Milwaukee, WI
Pacers players Jalen Smith and Aaron Nesmith remember past playoff battles with Milwaukee Bucks
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2020 as a franchise, but much of the roster been there before. Multiple players have reached the postseason with other franchises before, and their experience will be valuable for a younger Pacers squad.
Two of those players, Aaron Nesmith and Jalen Smith, have specific prior postseason experiences that could be valuable for Indiana this year. They battled the Milwaukee Bucks in a series recently — for Smith, it was during the NBA Finals in 2021 when he was with the Phoenix Suns. For Nesmith, it was the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2022 while he was a member of the Boston Celtics.
While a lot has changed for the Bucks, much is the same. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middlteon, Brook Lopez, Pat Connaughton, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and Bobby Portis remain for the Milwaukee group that won an NBA Championship three years ago, and five of those players still get significant playing time for the team to this day. While other players, including some stars, have come in and changed the roster in a major way — and the Bucks have made two coaching changes, too — they do have a roster filled with continuity. And now, they’ll face the Pacers in the first round.
“Yes and no,” Smith said of what he remembers about the series he played against the Bucks. “I try to say no because I lost, so I try to forget it. But at the end of the day, I understand the game plan that we had.”
Smith didn’t play at all in that series. He was a rookie for the Suns, and Phoenix didn’t want to rely on him in the postseason. But he was still a part of the preparation against Antetokounmpo and company. He has experience with a battle against Milwaukee.
“They’ve got a lot of shooters around Giannis now,” Smith said of what is different about the Bucks in 2024 compared to 2021. They’ve added Malik Beasley and Damian Lillard, among others, who can bury outside shots.
Phoenix was up 2-0 in that series before losing four in a row to drop the best-of-seven. The Bucks got the best of Smith and the Suns. But in the following season, Nesmith and the Celtics got their shot at Milwaukee in the postseason and had different fortunes.
Boston had an intense, seven-game battle with the Bucks the year after Milwaukee’s title run. Nesmith, who was in his second season at the time, was largely out of the rotation, but he did make an appearance in four games during that series.
“It’s a different team, different coaching staff, different play style. It’s a brand new series, brand new team,” Nesmith said of playing the Bucks now compared to a few years ago. “We’re going to look at it with a great opportunity.” He had three points and four rebounds in the 2022 series while shooting 50% from the field.
The Celtics won the best-of-seven before reaching the NBA Finals. Nesmith, like Smith, learned a lot about playoff preparation from that run, and both young players are better now thanks to their past experiences.
Now, they are both in the Pacers playing rotation, so their involvement in the upcoming postseason will be much different. They both acknowledged that it does feel different to get ready for a playoff series in which playing time is clearly coming.
“I’m super excited, super pumped. It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Nesmith said of the upcoming set with the Bucks. He’s preparing differently day-to-day now since he has a bigger role that he did with Boston. But he still learned a lot with the Celtics. “I’m familiar with the prep and how detail-oriented you have to be about everything,” Nesmith said, noting that small things matter.
Smith shared similar sentiments on Wednesday. “I got the mental aspect and how crucial each game is,” he shared of his experience with the Suns. Now, he’s the Pacers backup center and will be a key reserve behind Myles Turner against Miwlaukee.
“Just being ready and being prepared mentally just to go out there and compete,” Smith said.
Both players have similar career arcs in that they were traded to Indiana after being a deep reserve lottery pick in their first NBA stop. With the Pacers, Smith and Nesmith both took advantage of bigger opportunities and are key parts of the team’s rotation. The blue and gold went through some development years that benefitted the pair, but now those two are ready for a postseason series as contributors.
Their prior experiences against the Bucks will be valuable. They’ve seen Milwaukee up close, and on the biggest stage. Their opponent has a different look and feel now, but so do Nesmith and Smith. They’ll be ready for more responsibilities in this series.
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Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Jewish community to honor those killed in Australia terror attack at Hanukkah event
MILWAUKEE — To honor those who were killed on Sunday in Sydney, Australia during a Hanukkah event, Chabad of Milwaukee will be honoring the memory of Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was killed, and all those affected at the Hanukkah Festival and Gelt Drop event at Bayshore Mall in Glendale on Sunday evening, according to Rabbi Levi Stein.
“Acts of hate and violence are meant to spread darkness and fear,” Stein said in a statement. “Tonight we are choosing to respond with more light.”
Rabbi Schlanger was among the 16 victims killed during the terrorist attack that occurred at the “Hanukkah by the Sea” event held at Bondi Beach in Australia.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
To honor the memory of Rabbi Schlanger and those affected, Chabad of Milwaukee will be handing out electric tea lights to those in attendance, giving out coins for Tzedakah (Charity), as well as encouraging everyone to do additional good deeds throughout the evening.
CEO of Chabad Lubavitch of Wisconsin, Rabbi Mendel Shmotkin, urged the Milwaukee community, Jewish and not, in a statement, “to come together tonight, not only as an act of solidarity with the Jewish people, but as a declaration that all good people stand on the front lines of this moral struggle.”
“This is a moment for Jews and non-Jews alike to recognize that we are on the same side of history,” he said. “History has also shown that when good people stand together, evil loses.”
Chabad will also be increasing security, Stein said, and will also be working closely with local law enforcement to ensure that everyone remains safe and warm during the event.
Rabbi Schlanger’s wife, who was also shot but survived, was the roommate and classmate of Stein’s wife, Leah. “This tragedy hits painfully close to home,” Stein said.
“Tonight, we gather not just to celebrate Chanukah – but to reaffirm that light, goodness, and humanity will always outshine the darkness,” Stein added.
Southeast Wisconsin communities speak out
In a statement sent to TMJ4, Forward Latino, a local non-profit, non-partisan, service and advocacy organization in Franklin, called out to everyone to “join us in a moment of remembrance and prayer for those whose lives were lost, and then to recommit ourselves to standing against hate and bigotry in all their forms.”
“We are confronted with the painful reality that hate and antisemitism continue to be actively and passively promoted, while too few speak out with the urgency such moments demand,” the statement continued. “During this holiday season, a time of faith, reflection, and renewal, we must each look inward and ask ourselves, ‘What can I do to help eliminate hate?’”
The Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Whitefish Bay posted a statement on social media thanking the Wisconsin Jewish Security Network, local law enforcement and everyone who works to keep the Jewish communities safe.
“Hanukkah is a holiday rooted in resilience – a reminder that even in moments of darkness, light endures,” the JCC wrote. “At the JCC, we believe the antidote to antisemitism is Jewish Joy, Connection, and Community, and we will not allow hate to silence our traditions or our plans to celebrate Hanukkah with our community today and for all eight nights.”
“Tonight, as we light our candles, we do so with broken hearts and in defiance of hate everywhere,” Co-Chair of the WisDems Jewish Caucus said in a statement sent to TMJ4. “We are resilient, and our community has never, and will never, hide away in response to this sort of violence.”
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(Courtesy: Milwaukee Admirals)
MILWAUKEE – Ryan Ufko and David Edstrom scored goals for the Admirals, but they dropped a 4-2 decision to the Chicago Wolves on Saturday night at historic Panther Arena.
Big picture view:
The loss extended the Ads losing streak to five games.
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By the numbers:
The Wolves grabbed an early lead when Bradley Nadeau potted his ninth goal of the season 8:21 into the game.
David Edstrom and the Admirals league-leading power-play knotted the score at one with just under seven minutes to play in the frame. With the penalty winding down, Cole Hara’s shot from between the wheels was deflected in by Edstrom for his fifth tally of the year.
However, the Wolves would score two more to close out the frame, including one by Domonic Fensore with just 0.7 seconds left in the first.
Milwaukee would get one back during the second period courtesy of a Ryan Ufko power-play marker. Stationed in the high slot, Ufko took a feed from Daniel Carr and ripped a one-timer over the shoulder of Chicago netminder Amir Miftakhov.
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The Ads pressed for the tying goal and had a 6-on-4 advantage late in the third period, but Chicago’s Justin Robidas scored an empty-netter to seal the deal for the Wolves.
What’s next:
The Admirals will hit the road for their final three games before the Christmas break, beginning Wednesday morning at 11 a.m. against the Wolves. The Ads’ next home contest will be on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 6 p.m. against the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The Source: The Milwaukee Admirals provided this report.
MILWAUKEE – An issue at the Valley Power Plant caused a temporary steam outage for downtown Milwaukee buildings on Saturday, Dec. 13.
Steam service interrupted
What we know:
According to We Energies, the gas supply to the Valley Power Plant was interrupted on Saturday morning, causing it to go offline. The plant produces steam for downtown buildings for heating.
We Energies says it has restored service to the steam system and is bringing steam back to customers, but the restoration process requires steam pressure to build back up in the steam system. Once pressure reaches safe levels, steam service can be delivered to customers.
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Customers should begin to see service return over the next few hours, and some are already restored.
We Energies says it does not anticipate any more steam outages, and that this issue is not affecting electric or natural gas service.
Show canceled
What we know:
The Marcus Performing Arts Center says its building has been impacted by the steam outage and, as a result, had to cancel its 1 p.m. matinée performance of The Pigeon Gets A Big Time Holiday Extravaganza!
Ticket holders will be contacted directly to get further information about next steps.
All other shows at the Marcus Performing Arts Center will go on as scheduled.
The Source: We Energies and The Marcus Performing Arts Center sent FOX6 the information.
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