Pacers Training Camp: Defense is first order of business for Pacers

The Pacers tipped off training camp at the Fieldhouse on Tuesday with two practices. Nate McMillan and the players were available to talk after the first morning practice, so we know the team worked on conditioning and defense to get things started.

But as Nate McMillan said, although the practice focused on defense, he had to interject when he saw things he didn’t like from the players on offense. Nate Taylor captured one of those moments, when McMillan made a strong point about taking care of the ball. Anyone think of PG when he mentions losing the ball while trying to split a double team?

Speaking of PG, he mentioned camp starting in familiar fashion by establishing defense first, with Dan Burke hammering home the team’s principles on D. Of course, practicing defense requires some offense and PG liked what he saw.

“As much as our defensive focus was today, offensively, we looked nice,” PG said.

Thaddeus Young has no concerns with the offense, but emphasized how the details required to play strong team defense require a lot of work.

Jeff Teague didn’t offer up much but did say the team his motivated and he likes how everyone competes.

On the injury front, Myles Turner was at the Fieldhouse at the start of practice but was sent home and wasn’t likely to be ready to practice on Wednesday as he deals with the aftermath of a concussion. Jeremy Evans was in the building but spent practice on the exercise bike.