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Pacers Rank: It’s still Victor Oladipo’s city and team

By Ben Gibson

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 18th: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers warms up before the game against the Boston Celtics on December 18, 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 18th: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers warms up before the game against the Boston Celtics on December 18, 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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After missing a week or so, we’re back to update who is having the best and worst time with the Indiana Pacers.

So a few things happened since the last Pacers Rank, but one thing hasn’t changed: This is Victor Oladipo’s team.

On December 1, the Indiana Pacers were 12-10 and sitting in sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. When the month started, there were concerns that reality was ready to crash in on Victor Oladipo and the rest of the Pacers when the month. December was rarely kind to either.

But this time around, Indiana is 6-4 headed into tonight’s contest against the Brooklyn Nets, and we know just how close they were to picking up what would have been a seventh win this month. For now, they’ll settle for an 18-14 record, which is good enough for fourth in the Eastern Conference.

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And Victor Oladipo isn’t regressing, either, he’s leading the charge. After averaging 22.3 points a game on 46.1% shooting in November, Oladipo kicked it up a notch or ten for the holiday season. After 10 games, his averages for the month stand at 29.1 points a game on 50.5%. While he is playing three more minutes a game, his usage rate remains around 31%. That’s to say he is getting more of his added possessions, not just merely stuffing stats in those added minutes.

Don’t forget those game-winning and game-icing baskets, either.

The best -case scenario of Oladipo becoming an All-Star with the Pacers appears to just be an eventuality now.

Oladipo isn’t the only one who stepped up his game in December, but he is still the biggest story for the Indiana Pacers right now.

SG. Indiana Pacers. VICTOR OLADIPO. 1st. It’s going to take a helluva week from Myles Turner or anyone else on this roster to knock Oladipo from his top spot. (Last Week: 1st)

Myles Turner’s season didn’t get off to the best start after a concussion sidelined him for seven games, which led to him struggling to settle in as November came to a close. But since then he returned to his old self on offense. Turner is the team’s second-leading scorer this month with exactly 15 points a game. His <a href=. C. Indiana Pacers. MYLES TURNER. 2nd

PF. Indiana Pacers. THADDEUS YOUNG. 3rd. Thaddeus Young remains the consistent veteran presence both on and off the court for the Pacers. His points are down (from 13.4 to 11.8), but that’s partially due to the face he is letting others get the points while he does the dirty work of rebounds (7.1 this month) and deflections. This month his 6.4 +/- is second on the team only to Oladipo’s 7.1, and slightly ahead of Turner’s 6.1.(Last Week: 4th)

LANCE STEPHENSON. 4th. Stephenson isn’t exactly on a hot-streak, but for a player often described as mercurial, his consistency as of late is just as good. His +/- of 1.7 is 5th on the team this month as he is benefitting from playing with the starters more often late in games, but he earned those minutes. He is averaging 9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.2 assists a game. (Last Week: 2nd). SG. Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers. CORY JOSEPH. 5th. His 7.2 points and 2.7 assists a game aren’t why he is in 5th this week. <a href=. PG

6th. 10.5 points and 7.1 rebounds tell us he is the glue guy on the Pacers bench. While Lance is often leading the way, the reserves need Sabonis’ consistency to keep them steady. Ride the ups and downs (less of those lately) of Stephenson, but count on the second-year center to do the dirty work, <a href=. PF/C. Indiana Pacers. DOMANTAS SABONIS

BOJAN BOGDANOVIC. 7th. His drop in the rankings has little to do with the snafu against the Celtics as much as his scoring and shooting numbers are down. He was Indiana’s second-leading scorer in November with 16.5 points while making over half his shots, but now he is down to 11.5 on 40.4% from the field and 30% on 3-pointers. Hopefully his game against Atlanta reboots his systems as the month comes to a close. (Last Week: 3rd). SF. Indiana Pacers

DARREN COLLISON. 8th. Collison is struggling with occasional knee issues, but leads the team in assists with 4.1 a game in December. Those are down due to the health issues, but they also are down because coach Nate McMillan is often letting Oladipo and Stephenson run the show late. Despite seeing a lesser role, he is making an impact as <a href=. PG. Indiana Pacers

Next: Lance Stephenson's most absurd moments

The Pacers are ready to battle the Brooklyn Nets tonight as Indiana looks to clinch the season series after winning the first two.

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