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Indiana Pacers holding the line in this week’s power rankings roundup

By Ben Gibson

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 4: Cory Joseph #6 of the Indiana Pacers goes for a lay up against the New York Knicks on December 4, 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)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 4: Cory Joseph #6 of the Indiana Pacers goes for a lay up against the New York Knicks on December 4, 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) /
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The Indiana Pacers mostly held their ground in this week’s power rankings but did lose a spot or two from some experts.

The Indiana Pacers got themselves in a bit of a funk over the last week as they recorded losses to Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors, reminding us that while this team is good, but they still have work to do before we worry about them doing anything more than making a playoff appearance.

We saw in those two losses how the Pacers that when the Pacers are running at full-speed, opponents can shut them down in the half-court. The Rockets, in particular, tricked the Pacers into playing their game — shooting many, many 3-pointers — while the Raptors’ bench left Domantas Sabonis, Lance Stephenson, and Cory Joseph out of sorts. That trio went 9 of 29 in that loss.

But Victor Oladipo’s consistency and efficiency are still powering Indiana’s success. He’s scored no less than 15 points in the last 15 games and broken the 20-point mark in 11 of them. His season averages remain career best at 23.4 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists a game.

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The Pacers lost a little ground this week as they fell from an average rank of 12 to 14.2.

This month is favorable to the Pacers despite what Decembers have typically meant for Indiana over the past few years. There are plenty of games the Pacers can and should win, including a pair of dates with the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets.

Counting last night’s win over the New York Knicks, the Pacers have 10 home games this month as well. Their remaining away games this month include the Nets, Bulls, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks. The deer and car parts games won’t be easy, but if the Pacers pick up one of those as a win, then it is hard to complain.

Can Indiana have a winning record in December for the first time since 2013? It is certainly possible if Indiana takes care of business at home and against the lesser teams on their schedule.

Sports Illustrated. KENNY DUCEY. 14. <a href=. @KennyDucey

@ESPNNBA. ESPN. ESPN . 16. The Pacers open up a season-long six-game homestand on Monday against the Knicks. It’s a potentially big stretch of games for the Pacers, who could sit on the playoff fringe the entire season. BPI has the Pacers favored in four of the six with games against the Cavaliers and Thunder essentially a coin flip. A strong homestand now could pay major dividends come spring. — Micah Adams (Last Week: 13th ) — <a href=

13. If the NBA awarded quarter-season awards, Victor Oladipo would run away with Most Improved Player. It’s not just that he’s taking on a bigger scoring load and helping the Pacers win games. It’s the efficiency with which he’s doing it. (Last Week: 9th)— <a href=. @ChrisBarnewall. CBS Sports. CHRIS BARNEWALL

16. Victor Oladipo had a big week (averaging 27 points on 59 percent shooting), but the Pacers haven’t been able to get enough stops to hang with the best teams in the league, allowing 114 points per 100 possessions in losses to Boston, Houston and Toronto over the last nine days. Cory Joseph had a rough night in his return to the 6 on Friday and the Pacers were outscored by 15 points in 10 minutes with Oladipo on the bench in a five-point loss to the Raptors. Though they’re still second in 3-point percentage, the Pacers have been outscored from beyond the arc in six of their last seven games. Their longest homestand of the season (six games over 12 days) begins Monday with an important game against the team that’s a half game behind Indy for eighth place in the East, and the Knicks will be without both Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. (Last Week: 15th) — <a href=. @johnschuhmann. NBA. JOHN SCHUHMANN

12. A rough patch in the schedule saw the Indiana Pacers take on the Rockets and Raptors to begin their week, so an 0-2 start wasn’t any reason to panic.<br />The Pacers bounced back nicely with a double-digit win over the shorthanded Knicks, but it’s a shame Victor Oladipo (Most Improved Player) and Domantas Sabonis (Sixth Man of the Year) aren’t getting more buzz in the awards categories they should be eligible for by season’s end. (Last Week: 11th)— <a href=. @GeraldBourguet. Hoops Habit. GERALD BOURGUET

Next: Lance Stephenson makes Frank Ntilikina dance

Indiana faces the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday before taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday and the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

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