Jay Huff ☆ Follow

Starts 0 of 2 games · 10th on IND in minutes · Rotation role

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• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 7 points · 10 h ago
  • After Zubac's injury the Pacers first paired Huff and Nance together, which the host called bad. They then used Jalen Slawson briefly and played Obi Toppin a lot at the three in big lineups. at 18:12
  • Huff had 14 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks, shot 5-of-6 including two threes, and was +14. at 19:21
  • This was Huff's first significant time playing with Haliburton, and they assisted each other for the first time. One sequence: Huff blocked Michael Porter Jr., ran the floor and scored off a Haliburton pass. at 18:51
  • Host's opinion: Huff has locked down the backup center spot and should keep it even after Zubac returns. at 19:36
  • The host guesses Huff will start at center in Milwaukee if Zubac doesn't play, noting the bench gets very weak if Toppin starts instead. at 19:47
  • The host thinks the Bucks game could feature the usual starters with Huff in place of Zubac, and a bench of Quenton Jackson, Oubre, Toppin, Nance and Walker plus the two-way players. at 28:15
  • Larry Nance Jr went 2-of-3 with 6 points and 6 rebounds, including a made three, and moved much better in the second half. The host says Huff played better than him. at 20:19

  “How Indiana Pacers crushed Brooklyn Nets behind Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton | Ivica Zubac injury” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On NBA · Analysis · 12 h ago around the league

  Sweepo said Jay Huff can fill Zubac's role to a degree, and Larry Nance Jr. can fill the spot a little as well.

  “GAME NIGHT: Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams Suffers GRUESOME Injury | Luka Doncic Goes OFF! | Concern For New Y” at 10:24 · listen ↗

• Bluesky @tonyreast.bsky.social · Report · 17 h ago

  Pacers respond to their awful game against Dallas and crush the Nets 136-109. Their shot making was terrific. Jay Huff stepped up after Ivica Zubac's injury. Pascal Siakam broke through a clunky game. Pacers 2-1 and in Milwaukee tomorrow night.

  original post ↗

• X Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) · Report · 18 h ago

  Jay Huff playing center to start the second half so Zubac still out.

  original post ↗

• Podcast DaMichael Cole, Locked On Grizzlies · Analysis · Oct 14 around the league

  DeMichael said the Grizzlies have often converted two-way players to guaranteed deals, usually in the middle of the season. He cited Scotty Pippen Jr., GG Jackson, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Cam Spencer ("I believe") and Jay Huff, and said Small will need to take advantage soon.

  “Who will make up the final roster and rotation for the 2026-2027 Memphis Grizzlies?” at 30:41 · listen ↗

• X Dustin Dopirak (@DustinDopirak) · Report · 18 h ago

  Jay Huff block turns into a Nembhard 3. Huff stepping up when necessary here. Everything's messy but they have to have something out of him and they're getting it.

  original post ↗

• Podcast Tony East, Locked On Pacers · Report · Oct 24

  Jay Huff was the backup center in the first half. The host says they "could not go to" Larry Nance Jr again after the New Orleans game, and that Huff was fine with no disastrous plays.

  “Why Indiana Pacers got embarrassed by Dallas Mavs in Tyrese Haliburton return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse” at 14:26 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 3 points · Oct 23
  • Jay Huff got no real run in preseason and did not play on opening night, even though he played all 82 games last year. at 31:30
  • Host analysis: the Pacers' reported offseason pursuits and the Nance signing show they saw Jay Huff as the weakest piece of their rotation. Huff is now out of the rotation, and the host feels they don't trust him for backup-center minutes. at 30:29
  • Open question raised by listeners: why is Nance the backup center over Jay Huff? The host has no firm answer after one game; Huff may get minutes soon. at 31:13

  “Deeper dive into Indiana Pacers season opening win: What went right and what needs to be better?” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers host · Open question · Oct 22

  Jay Huff did not play. A host asks whether he will end up as the backup or third center.

  “Tyrese Haliburton is back: Over-reactions to Indiana Pacers opening night win vs New Orleans Pelicans” at 35:37 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 4 points · Oct 21
  • Tony East: Tony doesn't know who the backup center will be. He guesses Obi Toppin, maybe Larry Nance Jr, and says it was never Jay Huff. at 27:52
  • In preseason the team mostly played starters in the first half and bench groups in the second half. Caitlin wondered whether Jay Huff's second-half usage reflected his place in the pecking order. at 28:11
  • A host or guest believes the team views Jay Huff as the weakest point of its rotation, possibly not even in the rotation. at 29:59
  • A host or guest's reading is that Rick Carlisle "seems to think" Larry Nance Jr and Jay Huff can play power forward next to Toppin. The speaker disagrees with using that for any real stretch of minutes, citing the Bucks game. This is the speaker's interpretation, not a quote. at 30:35

  “Indiana Pacers 2026-27 season preview: Can tweaks + Tyrese Haliburton get Pacers back to contention?” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers host · Report · Oct 20

  JJ says Jay Huff played well in second halves throughout the preseason. He adds, with uncertainty, that Huff may not have played a first-half minute in any of those games.

  “What Indiana Pacers revealed in the preseason that will matter once the regular season begins” at 18:57 · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 2 points · Oct 19
  • Tony East: Jay Huff signed his current contract on October 28, 2024. He cannot be extended until October 28, and even then the team would have to decline his team option. The host says they should not extend him. at 18:44
  • Tony East: Jay Huff was very active in preseason but missed nearly every shot. The host does not hold the four-game shooting against him. at 25:01

  “Why Indiana Pacers waived James Johnson, Rienk Mast, Keba Keita + extensions and preseason challenges” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 4 points · Oct 17
  • Jay Huff played ahead of Larry Nance in this game (the host puts "ahead" in air quotes), but neither was in the rotation. Obi Toppin was the primary backup five during the competitive portion. at 17:11
  • What changed: per the host, Nance had mostly been ahead of Huff until this game. at 17:54
  • Rick Carlisle (reported): Per the host, Rick Carlisle has been suggesting that Larry Nance and Jay Huff could play together, with both able to play the four if needed. at 18:28
  • Nance and Huff shared the frontcourt for five minutes. at 18:21

  “Why the Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Ivica Zubac trio connected vs Milwaukee Bucks in OT loss” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 6 points · Oct 16
  • Tony East: Jay Huff has mostly played with third units this preseason. He has been making shots, and unlike last year he understands the system. at 29:26
  • Rick Carlisle (last year) (reported): Tony recalls that at this time last year Carlisle publicly talked about Huff's conditioning level. at 29:44
  • Tony East: Despite playing well, Huff hasn't gotten any chances as the backup center and has never been the clear backup center choice in any preseason game. at 29:51
  • Rick Carlisle (reported): Tony relays that Carlisle said at practice he has talked with both Larry Nance Jr. and Jay Huff about the backup center role and how they will have to balance it. at 29:51
  • Tony East: Tony says that if Nance keeps playing well, he seems to be the team's current gut choice to play more often at backup center. Tony says Huff is playing fine but doesn't seem to be in their plans, which is not what Tony expected. at 32:38
  • Tyler expects Zubac to take the bulk of the center minutes. He thinks the backup center spot will be fluid and could go by matchup if Nance and Huff are both healthy, and that Huff will have a decent role, though he isn't sure Huff will play more than Nance. at 30:32

  “What NBA GMs got right, and wrong, about the Indiana Pacers + impact of Jarace Walker's preseason” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 3 points · Oct 15
  • Jay Huff (reported): Tony East says Jay Huff struggled to fit into the system at the start of last season and admitted it many times. at 28:09
  • Larry Nance Jr. (reported): Pat Boylan relays Larry Nance's point that the team's centers have very different skill sets. Pat names Zubac, Nance and Jay Huff, and adds Obi Toppin at small-ball five himself. He says the four have little overlap, which allows the team to play to the matchup. at 20:10
  • Pat Boylan thinks it is clear Ivica Zubac is the No. 1 center this year. Behind him the rotation could change a lot from game to game: some nights 15 Jay Huff minutes, other nights no second center at all, with Obi Toppin staggered into that role. at 27:20

  “A closer look at Tyrese Haliburton and Ivica Zubac during Indiana Pacers preseason + looking ahead” · listen ↗

• Podcast Locked On Pacers · 2 points · Oct 14
  • Host calls the backup center spot the biggest rotation storyline of camp. So far Jay Huff has not gotten the real backup minutes; the Pacers again went to Larry Nance as the second-unit center. at 18:07
  • Through three games Huff has not had a single minute with the backups or the starters, though he was the second-unit center at Fan Jam. The host notes Nance was hurt and did not play at Fan Jam. at 21:14

  “Tyrese Haliburton shines, Ivica Zubac posts double-double: What key Pacers showed in loss vs Thunder” · listen ↗

• Podcast Tony East, Locked On Pacers · Rumor · Oct 13

  East speculates that McConnell's injury may be why Jay Huff is not playing. The lineups so far have not used Huff at center.

  “What Indiana Pacers have missed without T.J. McConnell so far + closer looks at Siakam, Sheppard, Toppin” at 3:11 · listen ↗

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