The Indiana Pacers are in a tailspin. At 6-24, they’re tied with the Washington Wizards for the NBA’s worst record - a stunning fall from grace for a team that was just in the NBA Finals.
And while Tyrese Haliburton’s absence has certainly played a role in the collapse, the issues run deeper than just missing their star guard. Frustration is mounting - in the locker room, in the stands, and perhaps most notably, with Pascal Siakam.
After another lifeless loss, Siakam didn’t hold back. His postgame comments were raw, emotional, and telling.
“We just didn’t play with any pace, any determination,” he said. “It looked out there like we were just jacking shots sometimes.
We played with no force. We just didn’t have it.”
That kind of candor isn’t just venting - it’s a reflection of a player who’s giving everything he has while watching the wheels fall off around him. Siakam talked about the lack of energy, the sluggishness, and the general sense that the team just isn’t bringing it right now.
“It doesn’t look like we have any pace or any pep to anything that we’re doing. We just look slow.
There’s no energy. It’s not fun to be around.”
For a player who’s known for his high motor and competitive fire, this kind of environment is understandably tough to stomach.
“I really care about it, and I hate, I hate, I hate losing, so it’s not fun,” Siakam continued. “It’s hard.
I don’t think I’ve been the happiest. Maybe I have to fix it.
I don’t look good out there most of the time, just because I can’t stand it. It drives me crazy.”
And here’s the thing: Siakam isn’t just talking - he’s backing it up on the floor. Despite the chaos around him, he’s quietly putting together one of the most complete seasons of his career.
Through 29 games, the veteran forward is averaging 23.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He’s shooting 47.5% from the field and a career-best 37% from beyond the arc.
He leads Indiana in just about every major category: points, rebounds, steals, minutes, and shot attempts. He’s doing everything he can to keep the ship afloat.
But even with Siakam playing at an All-Star level, the Pacers are sinking fast.
The absence of Haliburton and the offseason departure of Myles Turner - who joined the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency - have left gaping holes on both ends of the floor. And Indiana hasn’t found answers. Not even close.
Offensively, the numbers are brutal. The Pacers rank dead last in the NBA in offensive rating (108.3) and points per game (109.2).
Defensively, they’re not faring much better, sitting 20th in defensive rating at 116.7. That’s a recipe for disaster - and it’s showing up in the standings.
This isn’t the same Pacers team that made deep playoff runs the last two years. The identity is gone.
The cohesion is missing. And without Haliburton orchestrating the offense and Turner anchoring the defense, Indiana looks like a shell of itself.
Siakam’s frustration is understandable. He came here to compete, to win, to be part of something bigger. Right now, he’s stuck in a season that feels like it’s slipping away before the calendar even flips to January.
There’s still hope for the future. Haliburton’s eventual return will change the dynamic, and the Pacers have the foundation to be a contender again.
But in the meantime, it’s going to be a grind. And for a proud competitor like Siakam, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
The Pacers are in a dark stretch - and it’s clear that no one feels that more than the man doing everything he can to pull them out of it.