5 preseason stats that (sorta) matter for the Indiana Pacers

By Ben Gibson | Oct 14, 2018

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 4: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers shoots the ball against the Houston Rockets during a pre-season game on October 4, 2018 at Toyota Center, in Houston, Texas. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 04: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers dunks on Marquese Chriss #0 of the Houston Rockets during the first quarter at Toyota Center on October 4, 2018 in Houston, Texas.(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

Myles Turner rebounding is up — slightly

Myles Turner put work into his body this summer and committed himself to be more physical. And what was the result? More rebounds.

Slightly.

In the two preseason games, Turner grabbed 13.3 percent of the available rebounds compared to last season when he grabbed 11.4 percent of the rebounds on the floor. It’s a small improvement but it’s still an improvement.

But of course, it’s preseason.

If we believe Turner made a small improvement this preseason, then do we believe Domantas Sabonis is now one of the best rebounders in the NBA? He grabbed 22.5 percent of the rebounds this preseason when he was on the floor. That’s way up from the 16 percent he pulled down in the regular season.

Counterpoint: We think Myles Turner should naturally be a better rebounder, so is it that hard to believe with a different body and approach might get him a few more rebounds? Hopefully. And hopefully, Domantas Sabonis evolved into one of the NBA’s best rebounders, too. But it’s hard to think something that drastic happened.

Though none of this clarifies if the two can exist on the same Pacers team going forward.

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