The Indiana Pacers are currently standing third in the East, with a formidable 31-15 record, yet no-one is giving them the slightest bit of attention. So, I ‘ll try and shed some light into the seemingly under-the-radar success of Indy.
I wrote an article at the beginning of the season talking about how the Pacers would take the League by storm, which they’ve done.
The Pacers are no longer a one-man team. Last season, without their All-NBA player Victor Oladipo, the Pacers were 0-7. This year, when Victor doesn’t play, the Pacers are 7-3. The Pacers have six players averaging double-digit points per game and seem to have found the perfect balance between starters and bench players.
The Team
Indiana can’t be analyzed before emphasizing that this squad plays as a team. This is not two or three stars carrying a franchise to wins *ehem Houston Rockets*. This a committed group of players that are willing to sacrifice personal goal for the success of the team.
Indiana is, and always was, a defense-first team. The Pacers are second in the league in defensive efficiency and have consistently suffocated opposing offenses. The key to the Pacers success on defense is that everyone is focused on doing their part. There’s no taking plays off. From 1-to-5, you can see that every Pacer on the floor is consistently hustling to prevent the opponent from getting an open look.
There’s a video from last season that I think perfectly encapsulates the soul of this young Pacers’ squad.
The Starters
The Pacers’ starters are really solid and fulfill the role they’re asked to fulfill game in and game out. PG Darren Collison is asked to help space the floor, which he does with his 40% clip from deep, and keep the ball moving while limiting turnovers (3.8 A/TO ratio). All-Star SG Victor Oladipo is tasked with being the main cog on offense (19.2 PPG) while also disrupting opposing offenses (1.7 SPG).
Bojan Bogdanovic, the starting SF, is the team’s sharpshooter (43% 3P%) while providing solid scoring numbers (second on the team in PPG). Thaddeus Young is the Pacers jack of all trades. He’s a guy that can match up defensively with the best of them, as he did against MVP-candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo. He can score, rebound, and help keep the flow of the offense. Center Myles Turner is the defensive anchor of the team (league-leading 2.78 BPG) while also holding his own on the offensive side of the ball.
The Bench
What really stands out about this team is their sixth and seventh options. Sixth man Domantas Sabonis, the leading contender for Sixth Man of the Year, is averaging 15 points and 9.6 rebounds in only 25 minutes. His incredible stats translate to 22 and 15 per 36 minutes. Not bad for a guy considered an afterthought in the PG – Oladipo trade. Keep in mind that Sabonis is also just 22 years old and has been getting consistently better each season.
Behind Sabonis is Tyreke Evans, one of the last offseason’s most underrated pickups. Evans is playing his role perfectly. He’s the playmaker when Oladipo is on the bench. Tyreke is averaging 10 points, two rebounds, and two assists in just 20 minutes per game. His effectiveness and spark off the bench have helped this team tremendously.
The role players for Indy are also solid. In the backcourt, Cory Joseph and Aaron Holiday have provided some much-needed depth. Backup SF Doug McDermott is still a really good three-point shooter, and C Kyle O’Quinn is criminally underutilized and should play a bigger role in the future.
Overall, the Pacers can safely say they boast one of the best benches in the entire NBA.
The Pacers are one of the top teams from top to bottom in the entire NBA. This is a squad that could handle a seven-game series against almost every other team in the league. If the team keeps going down this road, then a long playoff push is not out of the question.
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