8 points, 9 seconds
Fansided

The Pacers at the Quarterpole: What we’ve learned so far

By Jonathan Matthes

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 29: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball as Danny Green #14 of the San Antonio Spurs defends from behind at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 29, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 29: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball as Danny Green #14 of the San Antonio Spurs defends from behind at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 29, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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.(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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Lance Stephenson of the Indiana Pacers
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 12: Lance Stephenson #1 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates during the game against the Houston Rockets on November 12, 2017 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /

A Playoff Rotation takes shape and other Pacers stuff

  • Nate McMillan has fallen in love with these eight: Oladipo, Collison, Bogdanovic, Young and Turner as starters with Sabonis, Lance Stephenson and Cory Joseph as reserves. It’s a good flexible group that can go both big (playing Turner and Sabonis together) and small (by…uh…not playing them together). This isn’t a complete rotation, Glenn Robinson III will join it when he recovers from injury. So there’s a great chance that this potent unit will still get better.
  • I don’t have an answer to this, but the Pacers aren’t a good rebounding team. It’s not an irrational leap in logic to assume a team with two promising big men would be at least average on the glass. The Pacers aren’t. Their 42.7 rebounds per game tie Detroit for 20th in the league. Establish yourself in the post, Myles!
  • Collison has been brilliant in the passing game. He’s 13th in assists (6.6, Chris Paul has the most with 10.8) and he’s protecting the ball, his 4.10 assist/turnover ratio is 11th best. And his defense has also improved. While a 105 defensive rating is just average, it’s way better than the near league-worst defense he played last year.
  • Speaking of defense, The Pacers have improved to 17th in defensive rating, which is basically average. Indiana flashes the occasional brilliant individual defensive plays, which is nice. I still cringe thinking that holding a team to under 105 is a good defensive night. C’est la vie.
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