Gregg Doyel

1 week ago | indystar.com | Gregg Doyel

Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton is injured, or not. That's why he didn't hit one field goal, unless it isn't. He'll play in Game 6. Probably. Questions? Haliburton, who was seen limping after Game 2 but never appeared on the injury report and nearly had a triple-double in the Pacers' Game 3 win, said his leg issue in Game 5 might be related. Or not. Haliburton had four points (all free throws), seven rebounds and six assists. Coach Rick Carlisle said he thinks Haliburton will play Game 6: "He's not 100%.

2 weeks ago | indystar.com | Gregg Doyel

Indy's emotional week: Mourning Colts owner Jim Irsay, celebrating Pacers owner Herb Simon, admiring Tyrese Haliburton in NBA Finals. Let's Mailbagg. The weekly Mailbagg comes from Gregg Doyel's text message group with IndyStar subscribers. Doyel sees every text; readers see only what he shares: mainly first column links, and peeks behind curtain. Other top reader topics: Pacers coach Rick Carlisle's defense of ESPN's Doris Burke, the correct grammar of dad-jokes – hyphenated or not?

2 weeks ago | indystar.com | Gregg Doyel

Pacers owner Herb Simon, “a reluctant receiver of attention,” is on a Hall of Fame and NBA Finals roll. Around this town and franchise, “Everyone’s thrilled for Herbie.”In recent months Simon was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame, turned 90, and watched the Pacers reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. Simon doesn't show much emotion, and he doesn't like attention, but family and colleagues are thrilled he's getting this moment.

2 weeks ago | usatoday.com | Gregg Doyel

OKLAHOMA CITY – This is the Tyrese Haliburton experience: Sometimes, most of the time, he pulls a rabbit out of a hat. But sometimes, other times, he makes himself disappear. Don’t try to understand it, because he doesn’t. If he did, you think this would happen? Those first three-plus quarters of the Indiana Pacers’ 123-107 loss to Oklahoma City in Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals?

3 weeks ago | indystar.com | Gregg Doyel

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle defended ESPN's Doris Burke before Game 1 of the NBA Finals. You know that story. What happened next? Let Doris Burke tell you that one. A report before Game 1 suggested ESPN could replace Burke in its NBA Finals broadcast booth next year. Carlisle objected to the timing, and to anonymous sources doing the dirty work. Carlisle and Burke have a long professional history, and as luck would have it, they visited moments after Carlisle said what he said Thursday evening.