Rick Carlisle acknowledged the challenge of facing the Suns, particularly with their sophisticated offensive sets and star players. He noted that the Pacers caught a break when Devin Booker left the game due to injury, which shifted the dynamics, but emphasized the need for strong defense to compete at a championship level.

Rick Carlisle expressed optimism about Ben Sheppard's recovery, noting that he is making progress and has been able to participate in contact work without setbacks. Carlisle hopes Sheppard will return to the lineup in the near future.

Rick Carlisle provided updates on the injury status of key players Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith, indicating that Nesmith is still 'weeks away' from returning while Ben Sheppard could be back sooner. His insights reflect the challenges the team is facing due to injuries this season.

Rick Carlisle is candid about the challenges facing the Pacers this season, highlighting a lack of physicality and cohesion on defense. He notes that the current team configuration is different from last year, complicating efforts to find success. Despite these struggles, Carlisle remains hopeful for improvement, particularly after a recent win against the Bulls where the team showed signs of turning things around.

Rick Carlisle acknowledged the team's struggles with physicality and turnovers, emphasizing the need for better leverage on offense. He recognized that the Pacers have had too many poor stretches in games and called for accountability from the players to improve their performance.