Aaron Nesmith "Art of Falling" appreciation thread

[Nomad]

like I said, I am not a buyer on these. Top is not my favorite design (anyway, its Impeccable) and bottom I already have one of. I am not aiming for a monopoly collection. But that leaves me in a chase for the right green.

Interestingly, just noticed the one labeled NT is Flawless plate. Is that referring to set in which it came? Can't imagine how disappointing it must be to come away from a high-end break with a $69 Nesmith plate your only 1/1.

[Nomad]

"Holding the Lakers to 90 feels a lot different than holding them to 150"

"Aaron Nesmith a “It don’t show up in the stat sheet” all star. He only got 12 but it might as well be 35"

"Nesmith shutting LeBron down is my favorite. let's go!"

"locking down the postgame interview, too"

"Punk ass Lebron left the court early. Pouting because he didn't get his usual extra 30 FTs."

Nuff said. Nice to send Lebron off crying.

Context:

'Aaron's the best we got:' Pacers hold Lakers to 90 thanks to Nesmith's defensive effort
Dustin Dopirak
Indianapolis Star

"INDIANAPOLIS -- Myles Turner heard the statistical premise to a reporter's question to Aaron Nesmith and, apparently, couldn't believe it.

Nesmith, the Pacers' starting small forward and top wing defender, had played 39 minutes and spent most of it ably guarding LeBron James -- the NBA's all-time leading scorer and one of the most dominant physical forces to ever play the game -- and committed just one foul. He helped hold James to 16 points, and just five days after the Pacers surrendered 150 points to the Lakers in a defeat in Los Angeles, the Pacers beat them 106-90, allowing their lowest point total this season. They improved to 42-33 to clinch their first winning season since 2019-20 and held on to the critical sixth spot in the Eastern Conference standings."

Turner spoke up from his locker room stall across the room.

"He said 39 minutes and one foul?" the Pacers' veteran center asked loudly enough to momentarily stop the conversation. "I ain't never seen it."

"It was pretty obvious early in the year that our mindset from a players' perspective was we were just going to outscore people," Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton said. "I think around Christmas when we were at around .500 there, we had to make a decision to defend and understand that the better that we are defensively, our offense kind of flows off that."

The biggest difference between the Pacers in November and December and the Pacers now is that they're playing with more of what they call "presence" -- which essentially boils down to physicality and attention to detail."Much greater edge," Carlisle said. "Much greater compete level. Determination. Level of guts. All that kind of stuff. Grit."

[Nomad]

Moved from "Why do people sell cards on Ebay and show photos...."

A Nesmith gold select RPA went for auction at $46 the other day because of the askew photo issue (factor in his current scrub status). I was going to put in a bid but I already have one, and one is enough of any stick auto, non GU patch card, though rookie. (No knock on Select bling. The Harden jersey number Select patch auto I purchased in Philippines is among my favorite cards. There is something about the porthole window and the checkerboard symmetry).

Anyway I invested a dollar less in picking up another "hourglass" /5 21-22 Prizm black and gold. They'll have a nice candlestick effect supporting the 26/199 blue rookie Prizm, or 23/150 '23 blue disco Prizm (whichever is mood).

I even am choosy about jersey number now. I let a 26/49 Imac rookie RPA pass because I want some other Boston fans to have his stuff. (Sold a day later, whereas even half a year ago it would have languished online for weeks).

So yeah, for me now the collection is primarily quirky things. Despite the 'popping veins aesthetic' issue, I did purchase all the Prizm '23 single color numbered stuff available for under $5 last night to round out that collection.



In actual basketball...

Nesmith already at number four in the NBA Central Division talking point list. See: "Central Notes: Mitchell, Morris, Lillard, Nesmith?"

"The Pacers defeated the Lakers Friday night, holding them to 60 fewer points than when the teams met over the weekend in L.A., notes Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. A big part of the difference was the defensive effort by Aaron Nesmith, who committed just one foul while limiting LeBron James to 16 points. “I just stuck to the game plan,” Nesmith said. “He challenges you, but I just did a good job tonight.”

(I wonder stat heads, is that the best single-man defensive performance mounted against Lebron in his career?)

In actual fact, postgame Nesmith went into the most detail he ever has about the "random" defensive strategy he formulated with Drew & Co. that prevented Bron in scoring in a game that was must-win for Pacers and Lakers. He didn't mention this, but the strategy I think took a load off, so he could comfortably sit out only 5 minutes the entire game.

[bkcardcollector]

man that select card is ten times better

[Nomad]

Yeah, most people would say.

But in hand that hourglass so clean. No tacky sticky. And the only second-year card. probably came out before some of his first year stuff.

[Nomad]

Shoutout to Ty who, despite scoring only 8 in the Pacers' critical victory against the Thunder, notched 11 assists. His pass out to Aaron Nesmith for a timely three was also the assist that broke Mark Jackson's record for most Pacers assists in a season.

It was no accident and reminded me that Aaron and Ty have been collaborators since the mid '22 start of the Pacers' rebuild. In his recent Vanderbilt interview, Nesmith really had positive things to say about Haliburton, particularly in the aspect of chemistry building, sheer joy, and making sure everyone on the team goes out there feeling included and recognized for their efforts. Toppen could have taken his demotion from the starting unit hard, instead he is giving some of his best high flying effort at a critical time. Jalen ditto.

And to his credit (and with his injury) Ty is now just one of the guys. Siakam if anyone is the scoring machine.

The Pacers now control their destiny in that, if they beat the Heat on Sunday, they basically clinch 6th, while if they lose 7th is the likely seed (which actually wouldn't be bad if they got through and faced either the Bucks or Cavs, but the 9th seed Bulls have been their nemesis).

Collectors will be interesting to note that Haliburton is gunning for Stockton's all time season record of 14 assists per game.

[Nomad]

Pacers at half season.....



vs. Pacers now.

[oldgoldy97]

Looks like a Qwasian.

[Nomad]

Nothing like it. In fact, I remember I contacted the dude in 2022 after realizing that he had switched to photoshop in like 2018 and asked him if he still did original line art cards. He said nah, an injury had curtailed his ability to draw. But then a week later an encased Shohei 1/1 sketch showed up on his site. So I purchased it. About 6 months later, nothing original having appeared, I shot him a text and ask if he can do one of Nesmith. He says nah. A week later a Ja 1/1 encased sketch shows up on the Bay. I purchased it. I think that was the last one.

He really didn't see much in a bench scrub and who would? And now, like the hobby trendsetters, he's batting around a thousand.

[Nomad]

If I was a medium term collector dealer investor (in that order), I would be carefully examining reddit team buzz when selecting purchases. Sure the sports card bois may have gotten burned and be back to crypto, but enough probably gained an interest in the intrinsic beauty and interest of cards to re-enter the market when actual players that they were exposed to (or won in breaks) during the pandemic emerge as needle-movers.

I am gonna argue that it's gonna happen with this playoff (makes sense, the 20-21 classes' fourth year) and Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Maxey, Zion, Darius Garland, Shai, Chet, and (yes) Nesmith are in that conversation.

Now as for the reddit thing. That's where you get the comments of people still active enough to be impressed. In the Pacers-Heat postgame thread, a sneaky riser to second most-liked comment:

"Aaron f--g nesmtith"

"You could drop him in a finals game against Jordan in the 90’s and he would thrive. No moment is too big, he’s not scared of anyone. All star, all nba. Doesn’t matter Aaron is gonna fight."

"He's got nothing but gas. No fear. No intimidation. He plays his role perfectly while having infinite confidence. That's a super rare thing."

I dunno, it's not only me then. Sheesh! Can envision fans in Indiana clamoring for crash Pacers jersey cards that simply don't exist. Even Brunson must have cards out with NY gear by now, right?

[jcardstore]

What’s your latest nesmith pickup?

[Nomad]

Three that come to mind, nothing over $50.

I just got a Crown Royale gold rookie auto /10.

A 24/99 jersey number Flawless (sorry iMac) Collegiate RPA.

And a yellow Flawless rookie dual-patch card printing plate that is actually light green. Have the cyan plate already. Wanted to frame the actual Flawless GU patch card /20 (with the Nesmith "N") between the green and blue plates, representing the two teams in his career.

[Nomad]

Nesmoith eying up Toronto as he did Zion in high school.

Just completed another step on the collection journey. Picked up a couple more numbered luminance (2x /99) to complete a row that includes a /149. These almost never show up on the Bay, I guess there are Luminance numbered set collectors? Anyway, it will look super cool as a top row in an old school pairing with, I dunno, Hoops?

So yeah I have jumped off the deep end as a single-year collector. But this is why I focus on a single player. Only way to afford it and consider it an investment. And it ties into my experience covering the WSOP as an unofficial journalist, and steelman record holder, for two years. Those tournaments are fun but zero sum game. Half the people who lose come out worrying about the rent.

In a hobby, it's so long term that all potential profits have been written off years ago. So basically it's kind of a good structure that everyone expects to lose at from the start. But it also has a good hype structure for those players who make it through. So I guess that funds the next and justifies the high box point.

[bkcardcollector]

your boi

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/e...g-eye-openers/

[Nomad]

Interestingly, you could say exactly the same about Andrew Nembhard, minus the shooting (although he has improved from arc since All Star). I think the Pacers not only know potential, but how to develop it. Nesmith's stroke of genius was accepting a lowball 3-year offer from the Pacers. Thus, unlike classmates Toppen or Smith, no one is talking about trading him as a way of freeing up cap space for Siakam. And small market Indiana has a chance.

"A former lottery pick, Nesmith appeared destined for bust status after failing to carve out a regular role with the Celtics in his first two seasons. He took a step forward and eventually became a starter with the Pacers last season, but he took things to another level in 2023-24. Nesmith is among the league leaders with a 42% clip from 3-point range and has become Indiana's go-to defender against its opponent's top perimeter scorer. His battles with Giannis Antetokounmpo during the In-Season Tournament showed his physicality, but he also has the mobility to stay with quicker guards. Nesmith has become an essential two-way player for a Pacers team knocking on the door of eventual title contention."

[Nomad]

Some off the cuff thoughts. While local fans are so used to what Nesmith contributes that they barely register it, he had a nice series against the Bucks. His offense is strictly facilitator, sniper, occasional run down the lane euro/hammer, or mid-range jumper. Of course he successfully stretched that in the regular season when Ty went down, but now it's back to occasional looks, as the defense requires real attention and effort.

When talking about the deciding game, the gone-fishing Game Time crew did the usual Haliburton name check with maybe a Siakam mention, and then Barkley, or was it Shaq, commented, without considering who he was referencing, "I liked the Pacers' defense."

So there, Nesmith in tandem with the coaching staff and Nembhard, who he brought up 22-23 in the strategy he first developed alongside Marcus "ball hog with heart" Smart, were successful in their mission of not allowing the Bucks to run over them from the perimeter. That, along with some timely passes and buckets, was probably the key to victory.

One forgets, when discussing the pivotal Game 3, that it was Nesmith's free throws that took them to overtime, and subsequently his go-ahead three with like :20 in OT (which Middleton countered). This allowed a game winning mid-range Halibiurton floater that either Siakam or Nesmith likely also either a) would have made or b) gone to the line on. I think that that was the only close game all series and without it Indy would have gone down 2-1 and likely lost the biscuit.

The games that I watched this first round had a lot of moments where the players choked on free throws in the crunch. Players I didn't expect and don't remember, but their fans will surely remember.

[thekiddfan]

Do we really need 2 threads for Aaron Nesmith cards???

[Nomad]

Do we really need another Kidd fan? Oh wait, he has evolved into a pretty decent coach. What's been the key to that... he used to make terrible substitutions. Now that, as with Carlisle, is what should really be driving whatever movements in 80s-90s cards occur. Especially cause older collectors have nothing but time on their hands to watch and analyze current basketball.

Instead it is super MJ Kobe concentrated as usual.

[thekiddfan]

Ok. Saw ur reply in the other thread.

Enjoy

[Nomad]

It's gonna be a good game. Haven't seen such an uptick in sales since Ty went down in February and he helped lead the squad for a few crucial weeks.

[Nomad]

I beg your patients as I break the final 3 minutes of the Pacers-Knicks game and explain why Nembhard and Nesmith are actually the fulcrum of the team's evolving core.

3:26 Pacers 111, Knicks 111
Haliburton dribbles up floor, swings a too-high pass across court to Nesmith, who corrals it (disrupting flow) hands it off to Myles, who works it back to Haliburton, basically back in rhythm. Hali now makes a compound mistake, throwing it off DiVincenzo's leg on an attempt to find Myles in the lane.

Anunoby recovers and runs it down court. Haliburton is only one with angle to reach him in time for a block. Makes a weak tired wrong-footed swipe as OG races right past him and dunks. Nesmith just a beat late (having started 10 feet behind Hali) is there to takes the ball as it passes net and immediately resets the Pacer's high-octane offense.

3:01 111-113
Siakam misses one of his patented post-ups (hasn't had his stuff together in a few games).

2:43 113-113
Brunson mid-range over Nemhard (nothing you can do).

2:30 113-113 DiVincenzo deep cleats Nesmith (foul).

2:17 115-113
Nesmith shadows Hart from half court to basket and causes a turnover when options in paint are blocked. Haliburton deep bombs Nembhard and Siakam lays it in.

1:50 115-113
Nembhard up the court, jujitsu moves, lay in.

1:14 115-115
Brunson over Nembhard.

00:58 115-115
Nembhard misses 3.

00:52 115-115
Nesmith go-ahead steal of Brunson called a phantom kick.

00:39 115-118

Nesmith moves to double Brunson moving into paint with ball.

Haliburton fails to cover DiVincenzo, who has locked in and hit 3 by time he waves an arm. So, all ref griping aside, that's the second reason for a critical five-point swing.

00:26 117-118
Siakam makes one of his pure-effort lay ups.

00:12
Pacers take it up floor and Myles called for an phantom-esque screen that eliminates Pacers' chance for a go ahead basket.

Somewhere on this thread right when season started... there was a memorable Locked-In episode where it was decided Nesmith and Nembhard (neither of whom was then starting) were the two players you would want in a game defending with five minutes left. Now they also lead offense as well. Even without switching McConnell for Haliburton, as some fans have suggested, more touches for those two, in rhythm and faster than #@#@#@#@, would have sufficed to ensure a proper close-out. I say let Haliburton concentrate on getting key defensive closeouts that do not require physicality, such as the one that handed DiVencenzo a 3, right.

[jurule]

Sorry to say it Nomad...but watching Nesmith lately has been terrible. His offence has dried up and his defence has been, (while high intensity) .... terrible. I mean Middleton cooked him in Round 1 and now he is getting taken to the basket by anyone who tries. Even when he plays his old team the Celtics, Tatum and Brown both cook him. He hustles hard but just doesn't know how to play still. He has improved but there is still a lot for him to learn. And a i bought a fair few of his cards also.

[jurule]

I mean look at Hart, DiVincenzo, OG, upping their scoring massively from season averages...I mean WHO is Nesmith actually defending? Anyone? Can he slow down even one perimeter player? They have Turner as a paint protector aswell.

[fungi2510]

Originally Posted by jurule

I mean look at Hart, DiVincenzo, OG, upping their scoring massively from season averages...I mean WHO is Nesmith actually defending? Anyone? Can he slow down even one perimeter player? They have Turner as a paint protector aswell.

He just kinda sucks. It's okay. The Celtics knew it. Just got lucky that the Bucks were trotting out 35 year old has beens against the Pacers in Round 1. It make him and NN Nembhard look serviceable. They are not. Might be a sweep. Who knows.

[Nomad]

Im gonna stay quiet on this. Until the Haliburton situation works its way out (his practice comment about his back before G2 was eerily similar to Dame's attitude regarding his injuries). Difference is Pacers can proven win without Hali and team would be much more likely to advance without him out there as much.

If Sheppard had been playing Nesmith minutes and load he would look much the same (beat up). I am just thankful Adubs is not injured and out with the level of physicality at play, unlike half the Knicks.

The series is far from over if Hali can remove himself from certain passes and attempts at hero ball in the final minutes, when Knicks ratchet up intensity to level 10. I would even go with McConnell, Sheppard, and Toppin if they have been cooking, all the way to end. This is a team team, no need for drama.