Inside Pacers training cap, day three: Oubre fitting, Huff teaching, and more on the second unit

INDIANAPOLIS – The bell was ringing often on day three of Indiana Pacers training camp.

The Pacers wrapped up another practice early on Friday afternoon, leaving just one more for the team ahead of their first "game" on Sunday as the team hosts FanJam in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. As has become the case in recent years, that scrimmage will be a bit more serious with actual officials – though entertainment is still a focus in front of loud fans.

And loud was the St. Vincent Center on Friday as the bell in the corner kept ringing. Quenton Jackson first. Tyrese Haliburton second. Jarace Walker next, then Johnny Furphy. Players kept raining in threes, then letting everyone know.

Ringing the bell occurs when someone succeeds in a shooting drill. Players attempt 25 threes, five from five different spots (both corners, both wings, and the top of the key). If that player makes 20+ of those jumpers, then the rest of the gym will hear it.

The Pacers have previously tracked the leader in bell rings – the best shooters are often at the top of the list. For some players, it's easy and less celebratory. For others, it's a big deal that merits cheers. Think Tony Bradley for the latter.

Two second unit players spoke to gathered media members on Friday as headband wearer Jay Huff and newcomer Kelly Oubre stood behind the microphone. Both players are in a unique situation in their career – Huff is returning to the same team in consecutive seasons for the first time since college while Oubre projects to come off the bench for just the second time since his rookie deal ended in 2018-19.

"I'm coming into a group that's been together, so they're moving really smoothly," Oubre said. "I'm learning a lot because these guys rarely make mistakes, so it's been pretty easy to adjust."

He's been putting in some additional court time with assistant coach Lloyd Pierce. Here's more from day three of camp for the Pacers.

Circle City Spin

The Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, up close

Circle City SpinTony East

Kelly Oubre getting the hang of the Pacers style

Oubre has played in high passing volume systems before, most notably during his one year with the Golden State Warriors in 2020-21. That Steve Kerr-led team ranked third in passes per game.

Oubre has also played in up-tempo systems that prioritize 0.5 basketball – making decisions within half a second of a touch. He pointed to his season with the Phoenix Suns and head coach Monty Williams as a time when that was his reality.

Now with the Pacers, Oubre is blending his past experiences into his new role. The Pacers want to play random basketball, getting from one action to the next quickly while creating, then maintaining, advantages.

It will be an adjustment for the veteran forward, who spent the last three seasons playing with a below-average paced Philadelphia 76ers team. But Oubre is figuring things out so far.

"Every day is a learning process. It's gonna be like that all year. But one thing I've learned is that I love this," Oubre said. "I love this style of play. I love thriving in a 0.5 system and making quick decisions, unselfish basketball. I'm excited. I think the sky is beyond the limit."

Oubre is also looking forward to the Pacers four preseason games as they will be additional opportunities to get reps with his new team. Those outings will be important for him – just as they will be for Tyrese Haliburton, Ivica Zubac, and others with a changed situation.

And speaking of a changed situation, Oubre also expanded on his choice to join the Pacers, noting that his slowed-down lifestyle and growing family made Indiana a great place to plant some roots.

He's planting roots with the team, too, and fitting in well so far. "Just really easy to get along with," Huff said of Oubre. "Fun guy to be around."

The size and ability of the second unit

The Pacers blue unit, aka the bench, has earned praise basically every day of training camp so far. That didn't change on Friday.

"Our second unit has been gelling really well," Huff said. "We play fast... For us to come in and continue that speed that the first unit would be playing with is really, really good."

Even T.J. McConnell dunked once on Friday, Huff shared. McConnell is an outlier for the expected bench five in one way: He's below the average size for his position.

That's not true elsewhere. Huff, Obi Toppin, Oubre, and Jarace Walker all bring size to their role. That's a strength of the Pacers bench, and one that head coach Rick Carlisle discussed yesterday.

"Positional size is really important for defense. When you play small in the NBA – it's very difficult to be a good defensive team when you don't have positional size. We found that out three years ago before we traded for Pascal," Carlisle began. "We had [Aaron] Nesmith at four and Buddy [Hield] at three, and we were just small. And it's just difficult. It affects your rebounding, it affects your ability to contest shots. So positional size has been a priority, and we see it as a strength."

Jay Huff benefitting from being in one place

As I wrote about here and noted above, Huff is back with the same team for the first time in his career. Huff's wife is thrilled, he said on Friday, because for once they didn't have to move in the summer and instead stayed in the same place.

It's big for Huff in that for once, he isn't spending some of his offseason picking up a new system. This time, he knows it. He's way more comfortable, and that will help once the regular season begins later this month.

Carlisle said that Huff has some unique qualities that make him a good fit with the team. "He's had a great summer. Got stronger," the head coach said. "I believe his feel for the game and passing is very, very good," he added after naming some of Huff's more well-known skills – mainly his shooting and rebounding.

While remaining in one place and with one team helps Huff, it also helps his teammates. For the first time ever, he has experience and can answer questions asked by others. That's a boon for everyone.

"I'm trying to help the new guys along a little bit because I know that when I was in that spot, it's just a hard system to learn. Even when you know the plays, just the way we play, the speed, it's hard to pick up sometimes," Huff said. "So just trying to help other guys along."

He's also still deciding if his new headband look will stick into the season and requested fan input.

Thank you for reading. Fever exit interviews tomorrow, then it's full go into Pacers season for me. Sign up to get stories covering the present and future of both teams.