Ivica Zubac is out for season, why that stinks for Pacers despite bad record + talking loss to Spurs

The Locked On Pacers podcast breaks down the Indiana Pacers' 134-119 loss to the Spurs, emphasizing the team's ongoing defensive struggles and 16-game losing streak, with a focus on the season-ending injury to Ivica Zubac. Zubac, who played just five games due to a fractured rib, was set to be a key piece in evaluating the team's new core of Siakam, Nembhard, and Nismith, but his absence cuts off crucial chemistry-building time. The episode highlights how Zubac’s unique skillset—especially his power-based play and defensive presence—required adjustments from teammates, and now those insights are lost for the season. The Spurs game showcased the Pacers' poor first-quarter defense, allowing 42 points, and their inability to overcome a 15-point deficit despite strong second-half runs. Despite positive performances from returning players like Pascal Siakam and Jairus Walker, the Pacers were outrebounded and outplayed on the glass, with no player grabbing more than four rebounds. The episode also touches on roster implications, potential hardship moves, and the role of players like Micah Potter and Kobe Brown in the stretch run.