1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,320 Speaker 1: All right, let's head of the Payless Lickers hotline right now, 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: two games left before the All Star Breaking as the 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: head coach of the Pacers. He is Rick Carlisle coach. 4 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: Good morning, how are. 5 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 2: We doing just fine? Thanks? 6 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: Let's start, I guess with the unfortunate news from yesterday, 7 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 1: and that was the confirmed ACL tear for Johnny Furfey. 8 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,240 Speaker 1: I know you've mentioned kind of his ability to defend, 9 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,599 Speaker 1: you know, offer some friction without fouling, you know, when 10 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 1: you have seen him out there. What have you like 11 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: from Johnny Furfey so far? 12 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 2: Well, there's so many things really, the defense, the rebound, 13 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 2: the rebounding, the running. You know, his shooting is on 14 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 2: the is on the rise. He's just he's grown in 15 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:48,600 Speaker 2: so many ways. So this is very unfortunate, you know, situation. 16 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 2: But time goes by quickly. He's very young. I expect 17 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 2: him to make a full recovery. It'll be several months, 18 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 2: you know, I don't know. It's to hear different time 19 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 2: frames with all this stuff. You know, it's eight to 20 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 2: twelve months, it's no one knows for sure. But he's 21 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:12,759 Speaker 2: a great kid. He's very disappointed and so are we. 22 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:15,319 Speaker 2: But you know he will be back. 23 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:19,320 Speaker 3: Rick. When a player suffers an injury like that, obviously 24 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 3: you can't have a remedy right there in that moment. 25 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 3: But what conversations have you had with Johnny Firfree to 26 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 3: just encourage him and let him know you'll be there, 27 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 3: Which I would imagine it's the case for all your players, 28 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 3: but you get a young player going through something like 29 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 3: this for the first time. 30 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:39,400 Speaker 2: Well, yesterday, you know, I spent about a half hour 31 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 2: with him in his hotel room. One of his good 32 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 2: friends from Australia's here in summer trainers here, and you know, 33 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 2: I just spent thirty minutes with him, just just laying 34 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 2: it out, giving them names of guys that have made 35 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 2: full recoveries from the exact same injury situation, whatever it is, 36 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 2: and just trying to encourage him and let him know 37 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: that you know, everybody will be with him. You know, 38 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 2: we feel we feel his pain too. You know, it's 39 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: just uh, and it's obvious that we have a strong 40 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 2: belief in him. I mean, I don't know how many 41 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 2: games he started here this year, but it's it's more 42 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 2: than a handful. And and so yeah, well we'll see 43 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 2: which doctor it's going to be that that does the surgery, 44 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,000 Speaker 2: but it'll be it'll be one of the best in 45 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 2: the world and he will make a full recovery. 46 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: That's a voice of Rick Carlisle. Pacers got two more 47 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,399 Speaker 1: until they all start break. Coming up back to back 48 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:40,839 Speaker 1: the Knicks and the Nets the next two nights. Let's 49 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 1: talk about our first conversation with you since the aviatsa 50 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: Zubats trade coach, and obviously he's had some big games 51 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 1: against you guys, just from a pure skill set standpoint 52 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: on both ends of the floor. 53 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 2: What is so. 54 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 1: Attractive about a player like Zubots with your system. 55 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 2: Well, you know, he's a top ten starting center and 56 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 2: right now that's a that's a great need for us. 57 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 2: You know, when we spoke a week ago, there wasn't 58 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 2: there was no conversation with the Clippers about him to 59 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 2: my knowledge, and so this thing came on rather quickly 60 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:23,080 Speaker 2: over the last couple of days at the at the deadline, 61 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: and I guess you know, there were a lot of 62 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 2: there was a lot of back and forth, and you know, 63 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 2: we've we've given up two very good young players, you know, 64 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 2: given up math and and and Jackson, and obviously a 65 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 2: couple of picks. So I think it's a great trade 66 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 2: for both teams. You know, I spoke to one of 67 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 2: the Clipper coaches yesterday. They they were they had reached 68 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 2: out one to you know, find out as much as 69 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 2: they could about our two guys that were going to them. 70 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 2: We had a great conversation, traded some information and you 71 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 2: know it's onward from here. 72 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 1: You mentioned last week you feel like the center position 73 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: is coming back a little bit. Well, I guess why 74 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: do you think it is? I guess in what ways 75 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: have you seen that? 76 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 2: Well, you know, the league's gotten faster, and during that period, 77 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: you know, there have been times when it's gotten smaller. 78 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:21,640 Speaker 2: And you know now this year, you know, you look 79 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: at the first game of the season that was on TV. 80 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 2: It was Houston at Oklahoma City. So you had Steven 81 00:04:26,880 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 2: Adams and Shngoons starting in the starting lineup against you know, 82 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 2: Hartenstein and home Run and so that's four seven foot 83 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 2: guys out there to start the game. And you know, 84 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 2: look at Utah. Utah traded for Jackson Junior. You know, 85 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 2: now now they now they're going to have Nurkis Jackson 86 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 2: Junior and and marketing it did three marketing seven feet tall. 87 00:04:55,880 --> 00:05:01,800 Speaker 2: You know, so teams are playing faster, but size, and 88 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:06,160 Speaker 2: you know, really gigantic size has come back into it. And 89 00:05:06,120 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 2: if you don't have you don't have size and and 90 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: some girth, you know you're gonna be up against it. 91 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 2: Zubots gives a size, he gives us strength, experience. You know, 92 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,479 Speaker 2: he's just entering his prime at age twenty eight, and 93 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 2: so you know, we're excited about the possibilities. He got 94 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 2: here last night after physicals, and you know, I sat 95 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 2: and met with him for a few minutes before for 96 00:05:31,279 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 2: our our prep this morning for New York and uh, 97 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 2: you know, he's been there for ten years and so 98 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 2: you know, this is this is a big change. But 99 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 2: our people have made him feel very welcome, which I 100 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 2: fully knew they would, and we're we're really thrilled to 101 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 2: have him Rick. 102 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 3: When you look at some of the moves this team 103 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 3: has made in recent years, obviously the headliner is a 104 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 3: trade for Tyre's Halliburton, then the trade for Pascal Siakam, 105 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:01,919 Speaker 3: the trade for Zubots, how much do you appreciate just ingenuity, 106 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,080 Speaker 3: the creativity of your front office to continue to try 107 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 3: to give you all a chance. 108 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, I know these guys. These guys are amazing and 109 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 2: you know, to this point, you know, they've they've been 110 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 2: able to do this and we're we're still under the tax, 111 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,840 Speaker 2: you know, So it's it's quite it's quite amazing. I mean, 112 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:25,360 Speaker 2: there's so much thought and so much work goes into 113 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 2: these trades, and uh, you know, the last two years, 114 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 2: you know, we've had we've had good runs in the playoffs. 115 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,840 Speaker 2: You know, we've had great runs in the playoffs, and 116 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,040 Speaker 2: we've beaten you know, uh, first and second Apron Tax 117 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 2: teams with a with a team that's that's under the tax, 118 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 2: and so it speaks to how well the team is 119 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 2: put together and how how well things are thought out. 120 00:06:47,120 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 2: And so, uh, I'm very grateful to be a part 121 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 2: of this team. 122 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: Meeting on the horizons for just a couple of minutes 123 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: left here with the Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle with 124 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: us on this Tuesday morning. How much do you think 125 00:06:58,080 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: this trade coming to fruition? 126 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:00,359 Speaker 3: Coach? 127 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: Was I guess due to a question about Benedict Matheren 128 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: in his future being here in Indiana, maybe his desire 129 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 1: to want to be here long term. 130 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't I don't think it's that I mean, 131 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 2: really it was it was more about a glaring need 132 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 2: that we had. And look, I the thing that the 133 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 2: thing that I'm most pleased about with all this, you know, 134 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 2: I spent I've spid more time with Ben probably than 135 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 2: any young player I've ever had, just in terms of 136 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 2: watching film, conversations, you know, talking about the history of 137 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 2: the game, how the game has evolved. You know, a 138 00:07:42,320 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 2: lot of a lot of his heroes growing up played 139 00:07:45,400 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 2: in a different era where the game just looked totally different. 140 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 2: And you know, we've had we've had great conversations over 141 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,200 Speaker 2: the years. And he you know, really in his last 142 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,680 Speaker 2: four games that he played, you know, coming off the 143 00:07:58,720 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 2: three weeks where he just was banged up, I thought 144 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 2: he played some of the best basketball he's played the 145 00:08:04,800 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 2: whole time he's been here. And that bodes very well 146 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 2: for his future. You know, So all that stuff, all 147 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 2: that stuff's gonna work out for him. He's a he's 148 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 2: a bright young player. But you know, you guy, you 149 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 2: guys know know the know the saying or the or 150 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 2: the phrase. You know, to get to get good players, 151 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 2: you got to give give up good players. And it's 152 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 2: disappointing to give those guys up. But to get a 153 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 2: guy like Zubats, you know, it's the only way you 154 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:31,360 Speaker 2: can do it. 155 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: You think Zubots will make his debut here one of 156 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: the next two nights. 157 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,559 Speaker 2: No, No, he's not. I don't think he's gonna play 158 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:43,720 Speaker 2: for a while. You've got a lingering ankle situation. Uh. 159 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 2: He was injured in his December twentieth or something like this. Uh, 160 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 2: something like that, and you know, initially it was it 161 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 2: was deemed to be a four to six week injury. 162 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 2: But but this is a guy that's played ninety five 163 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 2: percent of his game since he's been in the NBA, 164 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 2: and he he pushed to come back early. Their team 165 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 2: was struggling, and so it's just there's just something in there. Still, 166 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 2: there's some there's some discomfort, there's some swelling. You admire 167 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:16,880 Speaker 2: the guy for for for slugging through, but at this point, 168 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 2: it makes zero sense for him to be out on 169 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 2: the floor in an NBA game if you're not feeling 170 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:24,680 Speaker 2: as close to one hundred percent as possible. So I 171 00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 2: don't know the timetable. Uh, he will not play in 172 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 2: these two games, and we'll see what's what when we 173 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 2: come out of the break. 174 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:34,000 Speaker 3: Last quick one from me, Rick, and just bear with me, 175 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 3: nerd out a little bit. But how much does a 176 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 3: screener like Zubais when he does get out there on 177 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 3: the floor change your offense Because I get that a 178 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 3: lot of you know, today's NBA is picking pop and 179 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 3: things like that. Boy, I can only imagine what it'll 180 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 3: look like when he's able to kind of give you 181 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 3: a couple of walls out there to get into the 182 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:51,520 Speaker 3: foyer offense. 183 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 2: Well, he's a different player than we've had, you know, 184 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 2: we've we've had. You know, Miles was Miles was terrific, 185 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:01,320 Speaker 2: you know, and Miles could do a lot of things. 186 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 2: Miles could pick a pop, Miles became a very good roller. 187 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 2: Miles had a big body, all that kind of stuff. 188 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 2: You know. Zubats just his the element that he brings. 189 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 2: He's bigger than Miles, a little longer, I think, you know, 190 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 2: his game is more around the basket, with with brute 191 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 2: force and strength and skill. And look, our game is 192 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,839 Speaker 2: gonna look different with him out there than it did 193 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 2: with Miles. But both these guys are terrific players in 194 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 2: my view. They're both top ten centers in the league. 195 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,239 Speaker 2: And we're very fortunate to have Zubats on board. 196 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: Again, back to back before the All Star break nixt 197 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: tonight NETS tomorrow, Coach. Hopefully you get some quiet time 198 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: maybec abby, hang out with the fam a little bit, 199 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 1: and we'll talk to you here coming up later in 200 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:47,079 Speaker 1: the month of February. 201 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 2: Take here, guys,