The Pacers Are Staring Down a Make-or-Break Week

The Week That Decides if the Indiana Pacers Make the Playoffs

This week will decide whether the Indiana Pacers get to the postseason or take an early vacation. Yes, Paul George and George Hill both love to go fishing, but not like this — not like this.

The Pacers play three teams they’re currently battling for the 8th seed (Brooklyn, Boston, Charlotte), and play 7th-seeded Miami the following Monday. If the Pacers can go 3-1 or even 4-0, they’ll likely be in solid playoff position. If they go any worse than 2-2, they will likely be on the outside looking in through an almost closed door.

Aside from Paul George, who may come back any time (or not at all this year), the Pacers approach this stretch run at full strength.

They may not all be must wins, but they’re very, very close.

Solomon Hill Has Forgotten How to Work a Basketball

Solomon Hill’s offense this season has vacillated between “could be a quality backup 3 in this league” and “who is this guy and why is he playing basketball?”

In the last few games, Solo’s play has been more the latter than the former. Hill has averaged just 7.7 PPG while “contributing” 3.7 turnovers in each contest. He shot 33.3% from the field (but 4-of-7 from behind the arc, oddly), and barely had more rebounds than overall turnovers (4.0 rebound per game).

Wort of all, Hill coughed the ball up 5 times against the Rockets in the first quarter (!!!!) before motioning for head coach Frank Vogel to pull him from the game.

Other than the still-not-back-yet Paul George, the Pacers don’t really have many other options at small forward, but Hill still played only 23 minutes against Milwaukee, a game the Pacers sorely needed.

It’s fair to wonder if, after playing heavy minutes and playing in every game so far this year, Solo might be hitting the rookie wall, so to speak. Being tasked with defending the opposing team’s best perimeter threat each game is no picnic, and Solo may be showing signs of wear and fatigue.

If this is the case, Paul George’s return becomes all the more important if Indiana wants to extend its season past 82 games.

Rodney Stuckey and David West Are Returning

Rodney Stuckey (missed past 3 games, calf injury) and the 17-Foot Assassin, David West (1 game, allergic reaction) both missed action last week, but returned against the Dallas Mavericks.

It’s no coincidence the Pacers lost without both of them; this isn’t a team currently blessed with quality scorers, and West/Stuckey combine to average 24.8 PPG, not to mention Stuckey’s month plus spent on fire and torching the NBA landscape.

Without those two, the Pacers wind up stretching some guys beyond their current comfort levels (like Lavoy Allen being forced to play bigger minutes/take more of the scoring burden on), while minutes for other players (George Hill, switching from point guard to shooting guard at times and C.J. Watson with late-game minutes) are forced into different roles.

The Pacers also don’t have anyone who can really replicate Stuckey’s size and aggressiveness off the dribble; he can blow by people off the dribble and still take contact from bigs and finish. Stuckey, like Lance Stephenson, can save seemingly lost possessions, and that is a skill otherwise lacking up and down the Pacers roster.

C.J. Miles Broke His Cold Streak

C.J. Miles’ hot and cold ways have graced the column here more than a few times, and this is no exception.

Miles came into the week cold-ish, having his first decent game in a bit against the Nets on 3/21; however, the tides have turned for Mr. 3-J Miles recently. After a terrible performance against the Rockets (3-of-16 shooting, 0-of-8 from deep), Miles picked it up. He went on to shoot 50% from the field against the Bucks and Wizards, including 43.8% from deep and 78.6% from the charity stripe on 14 attempts.

Miles averaged 21 points between those two games, and if Good C.J. can stick around, it will certainly bolster the Pacers odds to get to the postseason.

The Indiana Pacers Week Ahead

Games: vs Dallas (3/29), at Brooklyn (3/31), at Boston (4/1), vs Charlotte (4/3)

Prediction: The Indiana Pacers go 3-1, beating Dallas and Charlotte at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse and Brooklyn on the road, but lose a heartbreaker in Boston that damages their playoff chase and costs the Pacers a shot at the tiebreaker with the Celtics

Last Week’s Prediction Results: 2-1

Season Long Prediction Results: 43-26

What to Watch For: Roy Hibbert, still playing well at a crucial point of the season for the Pacers… Rodney Stuckey, returning and looking to continue his hot streak… C.J. Miles, riding a hot streak of his own… David West, struggling from the field and with an allergic reaction… George Hill, playing out of his mind (His PER is up to 21.4)… Ian Mahinmi, playing well outside of his FT shooting, but always in danger of a quick hook if opponents go to hack-a-Ian… The Pacers getting to the line (43 times against the Bucks!), even if they aren’t making them at a good clip… C.J. Watson on a mini hot streak of his own, averaging 19 PPG last week… George Hill game winners, never any less fun…

Next: Stuckey Injury Illuminates Playing Time Concerns For Pacers

The Week That Decides if the Indiana Pacers Make the Playoffs

Solomon Hill Has Forgotten How to Work a Basketball

Rodney Stuckey and David West Are Returning

C.J. Miles Broke His Cold Streak

The Indiana Pacers Week Ahead

More from 8 Points, 9 Seconds