- The offseason acquisition of Obi Toppin continues to pay off for the Pacers, with head coach Rick Carlisle taking the opportunity after Wednesday’s win over Milwaukee to praise the fourth-year forward for how he’s adjusted to being removed from the starting lineup. “It’s hard to put into words how impressed I am with Obi Toppin as a young man. He just is all about the team,” Carlisle said (Twitter links via Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star). “He’s raised his level since coming off the bench. … That kind of character and commitment to the group is what it’s going to take.”