Indiana Pacers Remain Good, But Not Great in the Power Rankings
By Ben Gibson
Most the experts see the Indiana Pacers as a team in the top half of the NBA, but they aren’t a top 10 squad.
The only consistent thing from the Indiana Pacers this season is inconsistency. They’ve nearly matched every win streak with a similar losing one and every marque victory with a disheartening loss.
So it shouldn’t be a surprise they’ve just slightly above average in the power rankings this week, a place they’ve been all season long, save for a few ups and downs.
The up and down nature of their last four games is just another example of that. Beating the Houston Rockets on the road after spotting them a lead made them look like contenders, and even a close loss to the San Antonio Spurs wasn’t a complete negative.
But after watching Glenn Robinson III knock down a game-winner and then come out flat against the Charlotte Hornets, we are reminded that inconsistency is the Pacers identity this season.
JEREMY WOO. 12. It was great to see dunk contest champ Glenn Robinson III step up with a game winner on Sunday against the Hawks. Sixteen of Indiana’s remaining 20 games come within the East, and they’re sitting smack dab in the middle of the table. If the Pacers are going to build a little confidence, now would be the time. (Last Week: 15th) — <a href=. @Jeremy_Woo. Sports Illustrated
@ESPNSteinLine. ESPN. MARC STEIN. 14. Losing by a point to the Spurs (in San Antonio) would hurt under any circumstances because it inevitably feels like such a lost opportunity. Yet you can safely bet that last Wednesday’s 100-99 defeat in South Texas was particularly painful for the Pacers, since it involved Kawhi Leonard — who was unforgettably selected by Indiana with the 15th overall pick in 2011 and dealt to San Antonio on draft night for George Hill — hitting a game-winning fadeaway jumper with 2.4 seconds remaining. The Pacers, though, had three full off days to recover and ultimately capitalized on the rest with a one-point win Sunday night in Atlanta. Hopefully by now you’ve seen the heartwarming clip of Glenn Robinson III hitting the game-winning 3 from the corner with his father, Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson, watching with pride nearby in the stands. For more on the Pacers, we turn to our pal Zach Lowe, who puts the face of their franchise under the microscope as only he can in his weekly “Ten things I like and don’t like” by asking: “How good, really, is Paul George?” (Last Week: 16th) — <a href=
CBS Sports. MATT MOORE. 16. The Pacers’ remaining schedule is fascinating. They play a bunch of bad teams, but the good teams they play are nigh on invincible. They have a stretch the next two weeks to create a buffer and ensure a playoff spot. Let’s see if the Pacers are finally willing to walk two steps without face-planting. (Last Week: 19th) — <a href=. @MattMooreCBS
NBA. JOHN SCHUHMANN. 12. Before Glenn Robinson III hit the game-winner in Atlanta on Sunday, Paul George broke out of his slump (29 percent shooting over his previous six games), scoring 34 points on 12-for-19 shooting in the win that drew the Pacers within two games of fifth place. Nobody else on the roster has been very consistent offensively, but Indiana has been one of the more improved defensive teams since the All-Star break and got a win in Houston on Monday with a big second quarter, having been the league’s worst second quarter team prior to that. While they have their eyes on the Hawks, the four teams they play this week — teams 8-11 in the East — have their eyes on them. (Last Week: 14th) — <a href=. @johnschuhmann
13. Both of the Indiana Pacers’ games this week were decided by one point, and both featured game-winners. Ah, the highs and lows of playing in this league!<br />The Pacers’ first game was a loss to San Antonio that ended with a Kawhi Leonard game-winner, while Glenn Robinson III was able to knock down the game-winning triple with his father in attendance in their second game against Atlanta. (Last Week: 15th) — <a></a>Hoops Habit. @GeraldBourguet. Hoops Habit. GERALD BOURGUET
Next: Indiana Pacers’ Inconsistent Bench Finally Getting It Together
Indiana plays the Detroit Pistons tonight on ESPN at 8 p.m. Their upcoming schedule includes the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday and the Miami Heat on Sunday.