mazzulla`s priority is to adapt his coaching to best utilize the current talent—a philosophy mirroring Carlisle`s approach many miles away.
“My coaching approach might need to be entirely different than previous years,” Mazzulla admitted. “In past seasons, we had an older, more seasoned roster featuring several All-Stars, which naturally changed our operational methods.”
The team`s scoring deficit could elevate Derrick White into a more prominent offensive role. Already recognized as a premier two-way guard, White is now poised to become the primary secondary scoring option behind Jaylen Brown.
White, however, has built his career on adapting to team needs, and he cautioned that focusing solely on becoming a primary scorer would detract from the qualities that earned him a four-year, $126 million extension last year.
“If I obsess over scoring 25 points, I know my performance will suffer,” White stated.
He continued, “If I simply play my game within the offense, I might achieve that scoring output regardless. My goal isn`t to compensate for JT`s absence by doing `more,` but rather to remain true to my game and contribute to winning in every way I can.”
Mazzulla and White both cited the Pacers as an example of how a less talented but intensely competitive team like Boston can still secure victories.
Last season, particularly in the playoffs, Indiana demonstrated a blueprint for success by physically exhausting opponents with a relentless, full-court, 48-minute defensive and offensive attack.
“The league is imitative; once a strategy succeeds, everyone tries to adapt it,” White observed. “We`ll likely see more of that around the league, especially the increased defensive pressure witnessed last year, with teams constantly looking to force turnovers.”
This observation has become a familiar refrain for the Pacers throughout the summer.
During his offseason near Austin, Texas, Nesmith encountered numerous fans at baggage claim who expressed how much the Pacers` playing style had resonated with and inspired them.
“Many people approached me this summer, saying things like, `You`ve made me a fan of NBA basketball again`,” Nesmith recounted.
Carlisle noted that the most frequently used word to describe the Pacers this summer has been “inspirational.”
“It truly speaks to the character of our players,” Carlisle remarked. “It takes exceptional individuals willing to commit to full-court pressure. Being part of that was truly gratifying.”
Consequently, even with key departures, the Pacers` core offensive and systemic principles are expected to remain consistent. Carlisle confirmed that Bennedict Mathurin will join the starting lineup, and Andrew Nembhard will assume a greater share of primary ball-handling responsibilities. While Indiana aims to leverage Nembhard`s strengths, such as his downhill attacking, over Haliburton`s typical high pick-and-roll, the team`s foundational tenets will persist.
“Our approach remains the same,” Nembhard stated. “We`re still committed to a fast pace, unpredictable play, ball movement involving various players, and diverse offensive actions.”
Yet, the Pacers face the delicate challenge of maintaining their distinctive style while acknowledging that the league will be far better prepared for it than in previous seasons.
Carlisle warned, “When you innovate and disrupt the league as we did, expect a counter-disruption. We must be ready for it. More teams will adopt a more physical approach, requiring us to elevate our intensity further.”
Tyrese Haliburton, though sidelined by injury for the season, maintains a consistently positive influence within the Pacers organization.
Dressed in a grey hoodie and shorts, Haliburton stood beneath a basketball hoop, ready to collect a rebound.
Towards the end of practice, two deep-roster players, Johnny Furphy and Taelon Peter, were engaged in a spirited 3-point shooting contest. Furphy had set a target score, and Peter was attempting to equal it, with Haliburton actively fueling the competitive spirit while rebounding.
With each attempt, Haliburton playfully egged Peter on, urging him, “Ooooh, don`t let him beat you.”
Upon a missed shot, Haliburton swiftly returned the ball, instructing, “Don`t miss. You have two more chances.”
Accepting the challenge, Peter sank five consecutive shots to claim victory.
Despite his season-long absence from gameplay, Haliburton intends to maintain a consistent presence with the team, both during home stands and on road trips.
“We`ll certainly hear his voice,” Carlisle remarked with a smile.
“He consistently brings tremendous energy,” Carlisle continued. “Tyrese possesses an unwavering positive outlook on life; he genuinely enjoys it. He`s an early bird, often the first to arrive in the mornings. He`s approached his rehabilitation with incredible ferocity. His daily involvement will be invaluable.”
Haliburton is now moving freely without a brace or crutches and cheerfully announced he`s driving again. However, the Pacers have already set the 2026 opening night as the target return for their breakout star of last year`s playoffs.
Jayson Tatum, conversely, has not ruled out a return this season. Five months post-injury, he has recommenced light basketball activities, including a pre-camp workout video that fueled speculation about a potential appearance during the 2025-26 campaign. Nevertheless, neither Tatum nor the Celtics have provided concrete timelines for his comeback.
At Celtics media day, Tatum affirmed, “There`s no pressure for me to return before I`m 100% healthy. Brad, Joe, the team, and the organization are all aligned on this. My complete recovery and health upon my return are the paramount concerns.”
Tatum`s statement highlights the peculiar nature of the upcoming season for both Boston and Indiana. For both franchises, the season`s most critical developments will unfold off the court, focusing on the rehabilitation of their injured stars, which holds the promise of future success.
Instead of viewing this season as a lost cause, both the Celtics and Pacers are leveraging their circumstances as unique motivation to still achieve something remarkable.
“Public opinion or skepticism is irrelevant,” Nesmith declared. “For three years, people haven`t believed in us, yet we`ve consistently surprised them. I see no reason why this year should be any different.”
