Pacers Inspire Bill Simmons
All three participants agreed on a rare occurrence of the annual over/under podcast via The Ringer hosted by Bill Simmons . What force of positivity could inspire such a happening? The feel-good Indiana Pacers have the second-best offensive rating in the 2023-24 season and are the reigning Eastern Conference Finals runner-up. What caused Simmons to change his mind from under to over 47.5 wins?
Simmons initially saw the Pacers as a "Are we sure this isn't an everything went great for this year?" team. However, after over/under participants Ryen Russillo and Simmons' good buddy Joe House waxed poetic about the Pacers, Simmons had a change of opinion.
The showing of confidence from Simmons' co-hosts filled the podcast air. Numerous quotes piqued Simmons' interest. For one, the biblical praise of Andrew Nembhard from House inspired the conversation. "Nembhard was an effing revelation in the playoffs," House said.
Furthermore, House also reminded Simmons that Bennedict Mathurin didn't play during the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals run.
While one may wonder why anyone should take stock in such a podcast, the group has a winning record of picking over/under over the years. Moreover, all three participants place bets on their picks.
While the Pacers looked good at the beginning of the season, Pascal Siakam legitimized the roster. With Siakam in the lineup at the start of the 2024-25 season, especially participating in Rick Carlsile's training camp, the Pacers' chemistry will strengthen.
Related: 'State of Play' Builds Indiana BasketballUltimately, Carlisle and Tyrese Haliburton, as the leaders of the bench and court, bode well for a team known for scoring and doing so efficiently. Although many see the Pacers as a play-in team, continuity and a healthier roster will lead to an improved regular season.
This story was originally published October 16, 2024, 5:20 PM.
