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Thaddeus Young’s Wrist Healed Just In Time for the Indiana Pacers

By Josh Padmore

Dec 17, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young (21) looks to the bench during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pacers won 105-90. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Thaddeus Young (21) looks to the bench during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pacers won 105-90. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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There was a period of time where Thaddeus Young could barely do anything with his left hand due to a sprained left wrist. As of late, he’s looked excellent for the Indiana Pacers.

Thaddeus Young sprained his left wrist against the Brooklyn Nets on February 3rd and missed 8 games going into the All-Star break. His absence was felt as Lavoy Allen and Kevin Seraphin started in his place throughout those 8 games and the Pacers went 2-6 during that stretch.

For awhile, Young returned but clearly wasn’t at 100%. But on April 2nd, Thaddeus Young played without tape on his left wrist for the first time since suffering the injury. Since then, he’s been big time for the Pacers. He’s averaged 16 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. Thad has also shot 61.9% from the field.

To put those numbers in perspective, let’s compare them to his numbers in the month of March. He had the wrist tape on all of March. He shot 50.4% from the field, which isn’t bad, but he’s +11.5% in the month of April. He shot 35.3% from the free-throw line in March. DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers was better at the free-throw line than Young, shooting 45.5% in that time. In April, Young has only attempted 2 free-throws. He’s made them both, though.

Young looks much more comfortable, and he even made a deep step-back two-pointer during last night’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. His bread and butter is still in the paint and getting easy buckets by running in transition. The stats he’s putting up in April are better than any other month that he’s been in a Pacers uniform. He’s playing his best basketball of the season heading into the playoffs.

Next: Should the Indiana Pacers Hope For the 7th or 8th Seed?

Speaking of the playoffs, the Pacers need one more win to clinch a playoff birth. They face the Atlanta Hawks at home on Wednesday. During the post-game interview yesterday, Young said the Pacers will be a scary team if they get in. Hopefully he is right.

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