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As the Lance Turns: The Sabonis effect

By Jonathan Matthes

CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 10: Lance Stephenson #1 of the Indiana Pacers drives to the basket against the Chicago Bulls on November 10, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 10: Lance Stephenson #1 of the Indiana Pacers drives to the basket against the Chicago Bulls on November 10, 2017 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Since Domantas Sabonis moved back to the Indiana Pacers’ bench a certain player has seen a notable boost in his statistical output: Lance Stephenson.

Lance Stephenson didn’t exactly come charging out of the gate this season.

From the second game on, he found himself marred in a three-week long slump that caught the eye of attentive Pacers fans. It was confusing, where has “Good Lance” gone, they asked. Amid the confusion, theory began to develop: Maybe, just maybe Lance will start to shine again once Myles Turner returns to the starting lineup and Domantas Sabonis returns to the second unit. That was the hope at least.

The early returns are in. It has been three games since Turner and Sabonis have inhabited their expected roles, and if those early returns are correct, then they are looking good for Stephenson and the Pacers.

Lance has seen his numbers trend up significantly.

During his dry spell — from October 20 against Portland to November 3 against Philadelphia — his points have increased from a woeful 3.8 to 8.0 over the last three games, his shooting percentage has soared from .255 to .540, rebounds have flipped from 3.6 to 6.3 and his assists are up from 2.3 to an even 3.0.

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Over that same stretch, Lance ranks 30th — 102 total players — among primarily bench Guards in points, 14th in field goal percentage, 12th in assists, first in rebounds, and 40th in plus/minus. Even counting the analytic mumbo-jumbo, Lance is well in the top half among bench guards in almost everything that matters. The rare exception being his defensive rating ranks 59th among those 102.

The main reason is that like a remora and a shark, or a rock and a hard place, or that one kid from Stranger Things and the Upside-down, Lance and Sabonis seem to have a symbiotic connection with one another.

It’s hard to anticipate, or explain, or even quantify but some guys just click. Last year it was Kevin Seraphin and Lance. Seraphin saw his points double and most other key statistics improve after Lance’s April arrival. Now Lance is building off of Sabonis.

What’s weird, is that Sabonis hasn’t seen the same boost that Stephenson has, the duo has a net negative rating. But, I think that benefit goes beyond the quantifiable.

While he seems to get called for a lot of fouls lately, it’s not like his numbers have fallen off the cliff while playing with Lance. Over that three-game stretch, Sabonis still is doing well, he’s fourth on the team in scoring and second in rebounds.  Among bench post players in the entire Association, Sabonis is the leading scorer and is fourth in rebounds.

Next: Indiana Pacers backslide in power rankings roundup

But the impact of playing together is obvious for Stephenson. It’s just the confidence of playing together, and something that Indiana can build on going forward.

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