Like a drum, these fans' hearts never stop beating for the Pacers.
Getting to know your Setting The Pace fans of the week: Tyler Watts and Casey Johnson.
This week’s “Setting The Pace” fans put on a show! Our trivia came down to the final question on round 3 to determine a winner — and for two of the questions, one of our fans didn’t even need multiple choice options to get the right answer! It was fun and it was with two great guys.
First, we have Tyler, a reoccurring fan of the week. He has probably the coolest spot to watch a Pacers game in, outside of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, in his Kentucky home. He created what is known as “The Pacement” and I’m itching to see it in person some day.
On top of that, Tyler is a school teacher and Post-It note artists. Here is some of his amazing artwork that was completely created using only Post-It notes. He truly has a special talent.
Next, we have Casey, drummer of a country music band called the “Night Owl Country Band” aka the NOCB. The NOCB originated here in Columbus, Indiana and have played such venues as The Grand Ole Opry Stage. This is an amazing accomplishment! Casey is a talented “musician” (if you can call a drummer that) who brings the goods to the stage every night.
But don’t be fooled; Casey doesn’t just love playing the drums, he loves watching and talking about the Indiana Pacers. Casey was born into a family of Pacers fans, so rightfully so, he followed in their footsteps. However, like many teenage boys, Casey stated on the podcast that he allowed the world of wrestling (WWE) to become his first love and pushed the Pacers to the side for roughly 5-years. Tyrese Haliburton can relate better than anyone to this, so I think we can give Casey a pass! Casey is now 100% all in with not only the Pacers, but his favorite Pacers podcast: Setting The Pace.
To further understand their fandom, I asked each of these two gentlemen to answer 8-questions about the Pacers, past and present, as well as Setting The Pace, their go-to Pacers podcast. So, let’s dive in and hear what these two amazing gentleman have to say:
1. Who is your favorite Pacers player of all time and who is your favorite Pacers player currently?
Tyler: My favorite Pacers player of all-time is the man himself, Reggie Miller. He backed up the smack talk. So much emotion on the court. But at the end of the day he was loyal to the city of Indianapolis and a true professional. My favorite player currently is Buddy Heild. Buddy tossed us his headband at a game last year and my daughter has been hooked on him since. He is awesome with the fans, and really puts on a show when he gets hot from deep.
Casey: My favorite of all time is Reggie. He's the reason I fell in love with basketball and he means a lot to me. Currently, it's a cliche, but I just love watching Tyrese work. Every time he has the ball, I just feel safe.
2. What made you become a fan of the Indiana Pacers?
Tyler: I became a fan of the Pacers around 1998/99. My friend Jarrod introduced me to the video game, NBA Live 99, and I asked him about the best shooting team on the game. He showed me the Pacers so I always played with them. Hoiberg, Miller, Rose, Mullin, they could all drain the long ball. The Pacers were currently on TV a lot during that time. So, the connection stuck. With Reggie’s trash talking personality, and the Davis bros playing smash mouth basketball, I was hooked on tuning in to see them play. I have been playing NBA games a lot ever since that year. And I have been a Pacers fan since those days, as well. My fandom has stayed strong until this day, as I now have the Pacement (my Pacers mancave), to show off all of my Pacers memorabilia.
Casey: I don't think I ever really had a choice. My family loved basketball, and I grew up right at the end of the Reggie Miller era, so it was very much bred into me from an early age.
3. What’s your biggest hot take for the Pacers this season?
Tyler: My hot take is that I believe a big trade is coming at the deadline. I am wondering if we will swing for the fence with our upcoming picks packaged with players to go out and get another star to pair with our franchise player. I am going to say yes, and I will say we bring in a big time wing player. Possibly someone at the small forward spot with major all-star potential.
Casey: I think TJ McConnell is far more important to the fabric of the team than we realize. In the 3 hours that it's "game time," I think his value is understated. However, in the other 21 hours of the day that we don't see, he's one of the most crucial parts of this team. I remember Chris Webber saying when the Kings traded Doug Christie for Cuttino Mobley, even though they got better on paper, Doug was so much of the fabric of that team that Chris immediately knew they wouldn't win the championship. I think, as unfortunate as his playing situation is, if TJ gets moved, the essence of who this team has become goes with him more than we would realize. In all the player interviews I've seen, everyone says either his shot is the most unarguable, or he's the most this or that. When someone asked Tyrese who on the team would make a good coach, he said, "lol TJ for sure." — like it was preposterous. What does that say about TJ's importance to this team in practice and the locker room?
4. Who would be on your Pacers Mount Rushmore (Top 4) — NBA only
Tyler: I love that this is an NBA era only question, because it makes things way easier. I will go with my all-time Pacers greats, and these are strictly my opinion. Reggie Miller, Paul George, Jermaine O’ Neal, and Rik Smits. It’s so hard not to put Danny Granger on here. Mark Jackson barely missed the cut for me as well.
Casey: This one is pretty straightforward to me. Reggie, Jermaine, PG, Granger, with a spot going to Haliburton within the next 3 years if all goes well.
5. How long have you been a listener of Setting The Pace?
Tyler: I have been listening to STP for a little over two years now. I really enjoy the consistency of how often new episodes are released. The content is always quality, and it’s authentic opinions. I big time appreciate the professionalism of the show, as well. Quality stuff.
Casey: Since the day after the Pacers signed Brogdon. Take yourself back to when that was the most exciting thing in the world. I was trying to gobble up all the content I could about the transaction, and you had a reaction pod where you were just PUNCHING AIR. I knew this was the place for me.
6. Is there a favorite guest (non player) we’ve had on Setting The Pace? If yes, who?
Tyler: Caitlin Cooper is probably my favorite guest. She can really break down the game with analytics. Bob Kravitz is one of my guys also. He brings the inside scoop from around the league. The chatter that we may not see on the bottom line. I have honestly never came across a bad guest while listening to the show. Caitlin can definitely analyze the games in ways that I just can’t. And she can break down that perspective so effortlessly. In her profession, she is a baller!
Casey: Chad Buchanan. I love the way you guys have this diffusing method of asking questions where Chad, even if he comes in guarded, is soon just talking to you like old friends.
7. Who is your favorite player interview we’ve had on Setting The Pace?
Tyler: Probably the Lance Stephenson interview. I feel like the players from the past have a little more freedom to really tell those stories that maybe a current player would have to hold up on.
Casey: The Tyrese interview was a big moment for me. After the way he was clear he was hurt getting traded to the Pacers, that was one of the first moments as a fan that you could tell he was having fun and wanted to be here.
8. What’s your favorite episode of Setting The Pace?
Tyler: My favorite episodes are a toss up between the mock drafts with other podcasters and NBA personalities and I also enjoy any show with trade ideas. Especially the episodes where the trade ideas are ranked. But, of course, my favorite episodes are the ones that follow a big PACERS WIN. In my best Michael J. Facci voice…….LETTTTTT’S GO PACERS!
Casey: The Tyrese trade reaction without question. Especially after you guys got that excited about Brogdon, which drew me to the show in the first place, I knew the Haliburton reaction would be legendary; it was. An honorable mention has to go to the episode after we got Obi — where the first segment was essentially Alex saying "Okay everyone welcome to the show. We got Obi. Go ahead Facci." and just letting him freak out uninterrupted.